Rep. Joe Pitts

From 5 to 6 p.m., we’ll have pizzas available, and other light refreshments.

WHO: Anyone who has circulated petition for an endorsed Republican candidate in Lancaster County or Pennsylvania
WHAT: A Party (featuring Pizza and refreshments) to get their petitions notarized and thank people for their hard work
WHEN: Monday, Feb. 13, 2012 from 5 to 8 p.m.
WHERE: Lancaster County Republican Headquarters, 902 Columbia Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603
WHY: Because we’re Republicans and we help each other!

DON’T FORGET!

Please be sure to circulate petitions for the committee person in your district. Tonight might be an excellent opportunity to have your committee person petition circulated. Leave them at headquarters, and we’ll be sure to submit them with the Lancaster County Board of Elections before the deadline.

Also remember: for Pennsylvania House and Senate races, the petition filing deadline is Feb. 16, 2012. In Lancaster County, this affects the following endorsed candidates:

• PA Sen. Lloyd Smucker of the 13th Senatorial District
• PA Rep. Ryan Aument of the 41st Legislative House District
• PA Rep. Candidate Keith Greiner of the 43rd Legislative House District
• PA Rep. Candidate Tom Garman of the 96th Legislative House District
• PA Rep. John Bear of the 97th Legislative House District
• PA Rep. Dave Hickernell of the 98th Legislative House District
• PA Rep. Gordon Denlinger of the 99th Legislative House District
• PA Rep. Bryan Cutler of the 100th Legislative House District

For federal and statewide candidates, the deadline to file nominating petitions is still Feb. 14, 2012. These candidates include:

• U.S. Rep. Joseph R. Pitts of the 16th Congressional District
• U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan of the 7th Congressional District
• U.S. Senate candidate Steve Welch
• PA Attorney General candidate David Freed
• PA Auditor General candidate John Maher
• PA Treasurer candidate Diana Irey Vaughan

The Republican Committee of Lancaster County is requesting that all petitions be submitted no later than Monday Feb. 13. To help expedite any late filers, we’re holding a petition notarization party at Lancaster County Republican Headquarters from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday evening There will be pizza and refreshments.
A special thank-you to notary Kay Brubaker, who has graciously offered her services for the evening!

Anna Mae Ressler

Long-standing Republican Committee Woman Anna Mae Ressler passed away Wednesday at the age of 79.

Ms. Ressler was a committed member of the Ephrata Area Republican Committee, serving as secretary, treasurer and vice-chair. Just one week before her death, Ms. Ressler was in attendance at the RCLC endorsement convention in Lancaster.

“Although I did not know Anna Mae for very long, I feel fortunate to have known her at all,” RCLC Chairman Ethan Demme said upon learning the news Thursday. “Her impact on the Republican Committee of Lancaster County was immeasurable. She was an amazing woman who will be sorely missed.”

A patriotic American and ardent Republican supporter, Ms. Ressler also was a member of Lancaster County ACTION and served the Ephrata community with dignity and honor.

Born in West Earl Township, Lancaster County, her family moved to Manheim Township when she was a youngster, and she attended Manheim Township schools.

Active in the E.C. Church since 1961, Ms. Ressler served as Sunday school teacher, steward, Vice President of the official board, Lay delegate for 15 years, youth leader, choir member, soloist, worship leader and librarian. She was also an avid student of the Bible. As a 17 year Lay witness missioner, she traveled to nine Eastern states in addition to Germany, Scotland, and New Zealand.

Life celebration services will be held at Grace E.C. Church, 101 North 7th Street, Akron, PA on Sunday, February 5 at 4 p.m.

♦ On Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012, state Sen. Mike Brubaker of the 36th Senatorial District is hosting a breakfast at the Eden Resorts and Suites (222 Eden Road in Lancaster) with the help of his fellow endorsed candidates for delegate to the Republican National Convention.

