Yesterday I pointed out a couple of key local races to keep an eye on as flashpoints as we careen toward the polls in November.
Add another one to the list.
I have to admit the one person I thought was most at risk in the Delco Harrisburg delegation two years ago was one of the few members of the GOP to escape the blue wave that rolled across Delco.
Rep. Chris Quinn, R-168, had sparked considerable fury tied to his time on Middletown Township Council and some of the early work that cleared the way for the Mariner East 2 pipeline project, which cuts through the heart of the township.
Ironically, Quinn won his race.
Now it's time four Round 2.
Delaware County Democrats have endorsed Deb Ciamacca, a former high school social studies teacher, Marine Corp captain and manufacturing manager in the race.
“I am running to represent the working people of this district,” Ciamacca said. ”I will fight 24 hours a day for common sense gun safety, fair education funding, and environmental laws that protect our citizens, their property and that preserve Pennsylvania for future generations.”
The 168th District includes: parts of Marple, Middletown, Edgmont, Newtown, Upper Providence, and Thornbury townships as well as the boroughs of Media and Chester Heights in Delaware County.
Ciamacca decided to run after the deadly 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida,
Ciamacca taught AP US Government and Politics, AP Economics, World Cultures, and Criminal Justice at Conestoga High School in Berwyn for 19 years. She was also president of the Tredyffrin Easttown Education Association.
Prior to her education career, she worked as director of Manufacturing for Neutronics Inc, a family owned business in Exton, producing CFC recycling equipment, rebreathing devices for firefighters and mine rescue, and safety instrumentation for the chemical processing industry.
Ciamacca won a Naval ROTC scholarship to Penn State and was commissioned as a Marine Corps officer. She was the Adjutant/Legal Officer at the Camp Pendleton Correctional facility in California.
The oldest of six kids, Ciamacca was born in Massachusetts but moved to Pennsylvania when she was 12 after her mother passed away. She is married to Rich Ciamacca, an attorney and general counsel for a generic pharmaceutical company. They have one son, Chris, who lives in Phoenixville.
Ironically, the man who held the 168th seat for years, Tom Killion, will face a tough battle to hold onto his 9th District state Senate seat. Quinn won the seat after Killion moved over to the Senate.
Both are the last men standing when it comes to the Delco GOP presence in Harrisburg.
Longtime state Rep. Steve Barrar, R-160 of Upper Chichester, has announced he will retire at the end of this term and will n not run again.
The 160th is shaping up as another barn-burner. Delco Democrats have backed Cathy Spahr, head of the Chi Democrats. She will face a challenge in her own party from Kennett Square attorney Andton Andrew.
The Delco GOP has endorsed attorney Craig Williams in the race. He is hoping to win the backing of Chester County Dems next week.
In the 9th District race, longtime Delco labor leader John Kane has the backing of the Delco Democrats. Yesterday he picked up an endorsement from freshman U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-6 of Chester County. He's hoping the snag the seal of approval from Chester County Dems next week. He faces several challengers for the endorsement in Chester County.
Both the 9th District state Senate seat and the 160th House district cover parts of both Chester and Delaware Counties.
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