{"id":659,"date":"2010-11-01T13:16:57","date_gmt":"2010-11-01T17:16:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/unionvilletimes.com\/?p=659"},"modified":"2010-11-01T13:17:53","modified_gmt":"2010-11-01T17:17:53","slug":"2010-election-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=659","title":{"rendered":"2010 Election Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"

Governor, US Senate top ballot filled with interesting races<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

By Mike McGann<\/strong>, Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\nThe mailers have been sent, the commercials aired and the prognosticators have pontificated. Now all that\u2019s left is for you, the voters of the Unionville Area, to vote.<\/p>\n

Although you\u2019ve probably seen enough about all of the candidates to last a lifetime, here\u2019s quick primer on who is running where and for what across our area. There will also be quick links at the bottom of this story to find out where the polls are in your town.<\/p>\n

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and any registered voter can vote. If there\u2019s a question about whether you are eligible to vote, make sure that you cast a provisional ballot \u2014 whether it counts or not can be decided later, but if you don\u2019t cast a provisional ballot, you can\u2019t go back and vote later if it is determined that you were eligible. If you have problems or questions call your county department of voter services: in Chester County, (610) 344-6410 and in Delaware County, contact the Election Bureau at (610) 891-4673.<\/p>\n

There are a number of high-profile race this year \u2014 including two statewide races for Governor and U.S. Senate and three local congressional races (yes, amazingly, the Unionville area is broken up into three different house of representative districts) and a pair of state house races.<\/p>\n

With millions of words published about this election, including on this site, we\u2019ll just keep it to quick reference guide, to remind you who is running and for what.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a closer look:<\/p>\n

Statewide races<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Governor — Dan Onorato (D) vs. Tom Corbett (R)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Tom Corbett<\/p><\/div>\n

The race to replace outgoing Gov. Ed Rendell has been, as is typical, a nasty one. With the two Western Pa. natives going at it hammer and tong since May. While Corbett has been alternately hammered and praised for his pledge to not raise taxes, despite the commonwealth facing a $4 to $5 billion deficit in 2011, Onorato has been unable to unshackle himself from Rendell who has managed to go from wildly popular to wildly unpopular in his eight years in office.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Dan Onorato<\/p><\/div>\n

Corbett is the sitting state Attorney General and has launched a number of high-profile investigations into corruption in the state legislature. While his supporters say he is a reformer, his critics say he used the AG\u2019s office to further his political agenda.<\/p>\n

Onorato is is Allegheny County Chief Executive. While he\u2019s touted his ability to create jobs in the western Pennsylvania county that contains Pittsburgh, he\u2019s been hit for tax hikes, including an increase in the alcohol tax.<\/p>\n

U.S. Senate \u2014 Pat Toomey (R) vs. Joe Sestak (D)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Pat Toomey<\/p><\/div>\n

Another nasty race in the battle to succeed Sen. Arlen Specter, who switched parties to avoid a nasty primary against Toomey, only to lose a nasty primary against Sestak.<\/p>\n

This might be the biggest idealogical gap in the area, with Toomey considered to be among the most conservative candidates. From the stimus, to gay marriage, to extending tax cuts, these two pretty much disagree on virtually every issue.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Joe Sestak<\/p><\/div>\n

Toomey is a former president of The Club For Growth and has been hit for his ties to Wall Street and the financial industry. His supporters argue that he is a fiscal conservative, fought for lower taxes and kept his pledge to serve only three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.<\/p>\n

Sestak, a retired admiral who served in the Clinton White House, has represented the 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House. Sestak commanded a carrier battle group prior to his retirement in 2005. Sestak has a strong pro-environmental voting record, fought for improved education and health care funding, but supported measures that would make congress find funding before authorizing new spending.<\/p>\n

Continued next page: congressional and legislative races<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

6th Congressional District<\/strong><\/span>
\nPocopson<\/em><\/p>\n

Manan Trevedi (D) vs. Jim Gerlach (R-Incumbent)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Manan Trivedi<\/p><\/div>\n

This race pits Trevidi, a doctor, versus a four-term incumbent.<\/p>\n

Gerlach, who had a short-lived campaign for governor, has a fairly moderate record and has at times, found himself in the crosshairs of the left and the right. He has supported both stem cell research as well as the surge of troop levels in Iraq.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Jim Gerlach<\/p><\/div>\n

Trivedi is an Iraq War veteran, who has expressed support for health care reform, the stimulus, but is arguing for a cut in Congressional pay.<\/p>\n

Gerlach\u2019s first three races were very close \u2014 and only large margins in Chester County put him over the top. 2008 proved to be less close \u2014 despite being a strong year for Democrats in general.<\/p>\n

