Andy Dinniman

Andrew E. Dinniman (born 1944) is an American politician who served as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 19th District from June 2006 until 2020.

Andy Dinniman
Andy Dinniman in 2021.
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate
from the 19th district
In office
June 19, 2006 (2006-06-19) – November 30, 2020 (2020-11-30)
Preceded byBob Thompson
Succeeded byCarolyn Comitta
Member of the Chester County
Board of Commissioners
In office
January 7, 1992 (1992-01-07) – June 19, 2006 (2006-06-19)
Preceded byPatricia Moran Baldwin
Succeeded byKathi Cozzone
Member of the
Downingtown Area School Board
In office
December 1, 1975 (1975-12-01) – December 3, 1979 (1979-12-03)
Personal details
Born (1944-10-10) October 10, 1944
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMargo
ResidenceWest Whiteland Township
Alma materUniversity of Connecticut
University of Maryland
Pennsylvania State University
ProfessionUniversity Professor
Websitesenatordinniman.com

Early life and education

Dinniman was born in New Haven, Connecticut. 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.[1]

Teaching career

Dinniman Taught at Prince George Community College and West Chester University.[2]

Early political career

Dinniman's first elected position was as a member of Downingtown school district's board of school directors. 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.[1]

County Commissioner

Dinniman later served as Chester County commissioner for three terms, beginning in 1991. During his three terms as commissioner, Dinniman was the body's only Democrat.

Pennsylvania State Senate

2006 special election

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. The special election pit Dinniman against his fellow county commissioner, Republican Carol Aichele. 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 the 1920s.[3]

Pennsylvania Senate, District 19: May 2006 Special Election[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Andy Dinniman 21,614 56.2
Republican Carol Aichele 16,822 43.8
Total votes 38,436 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

2008 election

Dinniman faced re-election in 2008. He handily defeated Republican Steve Kantrowitz, a retired U.S. Navy Admiral,[5] with 57.8% of the vote.

Pennsylvania Senate, District 19: November 2008 General Election[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Andy Dinniman (incumbent) 84,846 57.8
Republican Steve Kantrowitz 62,026 42.2
Total votes 146,872 100.0
Democratic hold

2012 election

Dinniman faced re-election in 2012. He handily defeated Chris Amentas, an East Fallowfield Township supervisor, with 57.45% of the vote.

Pennsylvania Senate, District 19: November 2012 General Election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Andy Dinniman (incumbent) 83,589 57.45
Republican Chris Amentas 61,914 42.55
Total votes 145,503 100.00
Democratic hold

2016 election

Dinniman faced re-election again in 2016 against Republican Jack London. He handily won with 56.33% of the vote.

Pennsylvania Senate, District 19: November 2016 General Election[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Andy Dinniman (incumbent) 75,615 56.4
Republican Jack London 58,456 43.6
Total votes 134,071 100.0
Democratic hold

Committee assignments

At the time of his retirement, Dinniman sat on five committees: Education; Communications and Technology; Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Environmental Resources and Energy; and State Government. He was the ranking Democrat on the Senate's education committee.[1]

Retirement

After initially preparing for a re-election campaign, Dinniman announced he would not seek another term and retire at the end of 2020.[9] He was succeeded by Carolyn Comitta.

Potential congressional candidacy

In 2009, the non-partisan political newspaper The Hill 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.[10] Dinniman, however, ultimately did not enter the race.[11] He endorsed Manan Trivedi, a doctor from Reading, who went on to win the Democratic primary, but lost the fall general election to Gerlach.[12]

References
  1. "Senator Andrew 'Andy' E. Dinniman". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved November 27, 2011.
  2. "Andrew e Dinniman".
  3. Petersen, Nancy (May 18, 2011). "Chesco Senate Election Surprise". The Daily Local News. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
  4. "2006 Special Election for the 19th Senatorial District". Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information. Pennsylvania Department of State. 2004. Archived from the original on 2008-11-28. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
  5. "State endorsements: Fuhs, Dinniman, Quigley get the nod". The Mercury. October 29, 2008. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved November 27, 2011.
  6. "2008 General Election". Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information. Pennsylvania Department of State. 2008. Archived from the original on 2012-02-06.
  7. "2012 General Election". Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information. Pennsylvania Department of State. 2008.
  8. "2016 General Election". Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information. Pennsylvania Department of State. 2016.
  9. Fernandez, Cynthia. "Longtime Pennsylvania State Sen. Andy Dinniman is retiring". The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  10. Jacobs, Jeremy P. (July 15, 2009). "Republicans could find it hard to hold on to Pennsylvania Rep. Gerlach's seat". The Hill. Retrieved July 16, 2009.
  11. Kristie, Dan (August 17, 2009). "Dinniman not running for Congress". The Daily Local News. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
  12. Kristie, Dan (November 6, 2009). "Dinniman endorses Trivedi for 6th District". The Daily Local News. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved November 27, 2011.
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