Besides Brubaker, endorsed RNC Delegate candidates attending the event include Lancaster Township Area Republican Committee Chair Ann Womble and former RCLC Chairman Dave Dumeyer. Endorsed RNC Alternate Delegate candidates scheduled to attend include current RCLC Chairman Ethan Demme, former Lancaster City Council Candidate Marilyn Schnee and Pequea Valley Area Republican Chair Katherine Wood-Jacobs. Two notaries, Kay Brubaker and Karen Becker have graciously volunteered to provide notary services at a designated time at the event. The event will be held from 7:45 to 9:30 a.m. While breakfast is complimentary, RSVPs should be sent to Ann Womble at aswomble@gmail.com.

♦ Also on Feb. 8, notary Karen Becker has offered to notarize petitions for our endorsed Republican candidates from 5-7 p.m. at Lancaster County Republican Headquarters (902 Columbia Avenue in Lancaster).

♦ On Saturday, Feb. 11, Rep. Dave Hickernell, of the 98th Legislative House District, will be hosting a “Petition Notarization Party” at the Gathering Place (6 Pine Street in Mount Joy) from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. as a thank-you to those who have circulated nominating petitions on behalf of Lancaster County’s endorsed Republican candidates. Refreshments will be served.

♦ State Sen. Lloyd Smucker has worked diligently to set up a variety of dates, times and locations throughout the 13th Senatorial District where petitions for endorsed Republican candidates can be notarized. They include:

• Wed, Feb. 8, 6–8 p.m.: District Judge Benner’s office (324 Beaver Valley Pike in Willow Street)
• Wed, Feb. 8, 6–8 p.m.: District Judge Miller’s office (2205 Oregon Pike in Lancaster)
• Wed, Feb. 8, 6–8 p.m..: District Judge Commins’ office (15 Geist Road in Lancaster)
• Wed, Feb. 8, 6–8 p.m.: District Judge Keller’s office (841 Stehman Road in Millersville)
• Date & Time TBA: Nikolaus & Hohenadel law office (215 E. State St in Quarryville)

♦ Finally, on Monday, Feb. 13, 2012, Republican Headquarters (902 Columbia Avenue, Lancaster, PA) will host notary Kay Brubaker from 5 to 8 p.m. Ms. Brubaker has graciously offered her time and services to ensure any last-minute petitions for endorsed Republican candidates are notarized correctly.

If you have information about dates, times and locations where notary services will be available for those who have circulated petitions for our endorsed Republican candidates, please contact Justin Quinn at jquinn@goplancaster.com.

Excerpt of PA Supreme Court Order

This morning, the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal/New Era ran an article on B2 by reporter P.J. Reilly that incorrectly asserted that nominating petitions collected on Jan. 24 and 25 are invalid.

While the Pennsylvania Supreme Court did invalidate the maps associated with the Legislative Reapportionment Commission’s plan last week, the Court Order says clearly, “Any signatures on nomination petitions dated January 24 or January 25, 2012, shall be deemed valid as to timeliness, subject, however, to any other statutory challenge [our emphasis].”

Executive Director Justin Quinn spoke this morning with an official at the Lancaster County Board of Elections who confirmed that the story in the Intel/New Era was incorrect and that petitions signed on Jan. 24 and 25 will still be accepted, providing they comply with the law in every other way.

A printable copy of the court order can be found here.

Another error implied in the article is that the deadline to file nominating petitions was moved from Feb. 14 to Feb. 16. While this is true in the case of Pennsylvania House and Senate races, it is UNTRUE in the cases of U.S. Congress, U.S. Senate and Pennsylvania Auditor General and Pennsylvania Attorney General. It is also UNTRUE for those running for Congressional Delegate to the Republican National Convention. In these cases, the deadline to file petitions REMAINS Feb. 14.

This means that we essentially have TWO calendars (for now). One for the House and Senate candidates, and one for everyone else. While the reapportionment saga is confusing, Lancaster Newspapers has unfortunately added to the confusion. To ensure that our candidates have valid signatures, the RCLC is encouraging petition gatherers to do two things:

First, gather petitions in areas of the Legislative House Districts that were unaffected by either the old (existing) maps or the new (invalid) maps. This will give our candidates the best possible chance of having valid signatures when the maps are finally redrawn.

Second, we’re asking petition gatherers to view Feb. 14 as the deadline. This will ensure that any confusion regarding the “adjusted” calendars won’t have any adverse bearing on the validity of the signatures being submitted.

