January 2025 Newsletter
In this Issue
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2025 Local Elections – why they are important
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Zone Leader Message
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What’s happening with the Brandywine Creek Democrats
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Primary Election Candidate Petitions
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Key Dates
2025 Local Elections – why they are important
In this ‘odd year’ election without legislative races, we will elect county (Court of Common Pleas) judges, several Chester County Row Offices (Controller, Treasurer, Clerk of Courts and Coroner), a Magisterial District Judge (in East Fallowfield), school board directors, township supervisors and auditors, and will vote to retain state-wide judges, including one State Supreme Court Justice.
Local officials, especially school board directors and township supervisors, have the most direct impact on daily life in our townships.
School Directors
We’ve seen extreme far-right Republican candidates that are well-funded by national conservative groups such as Moms for Liberty run to take over school boards under the guise of “parental rights” and push extreme curriculum, ban books, and work to bleed public school districts to the benefit of for-profit charter schools.
Fortunately, our three outstanding public school districts (Downingtown, Coatesville, and West Chester) have traditionally elected non-partisan directors supported by parents, teachers, and administrators. But beware of cross-filed Republican candidates on the Democratic ballot – be sure to learn about all the candidates and their positions and trust the endorsements from your precinct committeepersons who have engaged with and studied these candidates and their campaigns.
Township Supervisors
Township officials set budgets and property tax rates, manage zoning and residential & business growth, plan for open space and road improvements, manage township services, and make many other important decisions that affect us. Three township supervisors each serve non-concurrent six-year terms.
County and State-wide judges
We all want to have judges with experience that share our values and adjudicate cases fairly, and it’s important also that Democrats have a bench of experienced judges for state-wide judicial races when there are openings. At higher levels, things like constitutional matters (most recently on elections), business disputes, and criminal and civil appeals are decided.
Yes/No retention votes for three State Supreme Court justices, one Commonwealth Court justice, and one Superior Court justice – all Democrats running for another 10-year term – will be on the November ballot. Although judges are normally retained unless they have exhibited aberrant behavior (none have), Republicans have been planning to mount well-funded ‘No’ vote campaigns to attempt to oust them and cause new elections. We should note that the current State Supreme Court has protected under-attack women’s and voter’s rights effectively in their tenures.
County Row Offices
Most of the row offices manage important county services, but the County Treasurer manages tax collections, and the Controller audits all of the other county functions.
With voter turnout traditionally lower than even years when Congressional and National races are decided, voter engagement can make a huge difference in the results, and we encourage all our voters to follow the races and candidates and be educated voters on May 20 for the Primary and November 4th for the General Election.
Zone Leader Message: Introducing Joanne Hill
After 10 years as a committee person, I am honored to serve as Zone Leader for the Brandywine Creek Democrats. I am proud to be part of a team of hard-working volunteers and committee people who serve our community.
In 2025 we hold municipal elections, which are all about our kitchen table issues. County row offices, school board positions, township offices, and judicial races all matter, and we must win them all. By Democrats holding those seats, we protect our communities from chaos from the current Washington administration.
Here’s how you can help. We are looking for a candidate to run for school board in the West Chester Area School District and one for school board in East Fallowfield Township for the Coatesville Area School District. Let me know if you are interested in running for any of these offices.
Your donations matter. You may make a one-time donation or a sustaining one with our new ActBlue interface.
Please reach out if you have ideas and concerns. I look forward to serving as your zone leader and meeting you at one of our monthly meetings or events.
Joanne Hill
Zone Leader, Brandywine Creek Democrats
joanne.c.hill@gmail.com
What’s happening with the Brandywine Creek Democrats
For those that don’t know much about our organization, we comprise our elected and appointed Democratic Committeepersons and many volunteers within the 11 precincts in “Zone 7” of the Chester County Democratic Committee across our three townships. We meet monthly (normally the first Monday of each month) to plan election activities, outreach, and fundraising for Democratic Party candidates on the ballot and to cover and manage our small operating expenses. We communicate with voters directly when possible at their doors and through our website (brandywinecreekdems.org), and occasional social media posts and emails.
We are currently planning for circulating candidate petitions and will knock on some of your doors to get signatures during the petition signing period February 18 to March 11. We are beginning to meet and engage with all the announced candidates in preparation for making endorsements. We will especially learn about and notify voters of cross-filing Republicans listed on the Democratic Party ballot for school director and judicial offices.
We will continue to work towards the May 20 Primary Election, setting up volunteers and materials for Election Day, and generating sample ballots specifically identifying endorsed Democrats.
Primary Election Candidate Petitions
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