Ross announces plans to retire after 2014
Nine-term State Rep. won’t seek reelection; Walker eyed as GOP candidate
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
State Rep. Chris Ross (R-158) announced Tuesday that he wouldn’t seek a 10th term in the statehouse.
EAST MARLBOROUGH — State Rep. Chris Ross (R-158) announced Tuesday that he would not seek a 10th term in the state House of Representatives.
Ross, currently a township resident,...
And…right back into campaign season
No rest for the weary, as Election 2014 kicks into high gear, already
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Now that we’ve gotten that pesky election out of the way, it’s time for the campaign to get started.
Think I’m kidding?
Then why is Gov. Tom Corbett in the county today, kicking off his 2014 campaign? And why has the jostling for state legislative and congressional seats already begun?
Traditionally,...
Is there hope for a pension fix in the legislature?
New proposal could form framework for at least a partial fix
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Is it possible that a small glimmer of hope toward finding a real, workable solution to public pension mess is inching forward in the state legislature?
As you’re probably aware, spiking contributions to state worker and teachers’ pension funds have hamstrung the state and local school districts,...
Council of Goverments shows a path ahead
13 towns working together offer chance for smart, more efficient government
UPDATED (Sun 9 a.m.): adds comment on Saturday night legislative action
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
CALN — It was a sight to behold. Elected officials from various parties, municipalities and even the County Commissioners, sitting down for a sometimes freewheeling and open discussion about how best to work together.
It...
Letter: Getting rid of Jury Commissioners hurts justice
To The Editor,
The old adage states you don’t fix something that isn’t broke. The Pennsylvania Legislature has violated this wise advice by taking unconstitutional action that threatens the integrity of the Commonwealth’s judicial system.
Since 1868 the elected representatives of the office of Jury Commissioner have made sure that the jury selection process in Pennsylvania has been fair and...
In Harrisburg, seven big days ahead
Corbett’s legacy and whether your state legislator will have a lot of explaining to do
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
By all accounts, it’s going to be a busy week in Harrisburg — as the state legislature has just a week to get a lot of work done.
Of course, the question is what will get done? And how much Republican-on-Republican political violence will be involved?
Going into this...
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...
Column: My take on the area legislative races
Is competency more important that ideology? I think so.
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
We had some internal discussions about doing our first endorsements as a publication this year, something I decided was probably not the right thing to do in 2010 or 2011. And while we were split — at the end we still decided that the negatives outweighed the positives.
It is a position we will revisit in...
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...
The damage of narrow self-interest
These days, it’s everyone for themselves and we all suffer
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
We’re all in this together, right? I’ll pause while you stop laughing.
The 1970s were supposed to be the “Me Decade,” but it seems that what really happened was the emergence of the “Me Generation.” As that generation took power in the halls of government and corporate governance,...
