2016 election

THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM

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The Chester County (Pennsylvania) Democratic Committee believes in Freedom, Fairness, and Opportunity for all Americans, regardless of what they believe, who they are, and where they came from. Join CCDC in making Chester County a better place for all!

We have a chance to fundamentally shape the future of our country.
But that will only happen if all of us work together — starting right now.

Watch Our Video!

Every four years, the Democratic Party puts together our party platform, the ideas and beliefs that govern our party as a whole.

What follows is our 2016 platform — our most progressive platform in our party’s history and a declaration of how we plan to move America forward. Democrats believe that cooperation is better than conflict, unity is better than division, empowerment is better than resentment, and bridges are better than walls.

This party platform was voted on and passed by our membership at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia in 2016. The platform will be updated and re-approved at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.

Download 2016 Party Platform PDF

Platform Contents

To read the entire platform, choose a section to jump ahead or scroll down.

Preamble

Raise Incomes and Restore Economic Security for the Middle Class

Create Good-Paying Jobs

Fight for Economic Fairness and Against Inequality

Bring Americans Together and Remove Barriers to Opportunities

Protect Voting Rights, Fix Our Campaign Finance System, and Restore Our Democracy

Combat Climate Change, Build a Clean Energy Economy, and Secure Environmental Justice

Provide Quality and Affordable Education

Ensure the Health and Safety of All Americans

Principled Leadership

Confront Global Threats

Protect Our Values

A Leader in the World

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History repeats in the 156th!

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Mayor Carolyn Comitta

Mayor Comitta

History repeats in the 156th! In 2006: Barbara McIlvaine Smith 11,616, Shannon Royer 11,588 – winning margin of 28. In 2016: Carolyn Comitta 18,261, Dan Truitt 18,236 – winning margin of 25.

It’s nice to be in one of the state’s few remaining swing districts, where candidates campaign vigorously, voters pay attention, and the result hangs in the balance even after election day.

WC Borough Dems congratulate Mayor, and now Representative, Carolyn Comitta!

It’s official: Comitta will represent 156th district after ballot recount

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By Adam Farence, Daily Local News
Posted: 12/16/16, 4:17 PM EST

Mayor Carolyn Comitta

Mayor Carolyn Comitta

WEST CHESTER: Carolyn Comitta can now officially call herself state Representative Comitta after a hearing Friday afternoon determined she would represent the 156th legislative district in Harrisburg.

Comitta, a Democrat and the mayor of West Chester, had challenged Dan Truitt, R-156, of East Goshen, for his spot on the state legislature.

Common Pleas President Judge Jacqueline Carroll Cody presided over the hearing. Comitta was represented by Samuel Stretton, a longtime county Democrat and attorney and Truitt was represented by Curtis Norcini.

“I appreciate that you all pursued everything you did to ensure the integrity of the election process,” Cody told everyone assembled.

Truitt was not present for the hearing, and did not return a request for comment.

“We wanted to make sure that every valid ballot was counted, and that whoever won was the people’s choice,” Comitta said after the hearing. “I’m grateful to all the voters, all the volunteers, voter service, and Dan Truitt for his graciousness and service to our community.”

Both attorneys told Cody that they had agreed with the results of the recount, which put Comitta ahead of Truitt by 25 votes, putting her total at 18,267 to Truitt’s 18,242. Comitta’s campaign had filed for a recount after unofficial results from election day declared Truitt the winner.

Comitta extended her thanks to all her campaign staff and workers, including Stretton.

“I am honored to serve as representative for the citizens of district 156 and look forward to working together to make our wonderful community even better for all.”

To contact Daily Local News staff writer Adam Farence, email afarence@dailylocal.com, or call 610-235-2647.

156th district update: looks good!

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After the election, it appeared that Carolyn was behind by a small margin. Now that the usual collection of ballots not included in the official results, notably those coming in from overseas voters, have been counted, we hear that she is leading by 18 votes! Yes, every vote counts.

There will be a hearing 12/1 to determine which provisional ballots will be counted. Often, those ballots (in the rare cases that they are counted) favor Democrats.

So it is almost time to be optimistic!

This will all have a feeling of déjà vu for those who remember Barb McIlvaine Smith’s narrow victory under similar circumstances in 2006.

Comitta Campaign Update

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Some of you may have heard a rumor, about the status of the race in the 156th District. We are pleased to report that we have an unexpected update to the outcome.

