Paul Friel Wins House Seat Against 30-Year Incumbent; Voter Services

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — Democrat Paul F. Friel Jr. garnered 55.6 percent of the 29,723 total votes reported for a state House seat representing the 26th District, according to unofficial results reported Wednesday by Chester County Voter Services.

Incumbent Timothy F. Hennessey, a Republican who was elected in 1992, got 44.24 percent, or 13,150 votes, according to voter services numbers.

The numbers show Friel has 5,024 mail-in votes, and Hennessey got 926 mail-in votes.

The district covers East Coventry, East Nantmeal, East Pikeland, East Vincent, North Coventry, South Coventry, Warwick and West Nantmeal townships and the boroughs of Elverson, Phoenixville and Spring City.

Nov. 16 is the last day for the county board of elections to receive military and absentee ballots.

Winners are not official until approved by the Chester County Election Board on Nov. 28.

Friel is president of the Owen J. Roberts school board and a father of four. He owned and operated PACE Environmental, a Mid Atlantic environmental testing and engineering firm.

Friel spoke out at an abortion rights rally in Reeve’s Park , Phoenixville, that was covered by Patch in June in which lawmakers called on the community to turn Congress blue.

Hennessey, an attorney, is chairman of the state House Transportation Committee, where he is working on improving the state’s infrastructure. He sponsored legislation that was signed into law Nov. 3 to help prevent dangerous driving.