Kane leads Burman in 9th Senate District

Democrats John Kane and Brett Burman battled in the 9th Senatorial District during Tuesday’s primary to challenge likely incumbent and Republican Tom Killion, R-9, of Middletown on the November ballot.

As of press time, Kane led the race with 2,218 votes from Chester County municipalities and 1,092 votes from Delaware County municipalities for a total of 3,310 votes, while Burman had 854 votes from Chester County municipalities and 1,140 votes from Delaware County municipalities for a total of 1,994 votes.

All vote totals are unofficial until certified by the Chester County Board of Elections and may not reflect the final tallies of absentee or “no-excuse” vote by mail ballots.

The district covers Delaware and Chester counties.

Burman, 34, lives in Edgmont and is a former public school teacher and now health care consultant.

Burman is a reader of history and worked with Child Guidance Resource Centers, which provides mental and behavioral health sciences to youth at little or no cost.

He is an elected member of the Democratic State Committee. He is also the chairman of the board of auditors in Edgmont Township.

“We need health care and education reform and need leaders who are ready to govern on these issues from Day One,” said Burman, prior to the primary. “We need to restore state funding for education that’s been eroded over the past two decades.

The Eagles and Flyers fan is in favor of universal coronavirus testing.

“If we are going to get our economy up and running safely, we need to provide free and routine testing

for everyone,” he said.

The candidate also supports creating a public option for health insurance. Burman seeks reform. “Pennsylvania needs to ban gifts to legislators,” he said. “There is no limit on cash gifts, and I will create meaningful limits on campaign finance.”

Burman is a foe of the Sunoco Mariner East pipeline.

“I have been clear from Day One that these pipelines should have never been approved and should not operate unless there are comprehensive and credible safety measures paid for by Sunoco,” he said.

Kane, 59, is a master plumber and business manager of the largest plumbing union in the state. He lives with his wife and family in Birmingham Township.

“I spent my life fighting on behalf of working people and building relationships with respected elected officials,” the avid gardener said prior to the election.

The cancer survivor said he has experienced some extraordinary times.

“I understand the suffering that some families are going through,” the Class of 1978 Cardinal O’Hara graduate

said. “I can feel their pain.”

Kane has been in recovery for 36 years.

“My voice needs to be heard in Harrisburg,” the home remodeler said. “I’m not finished yet.

“I have a lot of motivation.”

Kane said he was “not a very good student” in high school. He favors increasing the public investment in education and vocational programs.

“A vocation is not a bad career,” said the man who enjoys walking his dog. “Everybody needs to get to the middle class.”

The Sunoco Mariner East 2 Pipeline right-of-way runs through Delaware and Chester counties.

“We should be holding pipeline companies accountable for safety and the environment,” Kane said.

Kane said too many people are dying from the opioid crisis.

“We’ve got to take a closer look at it,” he said. “Somebody has got to be held responsible.

“It breaks your heart. It doesn’t discriminate — white, black, yellow, rich or poor.”