Dinniman defeats Aichele
12:20 p.m., 17 May 06

Andrew Dinniman stunned the county Republican Party in a special election yesterday and defeated heavily favored Carol Aichele to win the 19th State Senatorial seat vacated since the death of Robert Thompson.

Dinniman, a Democrat, defeated Aichele, a Republican, by 20,847 votes to 16,126, a 12 percent margin, according to unofficial vote tallies by county Voter Services. Dinniman received 56 percent of the vote to Aichele's 44 percent.

Read more about this Landslide victory in the Blog category:  Dinniman




May Special Election
Vote Andy Dinniman - Pa State Senate

This year on Primary day - May 16th - All voters (including independents) will have the opportunity to vote for a candidate to fill in for the remainder of the late PA Senator Robert Thompson's term.  Please take a look at Andy's site (see link below).  Andy is well-loved for being an advocate for the poor and homeless and has worked tirelessly for years to help improve their lives.  We NEED to give Andy our support.

Please sign up to volunteer to help with Andy's campaign and visit his web site often at http://andydinnimanpasenate.org/


THE DEBATE

A debate between Andy and Carol Aichele will be held on May 7th, from 3-4:30 pm at the Chester County Library, in Exton. 

We will be having a post debate party back at the Campaign HQ at 121 E Gay Street, West Chester, from 5-7pm-the plan is to bask in the post debate glory and pass out lit for election day

Letters for Andy in Local Papers

3/27 Wayne Suburban

I read the latest paper with interest when  Ray Hoffman, in his column "Berwyn Banter" ponders the polarization of politics at the national level, and how Ms. Aichele believes she will bring people together in the 19th State Senate district. Ms. Aichele has continuously taken the most partisan positions on issues before her as Chester County Commissioner. Starting with her unwillingness to nominate and vote for Andy Dinniman to Chair the Commissioners Board, one he had served for 12 years. Both Aichele and Mancini took the partisan position and nominated each other for Chair, ignoring the logic of asking the commissioner with the most experience on the job to take the helm and bring continuity to the board. 

Ms. Aichele has also played the partisan card by forcing the appointment of Republican consultants, starting with the Pension manager, the Veterans liaison and the most recent appointment of the Republican advisor for the Board of Elections, Lawrence Tabas. Commissioner Dinniman has always tried to cooperate, and bring balance to a very one sided board, but his suggestions are mostly ignored or marginalized.

The worst partisan offenses were the secret meetings held at Ms. Aichele's husband's office, which did not include Commissioner Dinniman. She was outed by a former employee who was tired of the one party system controlling the County.  

The voters should not be fooled by the 4 color glossy mailings by the Republican State Party, where Ms. Aichel's husband is a large contributor. Ms. Aichele is not bipartisan, and anyone following the activities of the County will certainly know it.  

Commissioner Dinniman has a record of reaching across the aisle to work with and for all the citizens of the county, and I believe he will continue in that tradition as our next State Senator.  

Cynthia Sherbin
Malvern


3/31 Daily Local News 

I was troubled by a lopsided article "Aichele vs. Dinniman in the 19th" that appeared in your newspaper on March 12.

It seemed more an endorsement of Mrs. Aichele than a balanced piece of news reporting. It provided a ringing endorsement from the Chester County Republican Party chairman but no comment from the Democratic Party.

Your reporter took the time to interview Mrs. Aichele but not Dr. Dinniman. In short, the article focused on Aichele and merely mentioned Dinniman.

As a Democrat, I took exception to that. Dr. Dinniman is a very worthy candidate with 15 years of experience and service as County Commissioner while Aichele is just two years into her first term.

Only several days after you reported Aichele had won her party's endorsement at their March 11 nominating convention, I was surprised to receive her campaign brochure in the mail, and see her TV commercials on CNN. No campaign can be rolled out that fast! Obviously, a lot of preparation had been done and money spent on Mrs. Aichele's campaign prior to her being " voted in".

Troubling, especially in light of the fact that State Representative Carol Rubley was the obvious Republican candidate for the late Senator Thompson's job. She has served northeastern Chester County in Harrisburg for many years and done a fine job.

But she is a moderate, not a "yes" woman who blindly votes with her party. Neither can Rubley claim Aichele's credentials as the Chester County Chair of Rick Santorum's campaign and a major contributor to the Republican Party. Politics over experience. We've seen what that leads to.

For those who want change in Harrisburg, I believe that Andy Dinniman is clearly the better choice. He recognizes the need to work together to find common ground, listen to the concerns of all his constituents - not just those with deep pockets and easy access, and get something done for a change. He wants to go to Harrisburg for the right reasons: to preserve our open land, improve the quality of our schools and libraries, support legislation that keeps local decisions local, and in the Quaker tradition, see that all share in Pennsylvania's prosperity while assuring that the neediest are not forgotten.

