Letter: Our community supports correctional officers

To The Editor, I would like the Chester County Correctional Officers to know that our community thanks them and stands with them, and I would like to thank Chris O’Donnell from Teamsters Local 384 for bringing to everyone’s attention the ways in which Chester County’s correctional officers and taxpayers are being unfairly treated. As an attorney who frequently visits Chester County Prison, I...

The Times’ endorsements, 2014: U.S. Congress

For the first time in the history of The Times, we plan to make formal endorsements of candidates, kicking off today with the Congressional races in Chester County. Tomorrow, we’ll feature our endorsements for State Representative and on Sunday, state Senate and Governor. We appreciate your feedback in making these first-even endorsements. 16th Congressional District: Tom Houghton, Democrat While...

Maxwell, Walker, Houghton win primaries

Wolf landslide seen as tempering Democratic turnout By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times A number of closely watched races from the governor down to local state legislative races thought to be competitive turned out to be blow outs Tuesday — as Downingtown Mayor Josh Maxwell won the Democratic nod for State Representative in the 74th District and Cuyler Walker won the Republican nomination for State...

Kittappa files petitions to run in the 16th

Will challenge Houghton for Democratic nomination, winner faces Pitts in Nov. By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times A second Chester County congressional district will see a primary fight, as a Lancaster scientist has filed petitions to battle former State Rep. Tom Houghton for the Democratic nomination in the 16th Congressional District. The winner will face nine-term incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Joe...

Plot thickens in 6th District race

Can populism change the math in the 16th District race? By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times The race for the Sixth Congressional District got more interesting this week on a couple of fronts. First, Manan Trivedi, who ran unsuccessfully against Jim Gerlach in 2010 and 2012, announced he would run again. Then, Mike Parrish, the other Democrat in the race, got the endorsement of U.S. Rep. (and Philly political...

Houghton announces bid to take on Pitts

London Grove Democrat cites his record on agriculture, bi-partisanship By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Former State Representative Tom Houghton makes a point about his record of working across the aisle, in announcing Monday that he would take on veteran U.S. Rep Joe Pitts in the race for the 16th District Congressional seat. WEST HEMPFIELD — In a frosty Lancaster barn full of hay, former State...

Op/Ed: The Joe Pitts government shutdown

By Tom Houghton, Special to The Times Tom Houghton As a parent, husband, self-employed attorney, former township supervisor and state representative, I watched with dismay as our Washington representative, Joe Pitts, was the only representative in southeastern Pennsylvania, who supported the recent government shutdown. Whatever you think about the new healthcare law (ACA or “Obamacare”), shutting...