Times 2022 election questionnaire: Kristine Howard, 167th State House District

Kristine Howard It is time again — for the fourth straight election cycle — for The Times election questionnaire for legislative candidates — your chance to get an unfiltered look at candidates’ views on various issues. The questions were sent out in September to both major parties in the county, asking them to be distributed to the individual campaigns. As always, the answers are not...

Op/Ed: Ditch forever chemicals forever

By Kristine Howard, State Representative, 167th District State Rep. Kristine Howard Since the 1940s, the use of a group of toxic man made chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, have been increasingly used in numerous consumer goods and industrial processes. From degreasing pots and pans to making pants stain-resistant, PFAS use has proliferated over the past eight decades. While...

Kerslake, Friel Otten call out dark money PACs attacks; say they’re related to pipeline opposition

Two Democratic primary candidates — one an incumbent State Representative — say they’re being targeted dark money political action committees, neither of which appear to have filed required campaign finance reports. Two Super PACs have launched television ads attacking environmental leaders State Rep. Danielle Friel Otten and Ginny Kerslake. The SuperPACs are registered at the same address,...

Op/Ed: We must stop human trafficking

By Kristine Howard, Special To The Times State Rep. Kristine Howard For many, the phrase human trafficking conjures images of elsewhere. They may have heard that the U.S. Department of State estimates some 12 million victims of human trafficking worldwide. But not here, surely. Not in my backyard. Yet sadly, terrifyingly, it is here. The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape estimates over 100,000...

Kerslake announces primary challenge to Howard in 167th

Ginny Kerslake Former Chester County Commissioner candidate Ginny Kerslake announced her candidacy Wednesday for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 167th District. This District includes West Whiteland, East Whiteland, Charlestown, Willistown, West Pikeland, and Easttown townships and Malvern borough. “In times like today, when personal property rights, public safety, and the environment...

Op/Ed: Seize the day on gun reform

By Kristine Howard, State Representative, 167th District Kristine Howard I have thought for many days about what to say about the latest incidents of mass shootings. I have expressed my sadness in a previous social media post about a prior incident. Saying the same thing again seems as pointless as thoughts and prayers. This is a complex topic, with different causes requiring different solutions....

Chester County Democrats enjoy local Tsunami

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Chester County’s  Democrats made strong gains in legislative races Tuesday, winning a clear majority of State House seats and picking up a pair of state Senate seats — not to mention electing a Democrat to represent the entire county in 2019 as well as electing another Democrat to serve the southern part of the county almost immediately. While the “Blue...