GOP partly to blame for county woes, new chair says

New Luzerne County Republican Chairman Terry Casey said his party should shoulder some blame for the controversy at the county courthouse.

“I just think that the Republicans have to take credit for the bad stuff going on in the county because we haven’t provided any quality opposition to run against the Democrats for years,” Casey said. “With the exception of the minority county commissioner, our party holds no row office positions. That has got to change.”

The 50-year-old Dallas man and M&T Bank administrative vice president was elected chairman at Thursday night’s convention at the Kingston VFW. Casey received 115 votes to 15 for Frank Sorick of Wilkes-Barre and succeeds Lynette Villano, who served as chairwoman for nine years.

A lifelong Republican who grew up in Bear Creek, Casey wants to see the GOP return as a force in county politics. He has an energetic agenda for the party: opening a headquarters on Public Square; bolstering its grassroots support; recruiting candidates to run on the ticket; and providing the financial backing to run campaigns.

“People must recognize that they can’t effect the change they want simply by writing checks,” Casey said.

“We will meet to organize on how we will approach the reorganization of the party,” Casey said. “We intend to open a Republican Party headquarters on Public Square and as soon as we can get our finances in order, we want to hire a full-time executive director.”

Casey said he wants to develop a system to identify candidates and encourage them to get involved. Chuck Beiler, Republican candidate for state auditor general, faced a similar challenge in Lancaster County, he said.

“He told me the Republican Party there faced the same sort of organizing in Lancaster County,” Casey said. “The plan we will implement worked there, so this isn’t just theory; there’s a proven record of success.”

Casey said he was encouraged to seek the chairmanship by Charles “Rusty” and Harold Flack, Jack and William E. Sordoni and state Sen. Lisa Baker and her chief of staff Brian Grove.

“It’s our mission to bring the party together,” Casey said. “I’m honored by the confidence they have shown in me and I have great confidence in their ability to help get the job done.”

Luzerne County Minority Commissioner Steve Urban, a Republican, said he is pleased to have Casey as the new party chairman.

“We saw eye to eye on the issues and we agree that we need to get Republicans elected,” Urban said.

Urban said he hopes Casey convenes the party leadership committee – something Urban says hasn’t been done in almost 10 years. The leadership committee includes the county executive committee, the six elected state committee people and the Republican elected officials.

Casey said a 1982 meeting was a turning point for the county Republicans. He recalls attending a party convention at which Guthrie Conyngham was defeated for the party chairmanship by Ted Warkomski, who was backed by then-county Commissioner Frank Trinisewski. Trinisewski switched his registration to Democrat within a year.

“I remember Mr. Conyngham leaving and he was treated very badly as he was walking out the door,” Casey said. “I don’t think the party ever recovered from that. And it never returned to its former stature as a strong force in county politics.”

Casey will be backed by this executive committee: Liz Sichler, first vice chairwoman; Paul DeFabo, second vice chairman; William E. Sordoni, treasurer; Art Bobbouine, secretary; Rusty Flack and Jack Sordoni, co-chairmen of the finance committee; Marge Matisko, special events coordinator; Harry Haas, financial secretary; Frank Joanlanne, strategic planning chairman; and Tim Evans, bylaws and policy chairman.

These six district chairpersons will serve with the cabinet on the party executive committee: Sean Shamany, District 1; Clayton Rinehimer, District 2; Mike Patterson, District 3; Lori Vandermark, District 4; Barry Stankus, District 5; and Stephen J. Urban, son of the county commissioner, District 6.

Joanlanne and Tony Brooks are in charge of the party’s Web site and will keep it current and informative.

Casey and his wife, Wendy, have two children, Julie and Mike. Casey attended Coughlin and GAR high schools before graduating from Wyoming Seminary. He attended the Rochester Institute of Technology and graduated from Wilkes College with a degree in political science.

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Party has not put up ‘quality opposition’ to Democrats for years, Terry Casey says.

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