John Krupa For Governor!
Ed Roberson for Lieutenant Governor!
In every possible way the 2010 State Convention of the Constitution Party of Pennsylvania on Saturday was a great success. The attendance was larger than expected-- standing room only. The featured speakers, Darrell Castle and Tim Cox of Get Out Of Our House (GOOOH), were both terrific. The PA Constitution Party state executive committee and the full state committee came away from the meeting more united and enthused than it has been in many years. A great slate of state officers was elected: Wes Thompson, of Allegheny County, was re-elected as state chairman; Ed Roberson, of Mercer County, was elected Vice-Chairman; Donna Fike, of Butler County, was elected Secretary; and Jim Clymer, of Lancaster County was re-elected (again!) as state treasurer.
The stars of the show, however, were clearly the candidates led by John Krupa, a prominent Clinton county businessman, who was nominated to run for Governor and Ed Roberson, and educator and high school football coach, who was selected to join Krupa on the ticket as his Lieutenant Governor running mate.
Krupa has a solid history of political leadership including 12 years of service in elected office as a supervisor in Pine Creek Township. He also formally served as chairman of the Clinton County Committee of the Republican Party, a position he now holds for the Constitution Party. He also served as the Clinton County representative on the Private Industry Council from 1994-1999. Roberson was one of four Constitution Party candidates elected to office in Pennsylvania in 2009, having been elected as a minority elections inspector/judge in his area. [And for those of you outside of Pennsylvania-- yes, this is a partisan position as were the other three offices won by Constitution Party members in PA in 2009]
Nominated for US Senate was Donald John, of Fayette County, who will give Pennsylvanians a real choice in that race. The expected GOP nominee for US Senate, Pat Toomey, actually endorsed his Democratic opponent Arlen Specter in the 2004 election when Specter was still a Republican running against Constitution Party National Chairman, Jim Clymer. Toomey and Specter may not appear arm in arm now, as they were in 2004, but they are still creatures swimming the same murky and swampy "two party" lagoon. Now Constitutionalists in Pennsylvania will have no reason to tread near those poisoned waters.
Four great candidates were nominated to run for the United States House of Representatives: James Stillwagon in the 18th District (Allegheney County area); Terry Ronzio in the 12th District (southwestern PA); Dan Frank in the 16th District (Lancaster County) ; and Daniel Smeriglio in the 10th District (Northeastern-tri state area).
Also running for the state legislature in the 20th District from Allegheny County is Jim Barr. Jim has represented the Constitution Party in previous elections and is a member of the party's State Executive Committee in the Keystone State.
In addition, two individuals have expressed interest in running for State Senate, however, as of yet, neither has made a decision to run. They still can, though time is running short.
The challenge for the Constitution Party, as always in Pennsylvania, is to qualify for ballot access. In order to stay on the ballot, a party in Pennsylvania, must maintain at least 15% of the registered voters--a ridiculous requirement which even the Republican Party could not accomplish in some states. Therefore, every two years the Constitution Party has to spend the time and money to enough signatures to get on the ballot.
There is, however, encouraging news on the signature front. Unlike 2006 when over 60,000 signatures were necessary to qualify for the statewide ballot (none but the DEMS and GOPS did) the statewide requirement in 2010 is under 20,000 signatures. Constitution Party volunteers will have until August 1 to collect and turn in the petitions. Former CP state secretary Sara Brown was selected to coordinate the petition drive. She will need and she has every right to expect a great deal of help and cooperation from members and friends of the Constitution Party from all across the Commonwealth to get the Constitution Party back on the ballot in Pennsylvania.
In 2010 the Constitution Party has an outstanding statewide ticket and excellent candidates running for other offices throughout Pennsylvania as well. Keystone state Constitution Party members should be highly motivated to put these candidates on the ballot in 2010, which may very well turn out to be the year of the Constitution Party in Pennsylvania!
Special thanks go to Daneille Warren, who made most of the arrangements for the Convention and who handled the registration desk, Donna Fike who assisted at the registration desk as well as State Chairman, Wes Thompson and the entire state Executive Committee who worked very hard to make this convention a success. Thanks to all who came and participated in making the 2010 Pennsylvania State Convention one of the best Constitution Party events in Pennsylvania in a long time!
Pennyslvania was one of the premier CP state affiliates throughout the 90's and into this decade before encountering a few problems and some bad luck. It looks like the Constitution Party of Pennsylvania is headed right back to the top in 2010!
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