The Times endorsements 2014: State Representative

Today, The Times, continues our formal endorsements of candidates, with six state Representative races today. We did not choose to make endorsements in every state house district in the county, in part as they are not primary coverage areas as yet, or we did not feel an endorsement was appropriate. Our endorsements started yesterday with Congressional candidates and wraps up with state Senate...

The silliest of silly seasons cranks up

Playing the Walker ‘blame game’ and hijinks in the Sixth race By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times It’s just one month until election day and the gloves have come off, from dueling ads (of questionable veracity at times), protests, endorsements, temper tantrums and worst of all: the lawyers have been unleashed. So, in other words, it’s a pretty typical October, when politics goes from...

Suit seeks to knock Ross off 158th ballot

Filing claims GOP nomination violates state election laws By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times A day after Chris Ross was formally filed in nomination to take over the GOP race for State Representative in the 158th District, six district residents, including the Democrat running for the seat, have filed suit in Harrisburg and are seeking a temporary restraining order to be prevent Chester County Voter...

Risk, reward in running Ross in the 158th

Let’s just say the race got a lot more complicated By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times So Cuyler Walker is out, and it appears that Chris Ross is in. Let us set aside the circumstances for moment, as complicated and messy as they are, and look at the situation in the 158th District from a purely political standpoint. Obviously, assuming that Ross is the choice Sunday night — and every single...

Walker withdraws from 158th race: Ross to replace?

Cuyler Walker Updated 7:35 a.m. 9/23: Adds comment from adds comments from Chester County Democrats By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times EAST MARLBOROUGH — Cuyler Walker suddenly announced his withdrawal from the race for the 158th State Representative race, Monday afternoon — and it could lead to a familiar face appearing on the November ballot, nine-term State Representative Chris Ross. Walker,...

Numbers, both in polls and finance reports tell a story

While Corbett’s numbers suggest a Democratic opportunity, can they raise enough $$ to take advantage? By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Not to beat a dead horse, but there are even more bad poll numbers this week to make even the stoutest of Republicans more than a tad worried about not just the fate of Gov. Tom Corbett, but whether an electoral tsunami could hurt down-ballot candidates,...

Democrats step up in legislative races

GOP faces opposition in all but two races in Nov. elections By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Petition season is over, and unless there are some write-in candidates, we know who will appear on the May primary ballots. And, although I took the Democrats to task for seeming to have a shortage of candidates, they’ve managed to challenge all but two legislative races in Chester County. Yes, there...

Ellison is out and so is the Tea Party

One — the former Democratic power-broker — knows he’s done, the other is oblivious By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times As we head into the holiday season — and hopefully, a couple of weeks of relative quiet — a few notes and thoughts on local political stuff and other news items. Maybe the topline item this morning is that James Ellison is out at Rhoads & Sinon — meaning he will...

Political news and notes: 2014 legislative races kicking off

Final write-in results show poor turnout, participation in 2013 By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times The political news cycle never seems to end these days, on the heels of the final write-in election results being posted Friday, we have a batch of new candidate announcements or pending announcements in 2014 state legislative races — and even, it seems — an early hint about a 2016 race. First...