Dinniman to Hold State Senate Seat

State Sen. Andrew Dinniman was reelected Tuesday night to serve a second full term as a Pennsylvania state senator representing the 19th district.

Dinniman defeated Republican challenger Chris Amentas, an East Fallowfield Township Supervisor, by about 16 percentage points.

He celebrated the victory at his Exton campaign headquarters with more than a dozen supporters—family, staff and volunteers, and his dog Henry. 

Dinniman was a Chester County Commissioner when he was elected to state senate in 2006 to serve out the term of the late state Sen. Robert Thompson. He was re-elected to a full term in 2008.

Looking to the six years ahead, Dinniman said he hopes to improve the state's education system, avoiding a "one-size-fits-all" approach to reforming schools. The state senator holds a degree of doctor of education from Penn State University and is the minority chair on the senate's education committee.

He also plans to turn his attention to Marcellus Shale energy exploration, and minimizing its impact on Chester County.

"What our problem will be—the first stage has started—the second stage will come in the next 4 to 6 years, and that's getting it to market," he said. "That means gas lines coming through this county, crossing rivers, as the Brandywine, crossing streams, dealing with conservation easements."

Dinniman also said he hopes to pass legislation that would increase penalties for abuse of pets, and move such cases from the purview of the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Health. 

"Often pets are abused in domestic disputes, as a way of getting even with a spouse," Dinniman said, calling it a form of psychological abuse, as well. 

In 2012, the state assembly passed Daniel's Law, legislation sponsored by Dinniman to end the gassing and drowning of dogs as a form of euthanasia in shelters.