Day: November 14, 2016

Val DiGiorgio Fails GOP In Chesco — Chester County GOP boss Val DiGiorgio is reputedly next in line as state party chairman. Hopefully, his fellow Republicans consider Chesco’s performance Nov. 8 before making it official.

Donald Trump lost the county, which Mitt Romney won in 2012, by 25,000 votes. The party pointedly avoided backing Trump.

Congressional candidate and Lloyd Smucker lost the conservative part of the county that is part of the 16th congressional district by more than 4,000 votes. Smucker was not supported by the GOP activists there whom DiGiorgio had alienated.

While Smucker’s margin in Lancaster County was more than enough to carry him to victory, that he lost an area he should have won big speaks ill of those running things.

John Rafferty, whose 44th Senate District includes much of Chester County, won the county by but 50 votes out of 267,000 cast in his failed bid for state Attorney General. Could DiGiorgio’s ties to the Democrat winner have caused him to put forth less of an effort than he should?

One can only speculate.

Dan Truitt won re-election to his 156th District State House seat by less than 80 votes in a strong Republican year. (UPDATE: He lost by 25 votes. Way to go Val.) Jack London lost the 19th District state senate seat, despite much pre-election braggadocio by DiGiorgio, and spending huge amounts of resources.

DiGiorgio has  picked puzzling fights with many of the county’s most staunch Republicans causing what appears to be permanent divisions. The only motive we can figure is to avoid scrutiny by those most concerned about good government to maximize patronage opportunities.

He will be a disaster for the party if he becomes state chairman.

Val DiGiorgio Fails GOP In Chesco