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DelCo leader endorses Lentz
A top official in the Delaware County Democratic Party endorsed state Representative Bryan Lentz for Congress Wednesday, effectively giving Lentz the vast majority of the local party organization’s support.
The backing of the party’s first vice-chair, Tony Campisi, was also the surest indication yet that state Representative Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) is not going to run in the 7th District primary. Vitali has yet to publicly make a decision, but Campisi, who is gunning for the position of party chair after Cliff Wilson steps down, had taken pains to stay neutral in a primary between the two that could have emerged.
“On the issues that matter most to the residents of Delaware County and the 7th Congressional District, Bryan is clearly the best candidate,” Campisi said in a campaign statement. “I know he will work hard to create jobs and get our economy back on track, keep our nation safe from terrorists, reform our government, lower health care costs and care for our seniors.”
Lentz still faces two primary opponents, environmental lawyer Gail Conner and political consultant E. Teresa Touey. But the two have done little high-profile campaigning, and Lentz has continued to rack up support from local party insiders and elected officials, even beginning to look toward a general election against former U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan.
While the county’s Democratic organization is nowhere near as politically potent as the the local GOP, the endorsement of Campisi is one more step toward putting that apparatus behind Lentz’s bid to hold the seat being vacated by Democrat Joe Sestak.
“Bryan is an independent leader who has quickly established an excellent reputation for his constituent services and earned the respect of his colleagues as an outspoken advocate for government reform,” Campisi said.
Correction: This article originally misstated the surname of the presumptive GOP nominee in the 7th District. He is Pat Meehan, not Pat Toomey.
January 27, 2010 at 5:44 pm
Tags: Bryan Lentz, E. Teresa Touey, Gail Conner, PA-7, Pat Meehan
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Don
Jan 27th, 2010
I think you meant Meehan.
Blah Blah
Jan 27th, 2010
In 2006, when Lentz was still campaigning for Congress, he called for an “open primary” because he knew the endorsement chips were stacked against him when Sestak jumped into the race. Of course he painted it in terms of democracy and openness. Guess those two issues aren’t as important to him now.
Lentz Calls for Open Primary
Lentz Campaign Says It’s Time to “Bring democracy back to the Delaware County Democrats”
February 7, 2006 – Bryan Lentz, the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination in Pennsylvania’s seventh congressional district, today called on
the Delaware County Democratic Party to endorse an open primary at its nominating convention next week. Lentz also announced a clean-campaign
pledge and promised to campaign extensively for the full Democratic ticket in the fall, regardless of the outcome of the May primary. He is calling on Joseph Sestak to make the same commitments.
Lentz, an Iraq war veteran who virtually matched incumbent U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon dollar-for-dollar in fundraising last quarter, recently opened his
campaign office in Media and has hired a full-time campaign manager, finance director, and research director. Last week, Lentz won an important endorsement from former U.S. Sen. Max Cleland (D-GA).
“Registered Democrats deserve to make their own choices about the future of their party and their communities,” said Lentz. “These decisions shouldn’t be made by a handful of self-appointed people who convene secretly in a back room. Let’s show people that we’re not just the Democratic party, but also a democratic party.”
Lentz added, “I’ve always said that nobody has a right to this nomination. I have to earn it, and so does my opponent. Joe got into this race less
than two weeks before the nominating convention, so the only good way to proceed is through an open primary. I welcome Joe to the race and look
forward to a vigorous, substantive and public debate.”
“I intend to stand by whatever decision the voters make in May,” Lentz promised, “and I hope my opponent will do the same. Win or lose, the party can count on me this fall. I’m a fighting Democrat, and I’m going to fight hard for a Democratic victory in November.”
“By having an open primary, we can bring democracy back to the Delaware County Democrats.”
Democrat Bryan Lentz, the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination for Congress in Pennsylvania’s Seventh District, is a decorated veteran of the Iraq war. In the first four months of his candidacy, he raised more money than all of Curt Weldon’s Democratic opponents over the last ten years, combined. For more information log on to http://www.lentzforcongress.com
flynnbw
Jan 28th, 2010
Rep. Lentz isn’t contradicting himself here — he’s taking on all comers. At the same time, nothing precludes him from trying to marshal as much support as he can from the party insiders.
David Diano
Jan 28th, 2010
Blah Blah-
The endorsement of one party leader is not the same as the County committee endorsement.
Whether or not to endorse (and whom to endorse) is determined at the Delco county convention on Feb 16th.
The county convention affects whose name are on the sample ballots handed out at the polls, or whether the ballots indicate “endorsed”.