The Times Poll: tell us who you support for governor

With election day looming less than two months away, we thought we’d take the pulse of our readers and see where they stand on this year’s gubernatorial race between Republican Gov. Tom Corbett and Democrat Tom Wolf in this year’s election. We’ll be running the poll on all five of our local news sites — and after a week, we’ll report back to you on the results, both...

OP/Ed.: Wrong for state and Rafferty to back drilling on parkland

By Kathi Cozzone, Chester County Commissioner Kathi Cozzone On Tuesday afternoon, we saw over twenty committed citizens standing outside my opponent’s office protesting the Senator’s vote to lease state-owned parkland to drilling companies. In addition to being harmful to our forests and parks, this vote was part of a larger problem happening in Harrisburg right now. The vote to lease state...

Poll numbers don’t always tell the whole story

Also: is it time to fire legislators too busy ‘on vacation’ to do their jobs? By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Ah, the sweet smell of late summer. Fruits ripening, corn growing, backyard grills fired up, maybe even a whiff of chlorine from the pool all in the air. Also floating in the air: polling data, much of which might leave folks scratching their heads a bit. You may have seen...

County Democrats hit Corbett on economic record

Republicans say Democrats not being honest about governor’s record By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Key Chester County Democrats gathered for a press conference on the steps of the old Chester County Courthouse to decry Gov. Tom Corbett’s poor economic record and express support for Democrat Tom Wolf, who is running against Corbett. From left, state Sen. Andy Dinniman, County Commissioner...

Letter: Gifts to legislators must stop

To The Editor: Giving gifts to legislators is big business in our Commonwealth. Pennsylvanians were rightfully outraged when they learned legislators were accepting cash gifts, and it was all done legally. Under current Pennsylvania law, any gifts of any value can be given to legislators. Legislators only need to disclose gifts valued at over $250 or transportation and lodging valued at over $650....

Will Corbett stand up to the legislature on pensions?

How the governor plays this issue could decide the Nov. elections By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times A wise attorney once told me, “never ask a question in court if you don’t know what the answer will be.” It appears that Gov. Tom Corbett failed to adhere to that maxim when he hinted he would not sign the new $29.1 billion state budget passed by both houses of the legislature — unless the...

Chamber of Business & Industry endorses three

Corbin, Hennessey, Walker earn group’s nod The Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry this week announced its endorsement of three Chester County State Legislative candidates: incumbents Becky Corbin of the 157th District and Tim Hennessey of the 26th District as well as Cuyler Walker, who is seeking to replace State Rep. Chris Ross, who is not seeking reelection in the 158th District. All...

Bad state budget could wipe out Corbett and local legislators

If House plan is the final budget, GOP could face electoral doom in November By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times It looks like Gov. Tom Corbett could be winning his budget battle, but could be losing the war — and maybe a handful of state legislative seats in Chester County. We may have a better sense how bad the mess will be once a state budget is passed, maybe even by Monday. The House of Representatives...

Vaughn ousted as County Democrat chair

McGinniss slate wins narrow victory at party reorg meeting By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times In a somewhat surprising development, long-time Chester County Democratic Committee chair Michele Vaughn was defeated Thursday night in her bid for a third term leading the county’s Democrats. Brian McGinnis, an East Bradford resident, won a narrow victory at the committee’s reorganization meeting. Vaughn,...

Primary aftermath: Dinniman comes out the big winner

The state senator was not on the ballots, but he emerged as county’s top Democrat By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times While most primary elections in non-presidential years are kind of ho-hum events, Tuesday’s elections turned out to be more revealing than expected, and at minimum give us some hint of what is to come in November. Not shockingly, turnout was lousy, especially on the Republican...