Ex-Chesco D.J. Dan Maisano announces bid for 9th District Senate seat
A former Chester County magisterial district judge has announced his intention to appear as the Democratic candidate for the open 9th District state Senate seat, although he was a longtime Republican and the Delaware County Democratic Party’s leader said he will face a primary opponent.
Delaware County Court of Common Pleas Judge Dominic F. Pileggi resigned from his Senate post Sunday before assuming his judicial duties Monday, leaving the 9th District vacant. It straddles both Delaware and Chester counties. This term expires at the end of this year so candidates will run in a special election, to be held coincidentally with the April 26 primary, and the regular fall election.
On Tuesday, Dan Maisano, 64, a former Magisterial District Judge from Kennett, announced his candidacy as a Democrat, with the Chester County convention scheduled to occur on Jan. 27 and another in Delaware County four days later..
“I think I can win it,” Maisano said. “I think there is a unique set of circumstances. Now, it’s a vacant seat.”
He added that in a presidential year, more Democrats would be anticipated to show up at the polls.
In addition, he said the Chester County portion of the 9th District comprises most of his former magisterial district, which he relinquished to run in this election.
“I am well known there,” Maisano said. “I have bipartisan support. Overall, I have great name recognition, I have bipartisan support here. I have lots of campaign expe- rience.”
Val DiGiorgio, chairman of the Chester County Republican Party, said Maisano is disappointed he didn’t get the Republican nomination for Chester County Common Pleas judge.
“After being a lifelong Republican, he decided to switch to Democrat in a seat that a Democrat really doesn’t have that much of a shot,” DiGiorgio said.
He added that Chester County and Delaware County Republicans will nominate a candidate Thursday, whom he described as a strong candidate who will hold onto that Senate seat.
Last month, state Rep. Tom Killion, R-168, of Middletown, announced his intention to seek the GOP nomination.
Regarding Killion, DiGiorgio said, “Tom is a strong candidate and I have every confidence that he’ll end up being the candidate.”
Delaware County Democrats did not have as firm supportive comments about Maisano as they said they plan to field their own candidate.
“The 9th Senatorial seat is a crucial race in 2016,” Delaware County Democratic Party Chairman David Landau said. “Tom Killion’s recent votes against adequate education funding and working families, among other votes, have badly hurt the residents of the district. The Delaware County Democrats will be supporting the best candidate to defeat Tom Killion. This seat is predominantly in Delaware County and I understand there is terrific candidate from Delco who will be announcing shortly.”
Landau said the Delaware County candidate has the support of local Democratic leaders.
Maisano has said his goal is to work on equitable education, particularly for disadvantaged school districts, a severance tax on natural gas extraction, property taxes and dwindling emergency services volunteers.
He pointed out that there were more than 300,000 volunteers in emergency services four decades ago in Pennsylvania and now, there are 50,000.
“The need for volunteers has grown proportionately, but the number of volunteers has gone down,” Maisano said.
He said an incentive needs to be offered to attract young men and women to get in- volved, as replacing Pennsylvania emergency services volunteers with full-time employees would cost $10 billion.
“That’s a huge problem and it needs to be addressed,” Maisano said. “No question about it.”
The 36-year attorney with more than two decades’ experience as a magisterial district judge spoke of how he once had a law firm in Media.
“Having lived and worked in both counties, I can contribute to both and fairly represent both,” the married father of three said.
He said his willingness to quit his job to pursue this speaks to his motivation.
“I feel that at a federal and a state level we have gridlock,” Maisano said. “Something has to be done. I feel passionate enough that things are not getting done ... I resigned my position as a judge. I did it because I feel like I can make a difference.”