On Election Day, Carolyn’s votes were 78 fewer than her opponent. There were some ballots cast which we knew had not been counted, which is why Carolyn didn’t concede the race.

On Monday we reviewed the 107 Provisional ballots, (ballots cast on Election Day if a voter was not found on the list of voters, but believed they should be eligible to vote). The Provisional Ballot Board rejected over 80 ballots, but we challenged that determination, hoping to allow every vote to count. There were also Military/Overseas ballots which had an extended deadline to be received by Voter Services on 11/15.

Today we reviewed and counted these ballots, and as of today, Carolyn’s votes are +18.

There will be a hearing on Tuesday, 11/22, at 9:30am to allow the Election Board to hear our argument on why each of those Provisional ballots should be counted. After the outcome of that hearing, we will know what the vote count will be.

We feel cautiously optimistic that the outcome will be in our favor.

Carolyn wanted me to express her gratitude to all of you, for all your help and support. Watch this space as we learn more in the next few days. We promise to report out to you, what the final determination of these ballots will be on Tuesday and if there is any further action to be taken.

Warmest appreciation,

Lani Frank
Campaign Manager Friends of Carolyn Comitta

West Chester 3rd Ward council seat filled

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By Adam Farence, Daily Local News, 11/09/16

WEST CHESTER >> Democrat Michael R. Galey won re-election to the West Chester Borough Council Tuesday after defeating Republican Carl Mancini in a contest to represent the borough’s 3rd Ward.

The final count puts Galey at 752 votes and Mancini at 410, according to election results released by the county. All results are unofficial until certified by the county’s Board of Elections.

“I’m honored to continue my representation of the 3rd Ward,” Galey said in a phone call Wednesday.

Borough council members serve four-year terms, and are eligible for re-election once. Galey’s term will expire in 2020. The 3rd Ward is in the southwestern section of the borough, and voting took place at the Reformed Presbyterian Church at 312 W. Union St….

continue reading at Daily Local News

UNBELIEVABLE OPPORTUNITY! Come meet Governor Wolf & Senator Casey in West Chester!

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Governor Wolf, Senator Casey, and Attorney General candidate Josh Shapiro really need Carolyn Comitta in Harrisburg!! So, they are coming to West Chester Sunday at noon to show their support and to encourage everyone to help Carolyn get over the top.

Volunteers for Carolyn should not miss this exclusive opportunity to meet our governor and senator, before heading out to canvass for Carolyn. If you were thinking about helping Carolyn with canvassing or phone banking, this is the time to come out and devote 2 hours to the campaign.

Please RSVP to ComittaCampaign@gmail.com and let us know you will be there for Carolyn. Don’t miss this great opportunity to meet our leaders, and help elect our next State Representative.

Every day, voters are telling Carolyn that Harrisburg is broken, and needs someone with her skills to bring people together. As your State Representative, Carolyn Comitta will be a leader who gets things done. Please share with your friends if you agree!! In case you had any doubts, we need YOU to HELP! We need to elect the best people from the White House to the State House.

Again, that’s ComittaCampaign@gmail.com. We’re waiting to hear from YOU!!

Please help Carolyn win this race. She is working hard, meeting new neighbors and new supporters, but she cannot do it alone. Please find a few hours to help put Carolyn over the top. She will always be there for you, but she needs you now to get there. Your support is the key to our success.

She is ready to serve the 156th District in Harrisburg. With your support, she’ll get there.

Thanks for all you do.

Warmly,

Lani Frank, Campaign Manager for Carolyn Comitta

P.S. Can’t join the dignitaries then? Volunteer to help Carolyn at any time here.

Toomey: Gun control moderate with an NRA A rating?

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Letter sent to the Phila Inquirer 10/31/16

Pat Toomey on gun control is as phony as a 3 dollar bill (Inquirer, 10/31). Even as he writes legislation to provide more background checks, Toomey cut the budget of the FBI and ATF, to provide the criminal background database, that would make such background checks more accurate and complete. Toomey has fooled a lot of people with such phony “moderation.” Gabby Giffords has endorsed both Toomey and Mike Fitzpatrick with such shennanigans. The true thermometer of gun control was Toomey’s Grade-A rating by the NRA, which Toomey bragged about in paid ads until 3 weeks ago. It was only when critics proved the lie of Toomey’s moderation with his A-rating, that the NRA recently lowered his grade to a C+. Would you have thought the NRA would have noticed before now? This most effective of lobbies? Follow the money.

Ben Burrows