2008 Woodie Awards
Beyond the Blackboard: Andrew Dinniman
Brian Fanelli
Issue date: 2/15/05 Section: Features
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A West Chester University professor of international studies and global perspectives does not just teach politics to students. He also uses his role as a Chester County Commissioner to spark change, address poverty issues, help the needy and protect farm land from developers.
WCU professor Andrew Dinniman, who is the longest serving county commissioner since 1722 when the position was created, has used his political career to help the poor, protect farm lands and unite different communities and groups behind various causes. Dinniman is one of three county commissioners in Chester County, and heʼs also the minority commissioner, working as a Democrat with two Republican commissioners.
County commissioners act as a legislative and executive branch combined. They control the 911 and emergency systems, fund the local courts and prisons and create parks in the county. "You [The county commissioner] are the voice for the people of the county. You have the responsibility to speak up for Chester County," said Dinniman.
Over his four terms as a county commissioner, Dinniman has been driven to help the poor. He stated that some of the wealthy elite in Chester County do not want poor people or people of moderate incomes living in the area. "The greatest problem in Chester County is not racism, sexism, or anti-Semitism. Itʼs classism," he said. As a county commissioner, Dinniman has created programs to help the poor in the area, such as the Safe Harbor Shelter, which provides shelter and food to the countyʼs homeless. "We will not be judged in 50 or 100 years on how wealthy we are, but what we did with our wealth," he said.
He also reaches out to Christian groups in the area. Dinniman stated that the Evangelical Christian groups in Chester County help the poor the most. He said it is possible for local Democrats to succeed at reaching out to Christian groups that usually swing more towards Republican politics. "If you are a Democrat in Chester County, you have to learn to speak the language of Chester County," he said.
WCU professor Andrew Dinniman, who is the longest serving county commissioner since 1722 when the position was created, has used his political career to help the poor, protect farm lands and unite different communities and groups behind various causes. Dinniman is one of three county commissioners in Chester County, and heʼs also the minority commissioner, working as a Democrat with two Republican commissioners.
County commissioners act as a legislative and executive branch combined. They control the 911 and emergency systems, fund the local courts and prisons and create parks in the county. "You [The county commissioner] are the voice for the people of the county. You have the responsibility to speak up for Chester County," said Dinniman.
Over his four terms as a county commissioner, Dinniman has been driven to help the poor. He stated that some of the wealthy elite in Chester County do not want poor people or people of moderate incomes living in the area. "The greatest problem in Chester County is not racism, sexism, or anti-Semitism. Itʼs classism," he said. As a county commissioner, Dinniman has created programs to help the poor in the area, such as the Safe Harbor Shelter, which provides shelter and food to the countyʼs homeless. "We will not be judged in 50 or 100 years on how wealthy we are, but what we did with our wealth," he said.
He also reaches out to Christian groups in the area. Dinniman stated that the Evangelical Christian groups in Chester County help the poor the most. He said it is possible for local Democrats to succeed at reaching out to Christian groups that usually swing more towards Republican politics. "If you are a Democrat in Chester County, you have to learn to speak the language of Chester County," he said.
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