Dec. 15, 2011
TO: ALL POLITICAL CANDIDATES SEEKING THE RCLC ENDORSEMENT ON JAN. 24, 2012
SUBJECT: CANDIDATE VETTING PROCEDURE
In an effort to ensure that the Republican Party fields exceptional nominees for the Pennsylvania Legislature and Lancaster countywide offices, the Republican Committee of Lancaster County requires prospective candidates seeking its endorsement to supply the Committee with specific documents related to their background. These documents are consistent with those required by many Pennsylvania employers and school districts.
These documents include:
Valid PA Child Protective Services Clearance (Issue date must be within the past year)
Valid Criminal Record Check (issue date must be within the past year)
Valid Social Security Number Trace (Issue date must be within the past year)
Statement Of Financial Interests Form
Candidates seeking the endorsement for Representative in the Pennsylvania General Assembly should be prepared to demonstrate their compliance with Article II, § 5 of the Pennsylvania Constitution (“Senators shall be at least twenty-five years of age and Representatives twenty-one years of age. They shall have been citizens and inhabitants of their respective districts one year next before their election (unless absent on the public business of the United States or of this State) and shall reside in their respective districts during their terms of service”).
Candidates seeking the endorsement for a county-wide row office, should be prepared to demonstrate their compliance with Sec. 413 of the Lancaster County Code (“Qualifications of Elected County Officers.—No person shall be elected to any county office … unless he shall be at least eighteen years of age, a citizen of the United States and a resident of the county, and shall have resided within the county for one year next preceding his election.”)
Republican Committee of Lancaster County is contracted with Inquiries Inc., one of only eight organizations cleared by the FBI to conduct criminal background checks, and can conduct the background screenings listed above for one low price with the written permission of the candidate or prospective candidate.
All searches conducted by the Committee or documents or receipts of applications submitted to the Committee will be considered private, and no documents reviewed will be put before the Area Chairs or committee members of the Republican Committee of Lancaster County. Rather, a summary of the documents’ pertinent findings — excluding personal information such as Social Security numbers, birth dates, etc. — will be drawn up and presented to the candidate for review (Click here for sample). Upon reviewing the summary, the candidate will have the opportunity to provide any explanations for any particular findings. The summary, together with the candidate’s written explanations and financial statements, will then be made available to the Area Committees involved in the applicable endorsement so their members may review the material prior to the commencement of their straw polls.
Candidates are to have the clearances, checks and reports, along with a letter of intent to run, to the Republican Committee of Lancaster County no later than Dec. 23, 2011 at 2 p.m.
Click here for Sample Summary. This summary will be available to members of the Republican Committee of Lancaster County in advance of the Committee’s next endorsement convention on Jan. 24. To see sample Financial Interest Statements click here and fill out the form using the candidate’s or elected official’s election year for “filing year.”
The 2012 Republican Committee of Lancaster County Endorsement Convention is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the Eden Resort & Suites, 222 Eden Road, Lancaster, PA 17601-4216. Registration begins at 6 p.m.
