What a year it’s been! We began 2021 wondering how the country would survive an insurrection and a pandemic, prepared for a primary election that would place our candidates into yet more competitive local races, canvassed and campaigned through the summer and fall, and ultimately turned Chester County just a little bit more blue. Democrats Delivered!
Our hope is for a wonderful and fulfilling holiday season for you and yours, and a healthy and prosperous 2022. The next year is sure to be a critical one as we gear up for legislative and Congressional races. But let’s pause and enjoy 2021.
End of Year Message from our Chair
Greetings,
2021 was a year of challenges met and successes gained. The year began with an insurrection and a continuing pandemic, but also with the Inauguration of Joseph Biden and Kamala Harris. We also learned that the defeat of Donald Trump was not the end of our battle. The damage done during his presidency will take more than one election to undo.
Chester County Democrats have taken on the challenges, and we have gained not only in voter registration numbers, but in the number of elected officials at all levels of government within the county.
Working together, we are stronger than ever. Our unity going forward in 2022 is the key to our continued victories. We have strong 2022 candidates, and they deserve a CCDC united and willing to support every endorsed candidate on the Democratic ballot.
I want to thank everyone who has worked for our candidates and the committee. I have been fortunate to have many talented and committed volunteers giving their expertise and time. As Chair, I have benefited from your encouragement and alternate perspectives. The past six months have been personally fulfilling.
Many of us lost friends and family members during the pandemic and many of our neighbors’ lives have been devastated by Hurricane Ida and the damage it caused in the county. Please keep them in your thoughts and continue to support them any way you are able. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is how important personal connections are in our lives and to make us thankful we can once again gather.
I wish you and your families a Healthy and Happy New Year!
Charlotte
2022 Priorities from (several of) our Elected Officials (more coming in January)
Commissioner Josh Maxwell: We’re excited to implement our Climate Action Plan that we adopted in 2021 as well as onboarding a Sustainability Coordinator we included in the 2022 budget to help Chester County meet all of its environmental goals. We started by purchasing renewable energy certificates to offset the County’s greenhouse gas emissions, and now that we are able to implement our long term plan we can make sure Chester County is leading all of Pennsylvania on environmental issues. Our Climate Action Plan focuses on improving public health, creating jobs and fostering social equity by providing key performance measures and action items on projects related to Buildings and Energy, Transportation and Land Use, Waste Management, and Agriculture, Food and Forestry.
District Attorney Deb Ryan: My office’s goals for 2022 include reducing crime by implementing the Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative, along with the Office of the Attorney General, to divert those with substance use disorders directly into treatment instead of the criminal justice system, expanding our Youth Aid Panels throughout the county to help juvenile offenders, continuing our prevention education programs to eradicate child abuse, programs for those with mental health issues, and focusing on additional community engagement with our Task Force on Race & Justice to work toward improving relationships between law enforcement and our communities of color.
Coroner-Elect Sophia Jackson-Garcia: We intend to work with the Commissioners on improvements for the Coroner’s Office including a Forensic Facility, increasing our staff to handle the increase in case load and modernizing our daily functions.
Register of Wills Michele Vaughn: The Register of Wills focus in 2022 will be to introduce a new e-filing system. It will provide the convenience to file probates, adoption, and guardianship petitions electronically in lieu of coming into our office.
State Representative Kristine Howard (167th): My priorities have been making children safer and having opportunities to make their lives better. Fighting for a fair and transparent redistricting process is necessary to make that happen.
Sheriff Fredda Maddox: The Chester County Sheriff’s Office will continue to build bridges in the community, create diversity in law enforcement by providing scholarships, increase office efficiency through technology and maintain accountability to the public.
Clerk of Courts Yolanda Van de Krol: We will continue to document all of our processes to find efficiencies that will save taxpayer dollars and will ensure easier training for new and existing employees.
Democratic Party Registration Edge Grows in Chester County (and other Data Points)
Chester County Democrats will be glad to see that our winning messages, diversity and inclusiveness, highly qualified candidates and elected officials who deliver promised services, and support from volunteers and voters have all led to continued growth of progressive our party, increasing the registration edge over Republicans.
Vote by Mail (VBM)
Our strong effort to have voters sign up for VBM has made a positive difference and will continue to do so in 2022. Over 33,000 Dems voted by mail in 2021. Having voters mail in or drop off their ballots prior to Election Day not only increases turnout, but also makes the campaign to Get Out The Vote (GOTV) much easier. For example, 1,207 Democratic-registered voters (representing 4.5% of those voting by mail) voted in 2021 who had never voted before except in presidential election years. While we know that many voters still prefer to go to the polls in person, others can easily perform this civic duty despite having busy lives, health issues, or like having extra time to study and research their voting preferences.
Wanted: Committeepersons on the May 2022 Ballot
Committeepersons (CPs) are the heart of the Democratic Party. And ours are the best! But their four-year terms are about to expire in 2022. There are 230 precincts in Chester County, and each can have only two CPs. Currently these positions are about 85% filled, and not all current CPs intend to run again, so we may need you!
