While 2012 remains a critical year in terms of a national conservative movement to take back the White House, in Pennsylvania, 2012 marks growing resistance to traditional efforts on the part of its GOP leadership to control the outcome of primary elections.
Pennsylvania is one of only three states, including New York and New Jersey, that still participates in what’s called an “early endorsement process” wherein the GOP leadership cripples the race by giving its endorsement to one candidate prior to the circulation of nominating petitions. In theory, non-endorsed Republican candidates are to be shut out of Republican functions, and shut off from all GOP resources including significant funding and valuable voter information–but all of that is changing.
Many PAGOP County Committees are flat out refusing to ostracize non-endorsed Republican candidates despite what has been reported as “strong arming” on the part of the PAGOP leaders to persuade them otherwise. Statewide resistance efforts, including the Pennsylvania Precinct Project, which is focused on rebuilding the PAGOP from the precinct level up, are multiplying. As a result, Pennsylvania is seeing a new breed of courageous leaders who are unwilling to take dictation. One such leader, Joe Vella, of Westmoreland county, has added his name to the list of those who are drawing a bold line in the sand.
In a letter dated, April 21, 2012, Vella submitted the following to the Westmoreland County Republican Committee of which he had been a District Chair:
Dear Committee,
It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of my decision to resign from the committee. I did so officially this afternoon turning things over to Patti. Al Slowik has also resigned. I accepted his resignation this morning and all of his treasurer materials have been turned over to Patti. Both Al and I removed our names from the committee checking account. Elaine Gowaty has been notified.
For those of you who may not know, I was on the Board of Directors for the Commonwealth Club (a club organized by the state party whom the proceeds benefit). I have resigned from the board and terminated my membership.
I no longer feel free to support the candidates of my choice during an election. I refuse to allow that freedom to be taken away. If our party is going to centrally plan and pre-pick the winners and losers then what is the point of a primary? Why do we not just ask the party to appoint candidates from the get go and save everyone time, money, and energy?
I’ve accepted the Westmoreland County Chairmanship for the Sam Rohrer for Senate campaign. I had the opportunity to work closely with Sam on a project with American’s for Prosperity. He and I spent tedious hours going line-by-line through contracts, in meetings, conference calls, etc. I also spent many hours in the car with him and his wife while escorting him to a series of meet & greets that I setup in Beaver, Allegheny, and Westmoreland counties. While the AFP project never came to fruition the meet & greets were a success and I got to know and respect Sam a great deal.
I support Sam Rohrer because I know Sam to be a good man, an honest man, an ardent conservative, a devoted husband and father, and a solid Christian. He has the experience, the will to stand up to our party when necessary, and the integrity to always stand by us. That’s the guy I choose to support.
Please feel free to learn more about Sam at http://www.rohrerforsenate.org/.
Rose Tenant from Quinn and Rose will MC a town hall for Sam this Friday at Ferrante’s Lakeview, Greensburg, 6:30pm-8:30pm, admission is free. Hope to see some of you there!
If you would like to continue to receive info about Sam please email me to “opt in” or sign up at his website. I do not want to use the committee roster without your individual permission.
It has been a pleasure serving with you all. God bless you, your families, our great commonwealth, and these United States.
Best Regards,
Joe Vella
