Andy Dinniman

American politician (born 1944)

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 by| Bob Thompson
Succeeded by| Carolyn Comitta
Member of the Chester County
Board of Commissioners
In office
January 7, 1992 (1992-01-07) – June 19, 2006 (2006-06-19)
Preceded by| Patricia Moran Baldwin
Succeeded by| Kathi 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 (age 80)
Political party| Democratic
Spouse| Margo
Residence| West Whiteland Township
Alma mater| University of Connecticut
University of Maryland
Pennsylvania State University
Profession| University Professor
Website| senatordinniman.com

Andrew E. Dinniman (born October 10, 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.

## Early life and education

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

## Early political career

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

### 2006 special election

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "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. Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. 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.

## External links

[edit]

* State Senator Andy Dinniman official caucus website
* Senator Andrew E. Dinniman (D) official PA Senate website
* Andy Dinniman for PA Senate official campaign website

* Profile at Vote Smart
* Follow the Money \- Andy Dinniman
* 2006, 2008 campaign contributions

Pennsylvania State Senate

Preceded by

Bob Thompson

|  Member of the Pennsylvania Senate
from the 19th district
2006–2020  | Succeeded by

Carolyn Comitta

Political offices
Preceded by

Patricia Moran Baldwin

|  Member of the Chester County Board of Commissioners
1992–2006  | Succeeded by

Kathi Cozzone

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* FAST

National|

* United States