We understand this is confusing and in most cases frustrating. We appreciate your patience and will keep you apprised of changes as they occur!

David Freed

Meet David Freed:

Featured Speaker at the Annual Lincoln Day Dinner

6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012

Elizabethtown College, Meyer Hall, Susquehanna Room

David Freed was sworn in as Cumberland County District Attorney on December 28, 2005 becoming at that time the youngest District Attorney of a Fourth Class County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  He was elected without opposition to a full term in November, 2007 and re-elected without opposition in 2011, leading a winning ticket in Cumberland County.

Prior to taking over as District Attorney, he served as First Assistant District Attorney for five years, handling a caseload including homicides, violent felonies, complex drug transactions and arson cases.  David Freed previously served as an Assistant District Attorney in Cumberland County and a Deputy Prosecutor in York County.  He also worked in the private practice of law concentrating on insurance defense litigation.

David Freed received his B.A., cum laude, from Washington and Lee University and his J.D. from the Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law.  He lectures frequently on various law enforcement topics including Trial Advocacy, Victims Rights and Services, Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, DUI and Juvenile Justice.  David has lectured for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, The Pennsylvania District Attorneys Institute and was a faculty member of the National College of District Attorneys National Advocacy Center in Columbia, South Carolina.

He is an elected member of the Executive Committee of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association (PDAA).  David Freed also serves as Chairman of the Education and Training Committee, planning all CLE accredited training programs for Pennsylvania’s prosecutors.  In addition, he serves as Chairman of the PDAA Communications Committee.

David Freed is frequently called upon to give testimony regarding matters of interest for PDAA before the Pennsylvania Senate and House of Representatives, most recently on holding sex offenders accountable by closing loopholes in Megan’s Law, a package of gun bills, a bill regarding law enforcement powers for Sheriffs and the recent creation of “sexting” legislation.  In addition, he has testified before a joint meeting of the United States House of Representatives Judiciary and Education and Labor Committees regarding perspectives on Juvenile Justice.

David Freed resides in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania with his wife Amy (Zimmerman) Freed and their children Thomas, 10, Elizabeth, 8, and Natalie, 5.

To learn more visit the following links:

• Website
• Facebook
• Donate

• In the 16th Congressional District, state Sen. Mike Brubaker, former County Chairman Dave Dumeyer and Lancaster Township Area Republican Chair Ann Womble were unanimously endorsed to be delegates to the Republican National Convention Aug. 27-30, 2012 in Tampa, Fla.
• In the 16h Congressional District, Republican Committee of Lancaster County Chairman Ethan Demme and former Lancaster City Council Candidate Marilyn Schnee were unanimously endorsed to be alternate delegates to the Republican National Convention.
• In the 7th Congressional District, Pequea Valley Area Republican Chair Kartherine Wood-Jacobs was unanimously endorsed to be alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention.
• In the 7th Congressional District, Patrick Meehan was unanimously endorsed to be U.S. Representative.
• In the 16th Congressional District, Joseph R. Pitts was unanimously endorsed to be U.S. Representative.
• In the 13th Senatorial District, Lloyd Smucker was unanimously endorsed to be Pennsylvania Senator.
• In the 15th Senatorial District, no endorsement was made.
• in the 19th Senatorial District, no one sought the endorsement.
• In the 13th Legislative House District, John Lawrence was unanimously endorsed to be Pennsylvania Representative.
• In the 37th Legislative House District, Mindy S. Fee and Stephen Black were seeking the endorsement. The 37th Legislative House District Committee voted to “recommend both candidates for consideration” by a simple majority.
• In the 41st Legislative House District, Ryan Aument was unanimously endorsed to be Pennsylvania Representative.
• In the 43rd Legislative House District, Keith Greiner was endorsed by a margin of 31 to 13 votes to be Pennsylvania Representative.
• In the 98th Legislative House District, Dave Hickernell was unanimously endorsed to be Pennsylvania Representative.
• In the 99th Legislative House District, Gordon Denlinger was unanimously endorsed to be Pennsylvania Representative.
• In the 100th Legislative House District, Bryan Cutler was unanimously endorsed to be Pennsylvania Representative.
• In the 128th Legislative House District, Mark Gillen was unanimously endorsed to be Pennsylvania Representative.
• In the 129th Legislative House District, Jim Cox was unanimously endorsed to be Pennsylvania Representative.

l

Chairman Demme

Orders of the Day

County Endorsement Convention for the Full Committee

6:00 PM REGISTRATION/6:30 PM Start Time

ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING CANCELED

Eden Resort
Tuesday, January 24, 2012

For a printable version click here

I.       General Provisions

1.         The call of the roll is waived and the registration shall be used to establish the presence of a quorum.  Proxies (Article I, Section 3, E.) must be filed with the Secretary before or during the initial roll call of the meeting.  Additional proxies will not be accepted after that time.

2.         Procedural votes shall be determined by voice vote.  If the Chairman is unable to determine a majority by voice vote, a standing count shall be taken.  Endorsement and all other votes shall be determined by the number of Committee members present and eligible to vote at the time of the vote and casting a valid ballot. Any voting member who finds it necessary to leave the meeting or arrives late is required to notify staff at the registration/credentials table so that the number of votes necessary for endorsement, placement on subsequent ballots, or all other votes may be adjusted accordingly.

3.         There shall be a motion and a second to adopt the Agenda and the Orders of the Day.

4.         Visitors, including the press, may observe the proceedings of the Convention from the designated areas.  Visitors shall remain seated and quiet, may not display signs or placards, and may not participate in the Convention.  No recording devices will be permitted during the meeting.  The Chairman may remove from the room any person except for voting members of the Committee and their proxies, officers, and appointees.

5.         Out of courtesy for members of the Committee, all cell phones or other electronic devices should be turned off or muted.

6.         Candidates who are also Committee members shall be excused during balloting but they shall be permitted to vote by proxy or mark their ballots prior to leaving the room.  After announcing the results at the conclusion of each round of voting, they will also be announced outside the room.

7.         At any point during the endorsement meeting, a candidate may withdraw his or her name from consideration for endorsement, and may address the Committee for a maximum of two minutes.

8.         Candidates shall be considered for endorsement in the order of offices set forth on the Agenda.

9.         Nominations from the floor are in order if the nominee is present and consents to the nomination.  If no additional nominations are received, the nominations shall be closed.

10.       For Congressional District Delegates and Alternates to the Republican National Convention all nominations shall be from the floor. There shall be no nominating or seconding speeches.  Following the close of nominations, each nominee shall have a maximum of one minute to address the Committee and one minute to respond to questions. Order of presentation shall be in order of nomination.

11.       Previously announced candidates for United States Representative in the 16^th and 7th Congressional District, State Senator for the 13^th, 15^th and 19^th Districts, state Representative for the 13^th, 37^th, 41^st, 43^rd, 96^th, 97^th, 98^th, 99^th, 100^th, 128^th and 129^th Legislative Districts shall be announced by the Secretary. There shall be no nominating or seconding speeches. There shall be no speeches by any candidate (previously announced or nominated from the floor) prior to each District Committee’s endorsement vote.

Following the close of all business to be brought before the full Committee, all Congressional, State Senatorial or State Representative Districts where there is a contested ballot shall meet in their respective Districts for balloting and endorsement. Each candidate may have a maximum of two minutes to address the respective District Committee and one minute to respond to questions. Order of presentation shall to be determined by drawing of lots.

12.       Ballot(s) containing the names of all candidates who have previously announced their candidacy for each respective office shall be used for the initial balloting. Nominations from the floor shall be considered write-ins. Committee members will not be permitted to vote for write-in candidates who have not been officially placed in nomination prior to voting, nor for those candidates no longer in contention in accordance with the provisions of the by-laws.

In the endorsement for Congressional District Delegate and Alternate Delegate to the Republican National Convention, each member voting will be required to cast the same number of votes as the number of candidates to be endorsed for each office. Also in that election, votes cast for less than the number of candidates to be endorsed for any one office on that specific ballot will be invalid. Subsequent rounds of balloting shall be conducted for contested offices in that election, with each round consisting of an individual ballot for each office. Also in that election, ballots with fewer than the remaining number of candidates to be endorsed are invalid ballots and shall only count toward the total number of ballots to be counted.

