About Andy
Senator Dinniman voted for a state budget that did not raise taxes, while investing additional funds in education, alternative energy, and transportation infrustructure. He fought for and passed legislation creating the ChesLen Nature Preserve, 1,068 acres of open space in Newlin and West Bradford townships.
Dinniman believes that society has an obligation to help those in need. In 1993, he helped found West Chester's Safe Harbor Homeless Shelter. And in 1994, he conceptualized and helped start the Chester County Gleaning Project, which to date has collected more than 350 tons of fresh produce for local residents in need. Dinniman realizes that government can't do it all, but it can create public-private partnerships and inspire local citizens to solve the social needs in their community.
A long-time supporter of the area's historical and natural resources, Dinniman purposely located his district office in a restored 19th century building at One North Church Street in the center of West Chester. Dinniman believes preserving "open spaces and historic places" is vital to being able to maintain our areas quality of life and special sense of place.
In Harrisburg, Dinniman is minority chairman of the Senate's Education Committee, and also serves on the Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Consumer Affairs and Professional Licensure, Environmental Resources and Energy, Local Government, State Government, and Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committees.
As a Senator, Dinniman has been appointed to serve on the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority, the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee, the Pennsylvania Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Council, the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, and the Pennsylvania Wing of the Civil Air Patrol. Dinniman also sits on the Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Community College, and Joint House and Senate Autism Caucuses.
Dinniman, his wife, Margo, and his Standard Poodle, Henry, live in West Whiteland Township. The Dinnimans' daughter, Alexis, works at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA.