Meehan won’t seek reelection in the 7th

U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-7) Amidst a scandal involving alleged sexual harassment of a staffer and a public payout of funds to settle, U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-7) announced Thursday that he would not seek reelection for his seat in Congress from the 7th District. Meehan came under increasing pressure this week after a New York Times story detailed an alleged harassment incident with a now...

PA Supreme Court throws out Congressional district maps

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times The Pennsylvania Supreme Court If you felt a certain fondness for Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has bad news for you: after a 4-3 ruling by the court Monday, it’s gone — and will be replaced by a newly shaped district by mid-February. A majority of the justices ruled that the 2011 redistricting “clearly, plainly...

Newlin supervisors to consider anti-Gerrymandering resolution tonight

To make clear to the Newlin Board the broad extent of support for the anti-gerrymandering legislation, volunteers created a pin-board map showing who in Newlin had signed the petition and with what political party they were affiliated. Red represents Republican, blue Democrat, and white Other. NEWLIN – At its June 12th meeting, the Township Board of Supervisors will consider again a resolution...

Comey firing raises the stakes for 2018 elections

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Just when the healthcare mess seemed ready to drown our local Congressvictims in a Jonestown Flood like deluge, President Trump’s firing of FBI Director James B. Comey, Tuesday, swooped in and saved them by changing the subject. And by saving them, I mean sparing them from a looming electoral firing squad by hitting them with a flaming asteroid. While Pennsylvania’s...

A Q&A with Kate Young on Fair Districts PA and the fight against gerrymandering

By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times Recently I spoke with Kate Young about Fair Districts PA https://www.fairdistrictspa.com/ and its campaign to do away with gerrymandering in Pennsylvania. Several Fair Districts presentations this spring have generated great interest. West Chester Public Library didn’t have materials on gerrymandering in its collection, so Fair Districts PA donated three...

Fair DistrictsPA forum takes on Gerrymandering

Carol Kuniholm, Chair of Fair Districts PA, addressing the audience, Wednesday night at West Chester Henderson High School. By Eliza Mohler, Staff Writer, The Times WEST CHESTER – Political strategist Karl Rove once said, “He who can control redistricting can control Congress.” At her presentation Wednesday at Henderson High School, Fair Districts PA Chair Carol Kuniholm used this quote to...

Supreme Court upholds redistricting plan

New state house, state Senate districts for many — new district, the 74th in Coatesville area By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times The new State House districts for Chester County, including the new 74th District, centered around Coatesville.The new State House districts for Chester County, including the new 74th District, centered around Coatesville. The Pennsylvania State Supreme Court has upheld...

Revised legislative districts revealed

Big changes for Kennett, Kennett Square from first plan; New Garden gets new senate district By Mike McGann, Editor, KennettTimes.com The new proposed state house districts for the area would move a number of local towns into new districts including Kennett Township and Kennett Square. HARRISBURG — Maybe the second time is the charm. The state Legislative Redistricting Commission announced...

Pileggi plan taken out by a piano teacher

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

Chaos! High court tosses legislative districts

Legislative leaders unsure of path forward, old districts an option for 2012 elections; candidates, parties left in limbo By Mike McGann, Editor, KennettTimes.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...