Iacono, Herrin battle for seat in 156th House District

WESTCHESTER » Democratic West Chester Mayor Dianne Herrin is facing off against Republican businessman Len Iacono in a bid to seize outgoing state Rep. Carolyn Comitta’s seat in the 156th House District in the Nov. 3 election.

Both candidates discussed their qualifications and talked about what they consider priorities, during recent phone interviews.

Herrin, 58, has served as mayor for three years.

“I have brought transparency

to the issues,” she said. “I place a strong emphasis on constituent services and communications so everyone can take part in our community, and so we can all celebrate everything that is so great about West Chester.”

The Newtown High School graduate and Widener University graduate, with an English Literature degree, led the charge to create the borough’s OpenAir Marketplace and closing of Gay Street, which has sparked restaurant and shop business during the ongoing pandemic.

The photographer also led the Mayor’s Opioid Action Task Force to save lives lost to drug addiction and created the Affordable Housing Task Force, which works with the faith- based community to create more affordable housing.

The hiker also created the West Chester Diversity in Action Council and, as mayor, manages the West Chester Police Department.

Herrin is the Vice President for Practical Energy and Solutions, an energy efficiency consulting group. She is the married mother of two adult children.

The kayaker is running on a platform with planks known as the “Four E’s: Economy; Education; Environment; and Equity.”

“I will focus on small business support programs to help ensure their survival through these trying times,” she said. “I will continue to fight for small businesses just as I have done in West Chester when I created the Open- Air Marketplace.”

The mayor said she will seek fairer funding for schools and keep lobbyists out of education. She hopes to reform standardized testing and underperforming charter schools and reopen schools safely.

In seeking equity, Herrin plans to help redraw voting districts, address systemic discrimination, and increase access to quality education and health care.

“My track record is clear and strong,” she said. “I mean business, and I will keep fighting for everyone in the 156th District just as I have done as mayor of West Chester.”

Iacono lived in Drexel Hill and has called Chester County home for 23 years, while raising his children here.

“I loved the way Chester County looks,” said Iacono, who is a Republican Committeeman. “Chester County stayed as inviting and beautiful for my kids as it was for me.

“I liked what I saw froma distance. I love it even more after 23 years.”

If elected, Iacono has made plans to hang a sign in his office: “Welcome to the 156th District office. Don’t tell me which party you are, just have a seat and tell me what your concerns are,” the sign would read.

Iacono has worked for Verizon and in real estate. He is a U. S. Army veteran.

The Temple University graduate studied Architecture and earned a degree in Communications.

Although he was looking for candidates himself, an area Republican chair asked him to run for Comitta’s seat.

Iacono decided to run after being told that he never says “no” to any request.

“Whenever there is anything to be done, my hand is the first up,” he said.

The West Goshen Township resident is single, with three children. He was a Scout leader, a little league coach, and president of a high school fathers’ club. He has been active inhis church as both a lector and usher and is a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus. He designed and built sets for West Chester East’s Theater department.

He was the president of the Chester County Pro Life Coalition and a board member of PA Pro Life Union.

He is the auditor of West Goshen Township.

Iacono can read both Italian and Latin and enjoys tracing his roots to the 1500s.

The bocce ball player said he is “open to the needs of the people.”

He wants to “adjust” sales and earned income taxes to allow seniors to stay in their homes where they raised children.

He said he would fight the opioid epidemic, if elected.

“I would push for health care insurance companies to cover up to 90 days of behavioral health treatment,” he said.

Iacono supports school choice and wants to make schools stronger and safer.

The home- winemaker seeks more transparency in government and increased funding and emphasis on technical schools.

The 156th House District includes the borough of West Chester and the townships of Birmingham, East Goshen, Thornbury, Westtown, as well as part of West Goshen Township.