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Battle Looms for Earll Senate Seat

By Keegan Gibson, Managing Editor

When Jane Earll retires at the end of her term, the popular 14-year incumbent Republican will leave behind one of the most competitive state Senate districts in Pennsylvania. Both parties have made recruiting a top-tier candidate a priority.

Several sources confirm that Republicans will tap Janet Anderson, a former staffer in Earll’s office and the Ridge administration who is currently the Executive Director of the Northwest Regional Planning and Development Commission.

She turned in her two weeks notice at the Commission last week.

Ron DiNicola, a prominent attorney who represents business interests of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, has ruled out a run the Erie Times News reports. He’s also a former congressional candidate (in 1996 against Rep. Phil English) and similarly declined to challenge Rep. Mike Kelly this year.

Expect this race to be the top state Senate campaign in Pa. in 2012 when the Democrats choose a nominee. It’s the party’s best pickup opportunity of the cycle.

The registration favors Democrats 55 to 34 percent; the district went for Obama in 2008 and Casey in 2006; and Dems trend around 60 percent in any given election, all other things being equal.

4 Responses

  1. I also know Jason. I as a committeeman of the Erie County GOP, as well as the many disgruntled members of the ECRP will attest to the ambiguity of how Jason preformed as Executive Director of the ECRP.
    The dissension and distrust many members have in the ECRP can be related to the past two years of the Executive Committee.
    I personally will learn as much as possible about Janet Anderson and pass the information on to all fellow TEA Party members as well GOP members with the hopes of supporting someone that is business oriented instead of someone that is otherwise incoherent to the basic needs of developing a friendly workable environment.

  2. Sal. Doug.
    How about thinking a little bit outside of the norm? Janet is super sharp. Jane is too and has done a ton of great work. Both of their talents are better utilized elsewhere, until the voting population is educated beyond the embarrassment that we experience today.

  3. I hope Jason decides to run. I got to know him while working on save the 814, and he is a very sharp person. He would serve Erie County well. Jane is leaving some pretty big shoes to fill, but I think he is up to the challenge.

  4. I’m not sure about her, but rumor has it in Erie that another former Ridge staffer, Jason Owen, will be tapped to the Republicians top candidate.

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