Dinniman with his wife, Margo, and dog, Henry, during a walk in East Bradford.
Known by the people of Chester and Montgomery counties simply as “Andy,” Senator Andrew E. Dinniman has been recognized as an advocate for communities and families through three decades in public service.
That vision and leadership led to his 2006 election and reelection in 2008 and 2012 to the Pennsylvania Senate, representing Pennsylvania’s 19th District.
Prior to serving in the legislature, Senator Dinniman served for 15 years as a Chester County Commissioner, making him the longest-serving commissioner in county history. As Commissioner, Andy demonstrated a true commitment to the future of Chester County by taking on some of the region’s most difficult issues. He worked to found the Safe Harbor Homeless Shelter, the Chester County Gleaning Project and served as one of the principal architects of Landscapes, the county’s award-winning open space plan. Both as a commissioner and a state senator, Andy also has consistently opposed tax hikes and increases in spending.
Dinniman, as a Chester County Commissioner, during a visit to Reeves Park in Phoenixville, circa 1993
Before being elected county commissioner in 1991, Senator Dinniman served on the Downingtown Area School Board and the West Whiteland Municipal Authority. A teacher and community leader, he has been honored by numerous environmental, education, veterans’ and service groups: the NAACP, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Exton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Safe Harbor of Greater West Chester, the Human Relations Council of Greater West Chester and Pennsylvania Citizens for Better Libraries.
In the Senate, his priorities include economic security and job growth, local government control over local issues, open space preservation, access to education, health care reform, historic preservation, energy independence and quality-of-life issues.
Dinniman being sworn in to his second term in the Pennsylvania Senate following his 2008 reelection.
Senator Dinniman serves as minority chairman of the Education Committee and is a member of the Community, Economic and Recreational Development, Environmental Resources and Energy, Agriculture and Rural Affairs and State Government committees.
Senator Dinniman is also a member of the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority and the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee.
He also serves on the Education Commission of the States, the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the Pennsylvania State Public School Building Authority, the Pennsylvania Higher Educational Facilities Authority, and the Pennsylvania Wing of the Civil Air Patrol.
In addition, Senator Dinniman belongs to the BIGS (Big Brothers and Big Sisters) Caucus, the Brain Injury Caucus, the Community College Caucus, the Diabetes Caucus, the Early Childhood Education Caucus, Fire and Emergency Services Caucus, the International Commerce Caucus, the Joint House and Senate Autism Caucus, the Legislative Hunger Caucus, the Life Science and Biotechnology Caucus, the Nonprofit Charitable Caucus, the YMCA Legislative Caucus and the Muhlenberg German-American Caucus.
Dinniman resides in West Whiteland Township with his wife, Margo. Together they have a daughter, Alexis.