13.       If on any ballot (a) a candidate falls short of the required endorsement number by less than 1% or (b) a candidate exceeds the required number by less than 1%, the Chairman will entertain a motion for a recount of the ballot.

II.        General Balloting Procedure

The following balloting procedure applies as provided in Article IX, Section 2 of the Committee Bylaws:

14.       Any candidate who receives, in the first ballot, two-thirds (2/3) of the vote of the members of the County Committee, certified to be present in person or proxy and eligible to vote on such nomination, shall be declared an endorsed candidate.

15.       In the event that no candidate or fewer candidates than the number for whom endorsement is sought receives two-thirds (2/3) of the certified votes in the first ballot, then a second ballot shall be taken.  Any candidate receiving at least fifteen percent (15%) of the certified votes in the first ballot shall be voted upon in the second ballot.  Any candidate receiving two-thirds (2/3) of the certified votes in the second ballot shall be declared to be an endorsed candidate.

16.       In the event that no candidate or fewer candidates than the number for whom endorsement is sought receives two-thirds (2/3) of the certified votes on the second ballot, then a third ballot shall be taken.  Any candidate receiving at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the certified votes in the second ballot shall be voted upon in the third ballot.  Any candidate receiving two-thirds (2/3) of the certified votes in the third ballot shall be declared to be an endorsed candidate.

17.       In the event that no candidate or fewer candidates than the number for whom endorsement is sought receives two-thirds (2/3) of the certified votes in the third ballot, then a fourth ballot shall be taken.  The candidates for the fourth ballot shall total one more than the total number of remaining endorsements to be made and shall consist of that number of candidates receiving the highest number of votes in the third ballot.  Any candidate receiving two-thirds (2/3) of the certified votes in the fourth ballot shall be declared to be an endorsed candidate.

18.       In the event that all endorsements have not been obtained by the fourth ballot, the committee shall take additional ballots.  The candidates for all subsequent ballots shall total one more than the total number of candidates remaining to be endorsed.  If subsequent ballots are taken, any candidate receiving at least two-thirds (2/3) of the certified votes in any ballot shall be declared to be an endorsed candidate.

III.       Pennsylvania State Representative Legislative District Endorsement Procedure

19.       In the event that it is necessary to convene a legislative district in a room separate from the main meeting room (per Article I, sec. 11, paragraph 2 of these Orders), the previously-approved Orders of the Day still apply. Only county officers, legislative district committee members, their proxies, the appointed deputy chairman, and the tellers shall be permitted in that room during the voting and the counting of ballots.

20.       The County Chairman may appoint a deputy chairman to preside over each of the legislative districts where more than one candidate has been nominated for endorsement. The deputy chairman shall not be a Committee member or a proxy for a Committee member.

21.       The Chairman will convene the individual meeting(s) of the District Committees in numerical order. Only a Committee member or his or her proxy residing within a District shall vote in all procedural and substantive votes. When the Chairman convenes the District committee meeting(s), the Chairman shall open the floor for additional nominations for endorsement in that District. If no additional nominations are forthcoming, the Chairman may entertain a motion and a second to close the nomination. The members of the District Committee shall vote by secret, written ballot using the Full Committee Procedure under Article IX, Section 2 of the Committee Bylaws (see paragraphs 14 through 18 above).

22.       Only resolutions submitted by Committee members to RCLC Headquarters prior to January 17, 2012, may be introduced or considered.

23.       The Committee may suspend and /or amend the Orders of the Day by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present in person or by proxy.

Meeting 5
Votes were cast on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012 by members of the Republican Committee of Lancaster County in the 41st and 98th Legislative House Districts.
41st House District candidate Ryan Aument: 33 straw poll votes
Thirty-four ballots were cast and collected: 27 were cast by members of the Committee in attendance, 7 were cast by proxy.
98th House District candidate Dave Hickernell: 19 straw poll votes
Nineteen ballots were cast and collected: 18 were cast by members of the Committee in attendance, one was cast by proxy.
15th Senatorial District candidate John McNally: 0 straw poll votes
Two members of the Committee attended; both abstained in favor of an open primary.
13th Senatorial District candidate Lloyd Smucker: 13 straw poll votes
Thirteen ballots were cast and collected: 11 were cast by members of the Committee in attendance; two were cast by proxy.
16th Congressional District candidate Joseph R. Pitts: 54 straw poll votes
Fifty-five ballots were cast and collected: 47 were cast by Committee members in attendance; eight were cast by proxy.

