Donna Ellingsen Should Replace Val — One Republican bright spot in Pennsylvania in the Election Day disaster was Chester County’s Area 19 chaired by Donna Ellingsen who is county Chairman Val DiGiorgio’s long-time nemesis.
Val also chairs the State GOP but he refuses to let go the reins to Chesco.
That he really, really, really doesn’t like Donna is about the best resume enhancer you can ask for.
During Val’s tenure as county party boss, Chesco has gone from reliably Republican to solid D. He seems to be on the way to doing the same thing for the state since eking out a win to the top job in February 2017 over widely respected Lawrence Tabas.
Val’s well-paying day job is with Philly-based political fixer Stradley Ronan. You really think he cares about Republican voters?
Anyway, Donna’s area came through big for the Republicans. She brought home the votes for very good state Representative John Lawrence in the 13th State House District and got majorities for the congressional candidates despite big losses elsewhere.
Area 19 is anything but solid conservative. It includes Democrat bastion Oxford Borough and the biggest precinct is Lower Oxford East, which includes Lincoln University, that went almost 7-1 for the donkey party.
There was a lot of ticket splitting. Lou Barletta lost to Bob Casey by 2 points among the area’s U.S. Senate voters by our counting of the figures on the Chester County election site. Scott Wagner was trounced by 5 points in the gubernatorial race. Slick move on those bathroom bills, Scott.
Donna would be the perfect choice to replace DiGiorgio as Chester County GOP chairman. For those into identity politics and quotas, she is an immigrant, minority female. For the rest of us, she is effective, honest and was tough enough to stand up to the bullying over the last three years from DiGiorgio and his minions.
Do it Donna.
In a related Chesco matter, out-going Congressman (and Val minion) Ryan Costello has been blaming President Trump for the Republican losses in Southeastern Pa. A little birdie told us that Costello had to quit his re-election bid after it was learned he had some serious problems with election petitions. Please tell us that’s not true.
Bill, I hate to disagree with you but how can Donna Ellingsen fill Val’s shoes? Val has no policy beliefs to guide him and Donna Ellingsen is all about values and policy positions. Val cares only about personal power and what his position can do for him and Donna cares only about advancing conservative values. Val cares not at all about Republican voters and Donna’s concern is to help her constituents.
Ryan Costello is a quitter, pure and simple, regardless of the reason.
–Lou Barletta lost to Bob Casey by 2 points among the area’s U.S. Senate voters by our counting of the figures on the Chester County election site. Scott Wagner was trounced by 5 points in the gubernatorial race. —
You know where the prob is when state peeps lose and local peeps win.
LOL! Bill Lawrence, I am trying to be a Voice in the Wilderness, shining a light on behalf of the oppressed and downtrodden. Most politicos don’t like that, and the #SusquehannaSwamp is deeply entrenched with “good people” buttering their own political bread. Yet others will die before they will admit to being wrong.
Thanks for the kind words and commendation.
Very welcome, Donna.