7th Congressional District<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nChadds Ford<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Pat Meehan ( R) and Jim Schneller (I) vs. Brian Lentz (D)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Pat Meehan<\/p><\/div>\n

The race has been among the nastiest in the nation, with claims that Lentz campaign helped to get Schneller, who has been associated with the Tea Party movement, on the ballot to take votes away from Meehan.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Brian Lentz<\/p><\/div>\n

Meehan is a former U.S. Attorney, while Lentz an attorney and Iraq War vet, is currently serving his second term in the state house of representatives.<\/p>\n

Both of the major party campaigns have spent big money on the seat, once held but Curt Weldon and more recently held by Sestak.<\/p>\n

16th Congressional District<\/strong><\/span>
\nBirmingham, East Marlborough, Newlin, Pennsbury and West Marlborough<\/em><\/p>\n

Lois Herr (D) vs. Joe Pitts (R-Incumbent)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Lois Herr<\/p><\/div>\n

This is the third rematch \u2014 and based on polling \u2014 the closest contest between the two.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Joe Pitts<\/p><\/div>\n

Pitts, from East Marlborough, is a seven-term incumbent and played a major role in shaping the health care reform legislation, in helping to craft the Pitts-Stupak amendment, which prohibited any public dollars from being spent on abortion. Pitt then voted against the bill, and his own amendment. Pitts is noted for being one of the most conservative members of congress.<\/p>\n

Herr, from Lancaster County, is a retired AT&T executive and ran against Pitts in 2004 and 2006. She\u2019s hit Pitts on the lack of bills he\u2019s managed to get passed in 14 years \u2014 and his failure to support measures to create jobs.<\/p>\n

Legislative previews on next page.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

158th State House District<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

East Marlborough, Newlin, Pennsbury, West Marlborough<\/p>\n

Chris Ross (R-Incumbent) vs. Susan Rzucidlo (D)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Chris Ross<\/p><\/div>\n

Ross is a seven-term incumbent and former township supervisor in London Grove. Rzucidlo is an advocate for education issues.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Susan Rzucidlo<\/p><\/div>\n

Ross, like Gerlach, is a member of an endangered species, moderate Republicans. He\u2019s been endorsed by Penn Environment and has pushed for important recycling and conservation issues during his time in Harrisburg.<\/p>\n

Rzucidlo argues that changes are needed in Harrisburg and it will take a new generation of reformers to make those changes. She\u2019s says she\u2019s not afraid to step on toes and tweak those in power to fight for what she thinks is right.<\/p>\n

160th State House District<\/strong><\/span>
\nBirmingham, Chadds Ford, Pocopson<\/em><\/p>\n

Dave Cleary (I), Nick DiGregory (D) vs. Steve Barrar (R-Incumbent)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Dave Cleary<\/p><\/div>\n

The 160th may be the lone district with a full range of political spectrum candidates.<\/p>\n

From the right, seven-term incumbent Steve Barrar.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Steve Barrar<\/p><\/div>\n

He was an outspoken critic of the state budget \u2014 and one of only six house members to vote against a pension reform bill, saying it didn\u2019t go far enough. During his time in office, he has generally supported conservative social and fiscal policy, although his opponents have hit him for his 2001 pension vote and 2005 vote on the pay raise.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Nick DiGregory<\/p><\/div>\n

DiGregory is a teacher by training and has argued for term limits, increases in taxes on \u201csin\u201d items such as beer and soda to help close the state deficit and campaign finance reform.<\/p>\n

Cleary, an Annapolis Graduate, is splits the difference on most issues. He defines himself as fiscally conservative \u2014 and argues that Barrar isn\u2019t \u2014 and holds more moderate positions on social issues.<\/p>\n


\n<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Other election coverage:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Find your local polling place, click here<\/a><\/p>\n

\t
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Governor, US Senate top ballot filled with interesting races By Mike McGann, Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com The mailers have been sent, the commercials aired and the prognosticators have pontificated. Now all that\u2019s left is for you, the voters of the Unionville Area, to vote. Although you\u2019ve probably seen enough about all of the candidates to last a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":662,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,7],"tags":[65,15,39,29,67,38,28,73,10,26,27,24],"class_list":["post-659","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-featured","tag-barrar","tag-birmingham","tag-chadds-ford","tag-chester-county","tag-cleary","tag-east-marlborough","tag-election-2010","tag-pennsbury-2","tag-pocopson","tag-ross","tag-rzucidlo","tag-unionville"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=659"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/659\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/662"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=659"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=659"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}