New candidate announces for special Delco election

DELAWARE COUNTY

New candidate announces

for special election

MEDIA As both political parties have ramped up for a special election in the 161st District, a third candidate has entered the mix.

On Monday, Lisa Esler, a board member for the Penn-Delco School District, publicly announced a write-in campaign for the district's state House seat. The seat was vacated in April by Joe Hackett, a Republican who resigned three months into his third term in office.

Earlier this month, the Delaware County Republicans nominated Paul Mullen, the business manager of Electricians Local 654, for the seat. The county Democrats nominated Leanne Krueger-Braneky, who ran against Hackett for the seat in November 2014.

Esler, who identifies as a Republican, has been publicly critical of Mullen and is mounting her write-in campaign against him.

The special election is set for Aug. 4. - Caitlin McCabe