Chester is not the only town that will see some bruising political battles come the spring primary.
Yes, the city's voters will be selecting both a new state rep to replace Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, who will be giving up his longtime 159th District, along with a new state senator, since Sen. Dominic Pileggi will be joining the bench on the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas in Media.
Upper Darby also is going to see something of a Democratic turf war.
Seventh District Councilwoman Sekela Coles this week announced she would challenge incumbent Democratic state Rep. Margo Davidson for her 164th District seat. That is the seat that was held forever by Mario Civera before he gave up his post in Harrisburg in favor of running for County Council. He is now council chairman.
It's not the first time Davidson has found herself in the crosshairs, and it's not the first time it's coming from her own party. Back in the May 2014 Primary, Davidson eked out a win over challenger attorney Billy Smith, who had attacked her for her pro-life stance and women's rights.
It's been a bit of a tough go for the Davidson family. The state rep's husband, Robert L. Davidson, lost a close battle in one of the county's only contested races for magisterial district judge. Republican incumbent Christopher Mattox managed to hold on to his seat by just a handful of votes. Davidson tallied 1,179 votes, to 1,152 for Davidson, according to unofficial returns.
Coles already is lining up some heavy hitters backing her campaign to unseat the incumbent.
Labor leader John Kane, who ran an unsuccessful campaign for the 26th District state Senate seat won by Republican Tom McGarrigle, attended Coles' kickoff rally and promised to deliver the labor vote for the challenger.
Kane is business manager for Plumber's Local 690 and vowed to deliver his 2,000 union members in backing Coles.
In the process he actually pulled an earlier endorsement for Davidson.
This one should be a barn burner.
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