Residents Reject Tax Raise That Would Have Funded Increased School Security
Voters soundly rejected a plan to raise property taxes to fund additional security at Chartiers Valley School District.
Conor Lamb Wins…
After his big special election win earlier this year, Conor Lamb was uncontested Democratic primary in PA’s 17th Congressional District.
…But Bridgeville Is Getting A Different U.S. Congressman
However, if you live in Bridgeville, Conor Lamb won’t be your Congressman next year, due to changes in the Pennsylvania electoral map. Beginning in 2019, Bridgeville residents will be most likely be represented by Democrat Mike Doyle who has served in U.S. Congress since 1995. He is running unopposed in the fall general election.
Bridgeville Might Get A New State Senator, Too
Speaking of Conor Lamb, his opponent in the special election earlier this year—Rick Saccone—took another L last night. Republican Guy Reschenthaler beat Saccone in the race to be the GOP candidate for the newly drawn PA 14th Congressional district.
Although that district is entirely outside of Allegheny County, Reschenthaler is currently Bridgeville’s state senator. Chances are very good that Reschenthaler ends up in D.C. next year, leaving his state senate seat vacant.
Ortitay vs. Timmins for State Representative
Incumbent State Representative Jason Ortitay, a Republican from South Fayette, will face Byron Timmins, a Cecil Democrat in the race for the 46 State House District, which includes Bridgeville.
Trump’s ‘Good Friend’ Secures Senate Nomination (Though His Opponent Won The Bridgeville GOP Vote)
The race for Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate seat this fall will be a referendum on Donald Trump’s presidency.
Yesterday, Trump’s “good friend,” U.S. Congressman Lou Barletta, handily won the Republican nomination, defeating PA State Rep. Jim Christiana.
Although Barletta won 63% of the vote statewide, Bridgeville Republicans supported his opponent 60% to 40%, or 135 votes to 90.
In a recent robocall to voters, Trump said that Barletta was “a very special guy” who “is strong on the wall” and “has already cut your taxes.”
As mayor of Hazleton, Pa., Barletta enacted a controversial “Illegal Immigration Relief Act.” Much of that legislation was later ruled unconstitutional by multiple federal courts and left the city owing $1.4 million in fines and court costs—almost 15% of its annual budget.
In the fall, Barletta will face incumbent U.S. Senator Bob Casey, who for years was a leading contender for Most Boring Man Ever Elected To Public Office. Just Google “Bob Casey boring” and you’ll find 451,000 results.
But after a decade of dullness, recent events have sparked just the tiniest bit of life in Casey, who is one of 10 Democratic senators running for re-election in states that Trump won in 2016.
Scott Wagner Wins GOP Gubernatorial Nomination
Businessman Scott Wagner won the GOP nomination for governor. A multi-millionaire who never attended college, Wagner is running as a “pissed off” blue collar, anti-union Republican against incumbent Tom Wolf whose persona might best be described as “scholarly.”
Photo: Planet Russell / CC BY-NC 2.0