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Delco GOP picks McGarrigle for Pa. Senate seat

jzauzmer@phillynews.com 610-313-8207 @JulieZauzmer

    by By Julie Zauzmer, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER MEDIA Delaware County's Republican leaders have picked Thomas McGarrigle, the County Council chair, as their candidate in the 2014 primary to succeed retiring Sen. Edwin "Ted" Erickson (R., Delaware). Andy Reilly, the county party chair, said that a committee of party leaders in the senatorial district chose from a field of four that also included State Reps. Joseph Hackett and Nicholas Miccarelli, and the county's executive director, Marianne Grace. "He's well known. People like him. He's a genuine, decent person," Reilly said of McGarrigle. "He really resonates well with Delaware County voters." McGarrigle was first elected to the five-member council in 2007 and became chair after his reelection in 2011. If he were elected to the Senate, he would leave the council one year before the end of his term. He could not be reached Thursday. Erickson has held the seat since April 2001 after he won a special election to succeed Sen. Joe Loeper, who was sent to federal prison on obstruction charges. Erickson last won reelection in 2010 with 58 percent of the vote. Democrats are hoping that voters who come to the polls in the 2014 general election planning to vote against Republican Gov. Corbett will help them take the Senate seat. "Right now all indications are that this is going to be a good year for Democrats," said David Landau, head of the county Democrats. He said that John Kane, leader of the Philadelphia Area Plumbers Union and a resident of Ridley Township, has started fund-raising and likely would be the only Democratic candidate for the seat at the time of the party's convention in February. "He presents a really striking contrast with the Republican candidate on many issues," Landau said. He then mentioned several of Corbett's stances - not McGarrigle's. "We think he's much more in line with the voters of Delaware County on schools, women's health, and labor issues.", Inquirer
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