A tragic loss hits Chester County’s political world

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Just days after their biggest win in more than a century, Chester County’s Democrats are now grieving one of the biggest losses — a life ended far too soon. Adam Swope, 38, who served as County Commissioner Kathi Cozzone’s Administrative Analyst and myriad other roles with the county party died Saturday afternoon in a fiery crash at the intersection of U.S....

Tuesday’s election results were not all about Trump

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Not to mince words, but Tuesday was a bit of a stunner. With the county’s Democrats sweeping the county row office races and making pickups in virtually every category from township supervisor to District Justice, it is clear that Chester County is no longer a one-party county. And yes, to be sure, it was a bit of a referendum on President Donald Trump, as we...

SHOCKER: Democrats sweep row offices, win up and down ballot

Updated: 3 p.m. with Comments from Chesco Dems chair Brian McGinnis By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Democrats (from left) Patricia Maisano for County Treasurer, Christina VandePol, Coroner, Margaret Reif, Controller and Yolanda Van de Krol , Clerk of Courts, swept to historic wins, Tuesday. Photo courtesy Chester County Democratic Committee. Chester County’s Democrats won a stunning victory...

Op/Ed: Vote No on Tuesday

By Lisa Longo, Member, the Phoenixville School Board and Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times We urge voters to vote NO on the ballot question on the back of Tuesday’s ballot.  Why? Well, generally tax reform is a good thing, but in this case, it might not be. So when you hear the word “reform,” it’s time to ask questions… and there are quite a few we need to ask. The PA constitution...

Editorial: No excuse not to vote this Tuesday

This coming Tuesday, you may note some schools are closed and some local, state and federal offices are closed. There’s a heck of a good reason: it’s Election Day. But it’s an Election Day too many people sit out — for too many reasons, most of which really don’t hold water. Tuesday’s elections will shape your local municipal government, your local board of education and county government,...

Getting more difficult to stand for hypocracy

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Okay, apparently the Pennsylvania Republican Party can’t stand for judge candidates who support peaceful protest, but can stand for gerrymandering. This week the state GOP sent out a mailer attacking Democratic judicial candidates saying “Vote for Judges who share our values and stand for the flag.” Then days later, the state GOP sought a stay on federal...

GOP, Dems spar over campaign materials

Updated 9 a.m. 10-17: Confirms Reif’s title is Controller By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Margaret Reif (left) and Norman MacQueen The county’s Democrats are taking Controller Norman MacQueen to task for citing achievements on Republican Party campaign literature that Democrats say are “outrageous” and “imagined” while GOP officials say challenger Margaret Reif is being dishonest...

GOP putting the ‘mean’ in meaningless legislative efforts

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Fall, that time of year when a young man’s fancy turns to…a budget crisis, political dysfunction, a renewed health care mess and, oh, yeah, off-year elections. So, let’s see, the state still lacks a revenue plan to pay for a spending plan it passed some months ago, so now some bills aren’t being paid. The state House Republicans have come up with a wacky...

Van de Krol to replace Crossan as Clerk of Courts candidate

Yolanda Van de Krol WEST CHESTER – The county’s Democratic Party announced formally on Wednesday that Yolanda de Krol will replace Maria Crossan on the fall ballot for Clerk of Courts. Crossan withdrew from the race, citing family concerns, earlier this month. The party’s Executive Committee voted unanimously Wednesday night to back Van de Krol. She will face Republican Robin Marcello,...

Nobody asked me, but…

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times To be clear, the small number of misguided souls who call themselves Neo-Nazis, White Supremacists and the like should have no serious place in our public discourse (I’ll make the same argument for anyone, left, right, middle or otherwise who would use violence or intimidation to further their political aims). And aside from the small group of vocal, angry folks...