Andy Dinniman
Encyclopedia
Andrew E. "Andy" Dinniman is a Democratic
member of the Pennsylvania State Senate
who has represented the 19th District
since June 2006.
. He received his BA
from the University of Connecticut
in 1966, and his MA
from the University of Maryland
in 1969. He also holds an Ed.D from Pennsylvania State University
.
. He was first elected to this position in 1975, and held the post until 1979. In 1979, Dinniman was elected chairman of the Chester County
Democratic Committee, a position he held until 1985.
commissioner for three terms, beginning in 1991. During his three terms as commissioner, Dinniman was the body's only Democrat
. After the death of Republican Senator Robert "Bob" Thompson
in 2006, Dinniman sought and attained his party's nomination to run in the ensuing special election.
. In what was considered a political surprise, Dinniman won with 56% of the vote, becoming the first Democrat elected to represent Chester County in the state Senate since 1890.
, with 57.8% of the vote.
reported that Dinniman was "reportedly eyeing a run" for the Democratic nomination in the congressional seat
being vacated by Republican Jim Gerlach
, who was, at the time, running for governor
. Dinniman, however, ultimately did not enter the race. He endorsed Manan Trivedi, a doctor from Reading
, who went on to win the Democratic primary, but lose the fall general election to Gerlach.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Pennsylvania State Senate
Pennsylvania State Senate
The Pennsylvania State Senate has been meeting since 1791. It is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such...
who has represented the 19th District
Pennsylvania Senate, District 19
Pennsylvania's 19th Senatorial district includes parts of Chester And Montgomery Counties.The district is currently represented by Democrat Andrew Dinniman.Chester County* Charlestown Township* Downingtown* East Bradford Township* East Caln Township...
since June 2006.
Education and early life
Dinniman was born in New Haven, ConnecticutNew Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
. He received his BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
in 1966, and his MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
from the University of Maryland
University of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
in 1969. He also holds an Ed.D from Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
.
Early political career
Dinniman's first elected position was as a member of Downingtown school district's board of school directorsDowningtown Area School District
The Downingtown Area School District is a school district based in Downingtown, in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The district operates ten Elementary Schools, two Middle Schools and two High Schools, soon to be four...
. He was first elected to this position in 1975, and held the post until 1979. In 1979, Dinniman was elected chairman of the Chester County
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
Democratic Committee, a position he held until 1985.
County Commissioner
Dinniman later served a Chester CountyChester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
commissioner for three terms, beginning in 1991. During his three terms as commissioner, Dinniman was the body's only Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. After the death of Republican Senator Robert "Bob" Thompson
Robert J. Thompson
Robert J. Thompson was a Republican member of the Pennsylvania State Senate.-Early life:A native of West Chester, Pennsylvania, Thompson earned a degree in journalism from Penn State University in 1959. He then worked as a photographer for the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, published in-house...
in 2006, Dinniman sought and attained his party's nomination to run in the ensuing special election.
2006 special election
The special election pit Dinniman against his fellow county commissioner, Republican Carol AicheleCarol Aichele
Carol Aichele is an American politician and teacher. She currently serves as Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.-Teaching career and early political involvement:...
. In what was considered a political surprise, Dinniman won with 56% of the vote, becoming the first Democrat elected to represent Chester County in the state Senate since 1890.
2008 election
Dinniman faced re-election in 2008. In a spirited campaign, he defeated Republican Steve Kantrowitz, a retired U.S. Navy AdmiralAdmiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
, with 57.8% of the vote.
Committee Assignments
Dinniman currently sits on five committees: Education; Community, Economic and Recreational Development; Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Environmental Resources and Energy; and State Government. He is the ranking Democrat on the Senate's education committee.Political future
In 2009, the non-partisan political newspaper The HillThe Hill (newspaper)
The Hill, a subsidiary of News Communications Inc., is a newspaper published in Washington, D.C. since 1994.Its first editor was Martin Tolchin, a veteran correspondent in the Washington bureau of The New York Times....
reported that Dinniman was "reportedly eyeing a run" for the Democratic nomination in the congressional seat
Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district
Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District was substantially redrawn in 2002. Its strange shape brought charges of gerrymandering by Democrats who argued it "looms like a dragon descending on Philadelphia from the west, splitting up towns and communities throughout Montgomery and Berks Counties." ...
being vacated by Republican Jim Gerlach
Jim Gerlach
James "Jim" Gerlach is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.- Early life, education and career :...
, who was, at the time, running for governor
Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 2010
The Pennsylvania gubernatorial election of 2010 was held on November 2, 2010. The winning candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor will serve a four-year term from 2011 to 2015. Candidates for Lieutenant Governor were nominated in a separate primary contest; however, the Lieutenant Governor,...
. Dinniman, however, ultimately did not enter the race. He endorsed Manan Trivedi, a doctor from Reading
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
, who went on to win the Democratic primary, but lose the fall general election to Gerlach.
External links
- State Senator Andy Dinniman official caucus website
- Senator Andrew E. Dinniman (D) official PA Senate website
- Andy Dinniman for PA Senate official campaign website