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Chesco results for House seats not yet clear

It was not known if Obama's coattails would boost local Democrats' fortunes.

Republican Comitteeman Joseph O'Connell talked on the phone outside Devon Preparatory School yesterday morning.
Republican Comitteeman Joseph O'Connell talked on the phone outside Devon Preparatory School yesterday morning.Read moreED HILLE / Staff Photographer
    by By Nancy Petersen, Inquirer Staff Writer
    Published 

Ticket splitters were alive and well in Chester County. With almost half the vote in, Barack Obama was leading John McCain, but it was unclear how many Democrats would be swept into state office on his coattails.

Late yesterday, the outcome of several contested races in Chester County for state representative, including races for two open seats, was not clear, with Republicans and Democrats trading the lead throughout the night, according to unofficial returns.

In the West Chester area, incumbent Democrat Barbara McIlvaine Smith, 58, engaged in a spirited rematch with Republican Shannon Royer, 41, an outreach worker for the state Republican caucus, in her bid for a second term.

Two years ago, Smith defeated Royer by 28 votes after a lengthy and contentious recount. Early returns show that this contest is another tight race with Smith hanging on to a narrow lead.

Democrat Paul Drucker and Republican Guy Ciarrocchi were also in a close race in their bid to replace retiring Republican Carole Rubley, who represents Tredyffrin and Schuylkill Townships, Phoenixville, and a small sliver of Montgomery County.

Drucker, 63, a lawyer, and Ciarrocchi, 44, whose most recent job was chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach (R., Pa.) duked it out in a nasty air and ground war that was going strong right up until yesterday.

The same was true in the in the 13th District, which covers the southwestern part of the county, where three candidates were running to replace the retiring Art Hershey.

Democrat Tom Houghton, a lawyer and township supervisor who turned 40 yesterday, was running neck and neck with Republican John Lawrence, 30, a banker. Independent Ron Hershey, 50, who is no relation to Art Hershey, was coming in a distant third.

In other races, freshman Republican State Rep. Duane Milne held a 3-2 lead over his Democratic challenger, Carol Palmaccio, in the 167th District in eastern Chester County.

Republican Tim Hennessey held a 55 percent to 45 percent lead over his Democratic challenger, Fern Kaufmann, for the 26th District seat, which includes northern Chester County and Coatesville.

In the 19th Senate District, Democrat Andrew Dinniman easily won a new term, defeating Republican Steve Kantrowitz.

Republican State Reps. Chris Ross and Curt Schroder had no opposition.