New Years’ resolutions — for others

A few ‘helpful’ suggestions for a better 2015 By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times With another year slipping away – and 2014 seems to have gone by in a blur — it is time to take a bit of time to make those New Year’s resolutions. Now, obviously, I could make mine, but they’d take up more than just one column to complete and they’d be boring like needing to play golf more often (and...

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...

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...

Op/Ed: Time to boost accountability and transparency for Congress

By Ryan Costello, Chester County Commissioner Ryan Costello The gridlock and partisan rancor in Congress is taking its toll on the public’s perception of Congress, and rightfully so.  According to a recent Gallup poll, only 14 percent of Americans think Congress is doing a good job.  That puts the public’s approval of the job Congress is doing at one of its lowest points in history. As a member...

Another tough week for Corbett

Will GOP turnout take a big hit? And ‘Donationgate’…yawn By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times As Labor Day looms, we kick into high gear for the fall election, campaigns are gearing up with charges, counter charges — and in some races, what appears to be candidates distancing themselves from a certain Harrisburg office holder. That office holder is, of course, Gov. Tom Corbett, who...

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 this...

State campaign finance Website is a fiasco

‘New and improved’ site less useful that HealthCare.gov By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times And they said HealthCare.gov is bad. Try spending some quality time searching campaign finance reports on the Pennsylvania Department of State. I did this past week, as Tuesday was the always dreaded deadline for the Cycle 1 campaign finance report that has to be filed for state legislative candidates,...

A journey from Rocky Mountains to Brandywine Valley

New head of Chester County Conference and Visitors Bureau announced Susan Hamley The region’s snow-filled winter should make the new executive director of the Chester County Conference and Visitors Bureau feel right at home. The CCCVB board announced on Thursday, Jan. 30, that Susan Hamley would take the reins of the organization, replacing Blair Mahoney, who retired. Hamley has held several...

County GOP averts primary battle for Gerlach’s seat

After ‘seriously considering’ run, party chair won’t enter race By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times County Commissioners’ Chairman Ryan Costello is now the only GOP candidate expressing strong interest in the Sixth District Congressional seat being vacated by Jim Gerlach. A potential GOP slugfest for the Congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach...

County commissioners retain leadership structure

With unanimous votes, Costello reelected chair, Cozzone, vice-chair By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times County Commissioners Kathi Cozzone (from left) ,Terence Farrell, and Ryan Costello voted Tuesday to retain last year’s leadership structure. During the first sunshine meeting of 2014, the Chester County Commissioners voted to continue last year’s leadership structure. With...