National GOP chief opens county HQ

By Sherry Long slong@timesleader.comStaff Writer

WILKES-BARRE – National Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele said Wednesday he believes will play a pivotal role in many large state races this year.

The party leader was in town for the opening of Luzerne County Republican Party’s permanent headquarters near downtown.

“We will be in Pennsylvania. There are some important races here in the state this year. Wilkes-Barre will play a big role in that, and we are excited for the opening of this headquarters,” Steele said as he left headquarters about 3 p.m.

Steele attended a ribbon-cutting and delivered remarks Wednesday afternoon to county Republicans during a private reception at the grand opening at the party’s new permanent offices at 41 S. Main St.

“Don’t believe it when they say the Republican Party is the party of no. Our record is good. The opportunity is right,” Steele told members of the Club GOP, a special grassroots division of the local Republican Party, during the reception.

Republican National Committee spokeswoman Sara Sendek said Steele believes it’s important to reach out to voters on all levels – local, county, state and nationwide – to hear from residents themselves to determine what is important to them.

This was Steele’s first visit to Wilkes-Barre after being named chairman at the end of January, but he said he plans to return. Steele has been to only a handful of county-level Republican Party events throughout Pennsylvania this year, state Republican Party Communications Director Michael Barley said.

Hazleton mayor and former 11th Congressional District candidate Lou Barletta said he believes having Steele in town to attend a county-level function shows how influential the Republican Party is becoming in local political matters.

“It’s a clear indication that the Luzerne Republican Party is back, running and very active and will be. Especially now here in Luzerne County when many of the residents are looking at what direction we are going as a country, as a state and as a county,” Barletta said.

Steele commended Luzerne County Republican Party Chairman Terry Casey saying, “The chairman has a great vision here … for the GOP to present its candidates, ideas, place for our grassroots to gather, be involved and get involved.”

All the corruption that has rocked the county has involved Democratic leaders and people need another option, Barley said.

“It is good there is another option here. A good, strong, vibrant Republican Party will help this county restore its credibility,” Bailey said.

Normally, party political headquarters just pop up around primary and general election seasons, staying open for a few weeks and closing shortly after the voting.

This is the first time in at least 50 years the party has had an office that will be staffed full-time, year-round, Casey said. He says it will show the party is working to reach out to the “fiscal Democrats” in this area who are worried about the future.

The office is capable of handling a 24-line phone bank, providing campaign space for local, county, state and federal candidates to speak to the public and distributing countless fliers.

The headquarters also includes office space for Luzerne County Republican Party Executive Director Renita Fennick and Northeast Pennsylvania Regional Director Jon Hopcraft of the state Republican Party.

Registered Republicans can became Club GOP members if they donate $50 or more annually to help keep the offices open

People who cannot donate $50 can still become Club GOP members by volunteering their time in lieu of the financial donation. Club GOP members receive perks such as membership cards, a subscription to the GOP Newsletter, a discount to some events and invitations to club-only functions.

“This allows the people to own the party. This will truly make the Luzerne County Republican Party a party of the people,” Casey said.

Sherry Long, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7159.