Meeting 4
Thirteen ballots were cast and collected on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012 by members of the Republican Committee of Lancaster County in the 13th and 100th Legislative House Districts.
13th House District candidate John Lawrence: 1 straw poll vote
100th House District candidate Bryan Cutler: 10 straw poll votes
13th Senatorial District candidate Lloyd Smucker: 12 straw poll votes
16th Congressional District candidate Joseph R. Pitts: 4 straw poll votes

Eleven ballots were cast and collected on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012 by members of the Pequea Valley Area Republican Committee in the 7th Congressional District.
7th Congressional District candidate Patrick Meehan: 11 straw poll votes

Meeting 3
Votes were cast on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012 by members of the Republican Committee of Lancaster County in the 43rd Legislative House District.
43rd House District candidate Keith Greiner: 32 straw poll votes
43rd House District candidate Glen Beiler, Jr.: 10 straw poll votes
13th Senatorial District candidate Lloyd Smucker: 37 straw poll votes
16th Congressional District candidate Joseph R. Pitts: 42 straw poll votes
16th Congressional District: Chet Beiler (write-in): 1 straw poll vote

Forty-three members of the Republican Committee of Lancaster County attended the informational/straw poll meeting.

The next informational/straw poll meeting is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012 at the Paradise Township Municipal Building. Votes will be cast by Committee members from the 100th and the 13th Legislative House Districts. Another second informational/straw poll meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Jan. 18, 2012 at Hempfield High School. Votes will be cast by Committee members from the 41st and 98th Legislative House Districts.

Meeting 2
Votes were cast on Monday, Jan. 16, 2012 by members of the Republican Committee of Lancaster County in the 96th and 97th Legislative House Districts.
96th House District candidate Tom Garman: 16 straw poll votes
97th House District candidate John Bear: 28 straw poll votes
13th Senatorial House District candidate Lloyd Smucker: 38 straw poll votes
16th Congressional District candidate Joseph R. Pitts: 41 straw poll votes

Forty-nine members of the Republican Committee of Lancaster County attended the informational/straw poll meeting. Sixteen members were from the 96th Legislative House District and thirty-three members were from the 97th Legislative House District.

The next informational/straw poll meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17 at the West Lampeter Township Municipal Building. Votes will be cast by committee members from the 43rd Legislative House District.

Meeting 1

Votes were cast on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012 by members of the Republican Committee of Lancaster County in the 37th Legislative House District.
37th House District candidate Mindy S. Fee: 19 straw poll votes
37th House District candidate Stephen Black: 11 straw poll votes
16th Congressional District candidate Joseph R. Pitts: 29 straw poll votes

Thirty-one members of the Republican Committee of Lancaster County attended the informational/straw poll meeting. Thirty ballots were cast and collected; four were by proxy.

Commissioner Scott Martin

LANCASTER, PA – At their Dec. 28, 2011 weekly Public Meeting, Commissioner Chairman Scott Martin and Commissioner Craig Lehman voted to abolish the Office of Jury Commissioner. Commissioner Dennis Stuckey was absent for the vote.

“Since the 1980s the County of Lancaster has paid outside entities to maintain records of eligible jurors and to make a random selection from those databases; we have been and remain confident in the capabilities of these entities to do such,” Commissioner Martin said. “As a result, the Office of Jury Commissioner has no real authority or role in Lancaster County Government.

“Until recently, the County of Lancaster was mandated by State law to uphold these positions–including salary and benefits–regardless of their necessity,” Commissioner Martin said. “However, when Gov. Corbett signed Act 108 of 2011 into law, it enabled county governments of the Second Class A or Third through Eighth Classes to adopt a resolution or ordinance abolishing the office of Jury Commissioners; this is what we did at yesterday’s meeting.”