Everyone has witnessed what happens when one party dominates, whether at the local, state or federal level. We need more balance and less partisanship in government. Please be heard and vote in the special election and primary on May 16. Independents can vote too in the special election.

Sincerely,
Kathleen E. Keohane
Tredyffrin 


4/1 Daily Local News

It has been stated that Republican County Commissioner Carole Aichele is fair, bipartisan and has a proven record of bringing people together. If this is the case, why has she not voted for Andy Dinniman, the most experienced County Commissioner, a Democrat with seniority and substantial republican support, to be chairman of the of the County Commissioners. Voting strictly along party lines is, in my judgment, being neither bipartisan nor the way to bring people together. 

Bob Bruckman 



4/8 Daily Local News 

Dinniman has earned residents’ votes.  I am writing to support Andy Dinniman in the special election for the l9th Senatorial Distrlct on May 16. Rarely do voters have the opportunity to vote for a candidate in the primary' election, regardless of their party affiliation. Registered Republicans, Democrats and unaffiliated voters can all vote for Dinniman to represent them in Harrisburg.

Dinniman has been a leader in Chester County for more than 16 years and has demonstrated consistently that he represents all people, not just those with special interests. He stands for principle, not for party politics.

After serving many years as county commissioner Dinniman is eminently qualifed to represent all of us in the state Senate. This year, more than ever, we need dedicated public servants  in Harrisburg to restore our trust in elected officials.

Dinniman deserves your readers' votes. 

ROGER J. BROWN
East Fallowfield 


4/10 Daily Local News

VOTE DINNIMAN TO GET US BACK ON TRACK.

Sad to say but Chester County is, and has been, a microcosm of the one-party rule that is wrecking America.  Although nationally, Delay has finally succumbed to the creeping investigation into his rough-shod tactics, there is still much strengthening of the moderate middle to be done.  

The good news is that in Chester County voters have a fast-approaching opportunity to prove that partisan rule must yield to broadly-serving leadership.

On May 16th a PA Senate vote for Andy Dinniman, will, I believe, start both the local counties and the nation back on the right track. As a Chester County Commissioner, Dinniman has proven repeatedly that his words have meaning. That his actions, be they on behalf of voting integrity, or in support of fiscal responsibility or open space, serve us all.

His opponent, the relatively inexperienced Aichele, by contrast, has tried to run Chester County like a party fiefdom complete with excessive secrecy and rampant cronyism.

Could it be that her family’s heavy contributions to the GOP have won her a party-sponsored ride to the PA Senate?  Does her co-chair role for the extreme and divisive Santorum prove that she can serve all of the people?  

Your readers should think, then vote. 

Kurt Jaworski,
East Bradford 


4/15 in Daily Local News 

Andy Dinniman for state Senate.

Andy Dinniman and I teach history at West Chester University and I've got only good things to say about him as a colleague and a teacher.  He's a pleasure to work with, a motivator for our students, and one of the reasons why West Chester University is known for the quality of the education it offers.  It takes many other people to make that true, but Andy does his part extremely well.  

Dinniman has also served as a county commissioner for more than a decade, and during that time, he has become known as the go-to guy in Chester County government.  Whether it is stopping sprawl, taking care of the elderly, or making sure government officials play by the rules, when Democrats, Republicans or independents want to get something done, they can count on Dinniman. 

Chester County residents are fortunate to have him as their commissioner for so long, and residents of the 19th district are lucky that he has offered to take on a new responsibility on such short notice.  Like his predecessor Bob Thompson, Dinniman is dedicated to working for everyone and doing the job well.  I am thankful that he is willing to serve and I urge your readers to do whatever they can to elect Andy Dinniman to the State Senate on May 16. 

Jim Jones, West Chester


Chester County Gleaning Program

The Chester County Gleaning Program was established in the summer of 1996 with the encouragement from Chester County Commissioner, Andrew Dinniman.  The creation of the Gleaning concept grew from the Philabundance study which reported that a large number of Chester County citizens were going hungry .  The Gleaning Program supplies fresh produce planted by local farmers and organizations and harvested by a network of volunteers of all ages.  The produce is donated and distributed to County food providers and agencies. 

Through the participation of more than 500 volunteers, 31.5 tons of fresh produce was distributed to more than 30 County food provider agencies for the year 2000. 

In 2001 the Pocopson Home became a part of the Gleaning network.  Through the support of the Community Gardens of Chester County , Commissioner Dinniman and his staff and the Main Street Bank, a program sponsor, this project became a reality for the Home's residents and staff.  A large raised garden was built for the Home's residents so they can contribute to the growing effort.  Two other gardens are maintained by bank employees and the Home's staff. 

Tomatoes, corn, squash, peppers, herbs, and other various vegetables and flowers have been planted.  As produce is harvested, the Home's residents will reap some of the rewards and a portion of the harvest will also be donated to the Safe Harbor shelter and Salvation Army in West Chester , PA. 

 

PAST EVENTS:

Below is an email I recently received, please go out and show your support for Andy on March 31st: