State house seats could be in play

GOP leaders privately worried about turnout, impact of Romney’s stumbles By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times While the national races get the big attention, political insiders in the state tend to keep close tabs on races here in Chester County these days. As the population and demographics in the county have shifted in the last decade, the once-solidly Republican county is much more of a bell...

Letter: Rzucidlo alerts voters in the 158th of voting issues

To The Editor: As an advocate, I have worked for many years to assist  families and individuals in the region navigate the complicated Education, Human Services, and Veteran services programs in Pennsylvania. I  help people find services they need and teach them how to they can in turn help others as well. I am also a candidate running for a seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the...

Local Dems, GOP spar over Romney, Obama and small business

Back-to-back events kick off the presidential race in earnest in Chester County By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Chester County GOP Chairman Val DiGiorgio addresses a crowd gathered Thursday on the old Courthouse steps in West Chester, in support of Republican presidential candidate Gov. Mitt Romney, and critical of President Barack Obama’s policies on small business. Around 100 supporters attended...

Rzucidlo doesn’t take ‘no’ for an answer

State Rep. candidate has spent more than two decades fighting the system By Mike McGann, Editor, CoatesvilleTimes.com Susan Rzucidlo, Democratic candidate for State Representative in the 158th District. NEW GARDEN — Susan Rzucidlo says she knows she can rub some people the wrong way, especially if they get between her and something she’s fighting for, whether it be for her own disabled child, or...

Hope for simplified legislative districts on hold

Federal court rules state must use 2001 legislative districts, ending short-term hope of reducing wide array of districts in Coatesville area By Mike McGann, Editor, CoatesvilleTimes.com Any hopes that the greater Coatesville area had to see its legislative representatives simplified have been put on hold, after a federal judge ruled this week that the state should use the previous legislative districts,...

Pileggi plan taken out by a piano teacher

State Senate Majority Leader and ChesCo power player taken to task for poor lines, poor time management on redistricting By Mike McGann, Editor, CoatesvilleTimes.com Pity poor state Sen. Dominic Pileggi. It’s been a tough week for a beloved Chester County state senator, who also happens to be Senate Majority Leader. Friday, he essentially got pretty badly slapped around by Pennsylvania Supreme Court...

Chaos! High court tosses legislative districts

Legislative leaders unsure of path forward, old districts an option for 2012 elections; new 45th District in limbo By Mike McGann, Editor, CoatesvilleTimes.com In a stunning move, just as local legislative candidates were beginning to collect signatures to get on the April primary ballot, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court threw out the new legislative districts by a split 4-3 vote Wednesday, kicking...

Maxwell announces run for 45th Seat

Downingtown mayor joins crowded field for new state rep. district By Mike McGann, Editor, CoatesvilleTimes.com Downingtown Mayor Josh Maxwell announces Tuesday night that he will run for State Representative in the 45th District. DOWNINGTOWN — In what might have been the worst-kept secret since Mitt Romney announced his current run for president, borough Mayor Josh Maxwell threw his hat into an increasingly...

Houghton will challenge Dinniman for Senate seat

Redistricted out of the 9th, he will challenge state Sen. Andy Dinniman for the Democratic nomination in the 19th District Former State Rep. Tom Houghton LONDON GROVE — Former State Representative, Township Supervisor and attorney Tom Houghton announced his candidacy for the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 19th District, which covers most of the greater Coatesville area. Houghton started in public...

It appears the joke is on us

New Congressional districts slice and dice area, make 2012 elections kind of pointless By Mike McGann, Editor, CoatesvilleTimes.com In case you missed it, the final phase of the 2012 Congressional elections are going to be held next week. And the results, it appears, are already in. Turn out, considering it was such a key election in Pennsylvania, was surprisingly light. Less than 300 votes, as it...