By Keegan Gibson, Managing Editor
Former State Rep. Tom Houghton has announced that he will challenge PA Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi in 2012.
Houghton, who won the 13th district seat in Chester County during the wave election of 2008, but lost it during the wave election of 2010, sent a message to friends and supporters that he will challenge Pileggi next fall. He now works as an attorney.
“The three biggest issues facing the people of the 9th district are property tax reform, jobs, and smart/managed growth” Houghton wrote in a statement now posted on his facebook fan page. “I believe the residents deserve a legislator who makes decisions based on his constituents’ needs, not on his own personal desires to remain in leadership.”
The statement matches that sent by Houghton to friends and supports by email yesterday.
Houghton lost his re-election bid to State Rep. John Lawrence by ten points in November (he had defeated Lawrence by 1.3 percent in 2008).
He faces an uphill climb against Pileggi, who coasted to a strong 17 point re-election victory in 2008, despite the Obama effect. Oh, and he’s the Majority Leader.
And that’s if his West Grove (Chester County) residence is still in Pileggi’s district after the lines are redrawn during reapportionment this year.
Correction: An earlier version of this story indicated that Houghton’s former district was the PA14. In fact his was the 13th.
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7 Responses
That was a voter approved income tax and as a result, a large farm over 75 acres has been saved and others are possibly in line. Saved land means fewer kids in our schools. Education cost $25,000 for 2 kids – on avg in each house – s more houses results in higher school property taxes! Tom supported this strategy to protect open space, which lowers our property taxes. This was approved by voters!
Russ- You have to be kidding me. Because of Tom we get to pay this wonderful Earned Income Tax in London Grove Township for a Parks and Rec. Department. Let’s really be honest here.
Tom Houghton most certainly did NOT raise taxes. He lowered property taxes by 9% and stopped development from reaching London Grove Township’s agricultural zone. The only reason he lost the 2010 state representative race is because out of state interests flooded the voters with mail pieces that were blatant lies. We could use a little more truth in this debate. We could also use an honest man like Tom as our state senator!
Senator Pileggi is a statesman and a patriot. He represents his district and the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with dignity. While I don’t live in his district, I will certainly volunteer my time to help reelect the Senator.
Peliggi probably put him in the race so Peliggi would have an opponet to raise money against.
This is the funniest thing I have ever read. Houghton ONLY won a state house seat b/c of the Obama wave.
For god’s sake, he lost to Art Hershey his first time around,while illegally buying booze for his fundraisers out of state.
As a local official, he skyrocketed property taxes AND new development.
Pileggi will absolutely kill him…at which point I expect Houghton will announce his run for Congress or US Senate.
Good for Tom! He’s going to give Pileggi the fight of his life. If you recall, Dominic’s last opponent raised about 20k and was not very visibile at all.
Also, Sy, Tom was in the 13th, not the 14th.