Committeepersons:
- Represent their precincts and party in each of the 20 Chester County Democratic Zones
- Attend zone meetings and help plan and implement political activities
- Elect CCDC’s officers in quadrennial reorganization meeting
- Work with other CPs and volunteers in the zone and precinct to canvass and encourage neighbors to vote for Democrats
- Greet voters at the polls on primary and general Election Days and provide them voting information
If interested, contact your local zone leader to see if there is a need in your precinct. Candidates will need to get at least 10 signatures from registered Democrats during the ballot petition signing period that begins February 15 to have their names placed on the May Primary Election ballot.
Redistricting Update
It’s also redistricting season. And the initial GOP-proposed Congressional map has been released. As shown, it divides Chester County in half, placing Downingtown (in the 5th) and Coatesville (in the 6th) into separate districts, and gerrymanders the US 6th District across three counties and over 80 miles, from Paoli to Hershey. Further, the ‘new’ 5th District would link the southern half of Chester County with much of Delaware County and into south Philadelphia. It also leans more Republican than the current PA Congressional map.
PA GOP-proposed redistricting map (2022)
Current PA Congressional District Map (2018
While there WILL be more maps and comment periods before Congressional and state legislative districts are finalized in February, the process will likely continue to the PA Supreme Court if Governor Wolf does not sign off on the final GOP legislature-proposed and approved plan. According to Fair Districts PA, an initial review suggests the current proposed map rates low on compactness, does little to advance minority representation, and locks in a significant advantage for the party that proposed it. And it clearly divides Chester County in a bad way. They must do better. Please continue to follow AND COMMENT as new maps are released!
For now, CCDC is calling for full transparency in the ongoing process. As the events of January 6th showed, our future depends on ensuring that we have elected officials from competitive districts, who feel and heed a responsibility to ALL those they represent, knowing voters will kick them out for illegal, unethical, or anti-democratic behavior.
Your One Thing to do…
There is no party without you and your support! Consider joining one of our sustaining member groups and help Chester County Deliver Wins!
CCDC’s True Blue Society is the donor organization that helps keep our office running and staffed. The True Blue Society gives our dedicated supporters a way to shore up the long-term financial needs of the local party’s operations, including the mortgage on our headquarters building in West Chester. Several times a year, members are invited to special speaker events open only to True Blue and Chair’s Club members.
The Chair’s Club, our premiere level of membership, provides a greater level of support for your local Democratic Party, and is primarily targeted for engaging an Executive Director. Members receive VIP access to candidates, celebrity guests, as well as free tickets to our True Blue Society speakers series and our spring and fall dinner fundraisers.
Or – you can always Donate whenever you feel the need!
Please Help if you can!
During this season of celebration, not all families share the same fortune; please consider donating to a local organization helping fight hunger and poverty.
| Chester County Food Bank 650 Pennsylvania Drive Exton, PA 19341 (610) 873-6000 |
Coatesville Community Food Co-Op 800 S. First Avenue – Greater Deliverance Church Coatesville, PA, 19320 (610) 384-1344 |
| Coatesville Emergency Food Cupboard 1001 East Chestnut Street Coatesville, Pennsylvania, 19320 (610) 383-6577 |
Community Youth and Women’s Alliance 423 East Lincoln Highway Coatesville, PA, 19320 (610) 384-9591 |
| Deacon’s Pantry at Covenant Presbyterian Church 400 Lancaster Avenue Malvern, Pennsylvania, 19355 (610) 648-0707 |
Jewish Relief Agency (610) 660-0190 |
| Kennett Area Community Service 136 West Cedar Street P. O. Box 1025 Kennett Square, PA, 19348 (610) 925-3556 |
Lord’s Pantry of Downingtown 141 East Lancaster Avenue Downingtown, PA, 19335 (610) 873-1149 |
| North Coventry Food Pantry (610) 469-0288 |
Octorara Area Food Cupboard 714 Main St, Parkesburg, PA 19365 (610) 857-4000 |
| Oxford Area Neighborhood Services Center, Inc. 35 N. 3rd Street Oxford, PA, 19363 (610) 932-8557 |
Phoenixville Area Community Services 257 Church Street Phoenixville, PA, 19460 (610) 933-1105 |
| Spring City Food Pantry @ First UCC 145 Chestnut Street Spring City, PA, 19475 (610) 948-5119 |
Avon Grove Church of the Nazarene 240 State Road West Grove, PA 19390 (610) 869-950 |
| ACT in Faith 212 South High Street West Chester, PA, 19382 (484) 324-8492 |
The People’s Pantry at Church Road 400 Lancaster Avenue Malvern, PA 19355 610-648-0707 |
| St. Rocco Center 9016 Gap-Newport Pike Avondale, PA 19311 (610) 268-3365 |
West Chester Area Senior Center 530 East Union Street West Chester, PA 19382 (610) 431-4242 |
| Project Outreach 145 Chestnut Street Spring City, PA 19475 (610) 948-5111 |
Pathstone 421 McFarlan Road Kennett Square, PA, 19348 (610) 925-5600 |
| St. Peter’s Episcopal Church 121 Church Street Phoenixville, PA, 19460 (610) 933-2195 |
West Chester Food Cupboard 545 E. Gay Street West Chester, PA, 19382 (610) 344-3175 |
Thank you!
