Letter: Roe is just wrong

To the Editor, As Election Day comes closer, it’s time for all Pennsylvanians to seriously decide who they are going to vote for. The media would have us think that there are only two people running for office, but we actually have several important down-ticket votes to cast in addition to President. One of those is our Representative for State House.

Welcome to the center of the political universe

National media highlights major role of Chester County in presidential race By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Well, we told you so. For most of the summer in this space, we’ve told you that Chester County figures to be ground zero in the presidential race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump — and now multiple stories from outside the region, in USA Today, The New York Times and The Harrisburg...

Letter: Four reasons to vote for McGinty

To The Editor: For U.S. Senate, I believe Katie McGinty is clearly the better choice this November.  She understands the concerns of the people of Pennsylvania and will do a better job representing our interests. Her opponent Pat Toomey is running many TV and print ads that obscure some of his very troubling positions.  It’s time to expose them.   On Social Security: Toomey has long advocated...

Despite tech advances, pols must still knock doors

The one thing that’s the same as century ago: face to face contact matters By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times EAST MARLBOROUGH — For people not in politics, the process of running for office can seem like an endless series of rallies, speeches and moments of glamor in the spotlight. You know, cue the balloons and confetti. The truth, though, is a lot different, especially for those running...

Chester County: all quiet on the presidential front

Clinton, Trump have fairly low profile, but likely for differing reasons By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times While the usual (or usually unusual) back and forth of local congressional and state legislative races has kicked into what I lovingly call “red mist” mode (a state of hyper intense political engagement that lowers IQ about 25 points and drops discourse to that fourth grade lunch room...

It’s not just Coatesville: funding crisis coming to your school, too

As poorer districts struggle, they are everyone’s future without state action By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times If you’ve been in and around Coatesville recently, you may have seen picketing teachers — as was the case at the district’s three middle schools Thursday night. The contract between the district and the Coatesville Area Teachers Association expired in late August and there...

Letter from the editor: A comment on comments

A few changes to our commenting system debut By Mike McGann, You may have noticed a few changes here at The Times over the past few months, from a new mobile and tablet-friendly design to this weekend’s evolution to a new commenting system — faced on the Facebook platform. Like many other publishers, large and small, we’ve wrestled with the balance between both having a true back and forth...

Op/Ed: Government to blame for EpiPen price hikes?

By Joe Pitts, Member, U.S House of Representatives, (R-16)  U.S. Rep. Joe Pitts (R-16) As the summer sun rises high in the sky, many of us are finishing out the season by enjoying the last remnants of our vegetables and flower blooms. Bees are ever present, seeking out nectar from their favorite flowers, and along with that comes inevitable bee stings. For some, a single sting can cause their...

Letter: Despite GOP claims, 158th, 16th are in play

To The Editor, The Chester County Democratic Committee believes, just as Mike McGann does, that the 158th is very much in play. The first endorsed Republican candidate for this office withdrew because of falsified petitions.  Second choice candidate Eric Roe has serious residency issues that likely disqualify him to run for office in Pennsylvania. His entire employment history indicates eight ‘political...

The Zika virus and Chester County

Getting rid of standing water is more effective than spraying By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times News has come around lately that “Pennsylvania Is Now One Of The Top States With Zika Virus ” (Phoenixville Patch, 8/23/16). Currently PA ranks 5th in the number of diagnosed Zika cases. Of course, no one knows how many undiagnosed cases there are anywhere. Quick quiz: how is Zika...