education

Democratic gubernatorial debate slated

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By Jeremy Gerrard, Daily Local News, 10/29/13

WEST CHESTER – Three gubernatorial candidates seeking the Democratic nomination and a chance to oust incumbent Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett will face off in a debate at West Chester University Wednesday evening.

Candidates John Hanger, Jo Ellen Litz and Max Myers accepted invitations to attend the debate.

So far, eight Democrats have declared themselves candidates in the upcoming 2014 governor election.

All declared candidates were invited to attend.

“It’s a good chance for all concerned, I think, and not just the candidates,” said Nathaniel Smith, borough resident and debate organizer. “This is going to be a very big race and the issues.”

The debate will begin at 7 p.m. in the Philips Autograph Library in the Philips Memorial Hall located at 700 S. High Street in West Chester. The room is located upstairs above Asplundh Concert Hall.

The debate is being sponsored by the SAC and the Political Science Department at West Chester University.

The candidates will field questions from attendees, mainly students, and will likely touch on education, fracking, environment and partisanship.

West Chester University student MaryBeth Sadow helped coordinate the event. As the contemporary issues chair of the student activities council, Sadow said the group tries to bring in a few events each year focused on current topics. An international relations major, Sadow said she wanted to do something to engage the students with what was happening at the state and local government level.

“I wanted to give them the opportunity to speak to the source,” Sadow said.

While there are a variety of issues to discuss, Sadow said she thinks students will be focused on education with questions tailored toward support for higher education and rising tuition among the students concerns….

read more at Daily Local News

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Education emphasis: John Hanger for Governor bus stop in West Chester

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John Hanger, Democratic candidate for Governor in 2014, is taking a bus tour on July 25-28 to several stops across SE PA, where he will speak on education issues (such as increasing public school and university funding and requiring greater accountability of charter schools).

On Wednesday June 26, he will address the public from the platform outside the back of the bus at West Chester University at 4:30 p.m., in the 700 block of S. Church St., east side, on the street adjacent to Ruby Jones and Anderson Halls, just south of University Ave.

Hanger and a few local speakers will address those gathered, and Hanger will answer questions, for a total of about 45 minutes.

John Hanger has been Commissioner of the PA Public Utility Commission (promoted deregulation and consumer choice of electricity sources) under Governors Casey and Ridge, founding President of PennFuture (environmental non-profit), Secretary of the PA Department of Environmental Protection (championed alternate energy, energy conservation, and environmental regulation) under Governor Rendell…

To learn more about John Hanger’s campaign or to contribute online, please visit www.hangerforgovernor.com./

Cassandra Jones for Bret Binder

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letter to West Chester Democrats

It is my honor and privilege to endorse Bret Binder, the Democratic Party candidate for State Representative in the 156th District. While Bret and I ran against one another in the Primary Election, we kept things civil, honest, and forthright, because that’s the only way Bret and I know how to live our lives. Although Bret won the primary, I did not lose heart, because I know Bret will make a fine State Representative.

Bret is a lifelong Pennsylvanian and Democrat, and he is committed to fighting for the people of the 156th District. For these reasons, I will be campaigning with Bret and knocking on doors leading up to the election on November 6th. Likewise, I hope that you will also join forces with Bret’s campaign.

This is an important election and a critical time for our country. While many of us may be focused on the presidential race, we must remember the impact of local elections. The recent budget cuts to public education and social services, attacks on women’s rights and on our civil liberties, and the environmental give-away of our Marcellus Shale natural gas deposits demonstrate the ways in which Harrisburg is failing to represent our best interests. This local election for State Representative is considered to be the most important House race in Pennsylvania. Consequently, Bret must win, and I am confident that he will win with the support of people like you.

Bret has pledged to protect women’s rights, and has spoken out strongly against the invasive ultrasound bill which his opponent co-sponsored. He is also committed to fighting against voter suppression laws that have been designed to disenfranchise minorities and the elderly voters.

As a product of Pennsylvania public schools, Bret is also a strong supporter of our public education system. In addition, he will sponsor legislation to protect the environment, ensuring that Marcellus Shale drillers give back to Pennsylvania through a fair severance tax and are held accountable for safe drilling practices. As a small business owner, Bret understands the importance of small businesses — they are the backbone of our local, state, and national economy. Bret understands the need to earn a sustainable and livable wage and is committed to helping Pennsylvanians get back to work. I know Bret to be a creative and intelligent thinker. It’s time to bring a problem solver to Harrisburg, a problem solver like Bret Binder.

Please visit Bret’s website at www.bretbinderforpa.com; visit and like Bret’s Facebook page through the website; or give the campaign a call at (610)-696-5904 to find out how you can help. And, most importantly, vote for Bret Binder on November 6th.

Sincerely,

Cassandra Jones,
Ward 2E Democratic Committeeperson