Under the new law, counties may not eliminate the office in a year in which the Office of Jury Commissioner is on the ballot, nor can the Commissioners abolish the office prior to the completion of the current Jury Commissioners’ term of office. Lancaster County’s two Jury Commissioners are serving a term through 2013.

“Although we cannot require that the two current Jury Commissioners step down, in fairness to the taxpayers of Lancaster County, I respectfully request that both Jury Commissioners resign their positions immediately. Doing such will save the taxpayers of Lancaster County over $85,000 over the next two years,” Commissioner Martin said. “I believe it is the appropriate thing to do, especially since computers have been doing the work of jury commissioners for almost 30 years.”

Commissioner Martin also noted that the two Jury Commissioners are very nice people, that this was not personal and thanked them for their service to the public.

###

This resolution was passed in 2009 regarding the Jury Commissioners and is in line with the Republican Party’s good government ideology:

RESOLUTION of the REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE of LANCASTER COUNTY ENDORSING the ABOLISHMENT of the OFFICE of JURY COMMISSIONER as ADVOCATED by the LANCASTER COUNTY BOARD of COMMISSIONERS

WHEREAS, Lancaster County Jury Commissioners have capably served the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas and the citizens of Lancaster County for many generations; and

WHEREAS, as long as the office continues, the office of Jury Commissioner must be filled by competent individuals; and

WHEREAS, the office of Jury Commissioner was established in 1867 for the manual compilation of a pool of potential jurors, an integral function essential to our judicial system; and

WHEREAS, today, the courts of the Commonwealth perform this task electronically, thus eliminating the intended duties of this office; and

WHEREAS, every county of the Commonwealth must be particularly prudent in the expenditure of its citizens’ financial resources, and strive continuously, most especially in this time of economic stress, to undertake cost efficiencies; and

WHEREAS, it is imprudent, wasteful, and unacceptable to mandate taxpayers pay for the continuation of an antiquated governmental position that benefits their government very minimally at best; and

WHEREAS, most Boards of County Commissioners of the Commonwealth, including that of Lancaster County, do not have the authority to abolish the office of Jury Commissioner; and

WHEREAS, legislative action by the General Assembly and the Governor, comparable to that accorded Berks County in 2002 (viz., Act 41 of 2002), would permit the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners and other, similar Boards in the Commonwealth to also abolish the office of Jury Commissioner, thereby providing those Boards the opportunity to govern with the utmost of financial responsibility; and

WHEREAS, legislative bills are presently being proposed in both houses of the General Assembly proposing that the governing bodies of counties be granted such an option; and

WHEREAS, the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners has unanimously advocated it be granted the authority to abolish the office of Jury Commissioner; therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Republican Committee of Lancaster County, assembled this seventeenth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, endorses the stated position of the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners in seeking the legal authority to have the option of abolishing the office of Jury Commissioner; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Republican Committee of Lancaster County supports very expeditious consideration and adoption of legislative initiatives that would permit every county government in the Commonwealth to exercise this same option for the benefit of its tax-stressed citizens; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Republican Committee of Lancaster County convey this Resolution to the Lancaster County delegation to the General Assembly and to the primary sponsors of applicable legislative proposals in the General Assembly, and also present a copy of the Resolution to the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners.

ADOPTED this seventeenth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine [...]

Delegate for the Republican National Convention: Ethan Demme, Katherine Wood-Jacobs, David Dumeyer

13th Legislative District: John Lawrence

37th Legislative District: Stephen Black, Mindy Fee
41st Legislative District: Ryan Aument
43rd Legislative District: Glen G. Beiler, Jr., Keith Greiner
96th Legislative District: Tom Garman
97th Legislative District: John Bear
98th Legislative District: Dave Hickernell
99th Legislative District: Gordon Denlinger
100th Legislative District: Bryan Cutler
128th Legislative District: Mark Gillen
129th Legislative District: Jim Cox

13th Senatorial District: Lloyd Smucker

15th Senatorial District: John McNally

7th Congressional District: Pat Meehan

16th Congressional District: Joe Pitts

The deadline for submission of letters announcing the candidates’ intention to seek these endorsements was 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23, 2011.

Please contact Lancaster County Republican Headquarters at 717-392-4165 for more information.