It’s crunch time for Beiler and Watkins

Chet Beiler and Joe Watkins have to make a decision, and they don’t have much time.

Beiler, the former Lancaster County GOP chairman, and Watkins, the longtime political operative, both failed to win the state party’s endorsement for Lieutenant Governor last weekend in Harrisburg. Two other candidates who weren’t endorsed—York businessman Steve Johnson and reform leader Russ Diamond—both said they’d stay in the race anyway. Two others, Jean Craige Pepper and Nick DiFrancesco, stepped aside …

February 15, 2010 at 8:00 am | Comments (13)

Lt. Gov. hopefuls talk economy, helping Corbett

With a party endorsement less than 24 hours away, seven Republican candidates for Lieutenant Governor shared a stage Friday afternoon, airing mostly similar positions on issues from economic and tax policies to plans for reforming the state’s budget process.

The forum was the first event of the Republican State Committee meeting in Harrisburg, and served as the candidates’ last chance to court party insiders before a formal endorsement is made Saturday afternoon. Bucks County Commissioner …

February 12, 2010 at 3:14 pm | Comments (18)

Reform advocate running for Lt. Gov.

A political activist who rose to prominence in the wake of outrage over the notorious 2005 legislative pay raise announced Tuesday morning that he is joining the packed Republican field for Lieutenant Governor.

Russ Diamond, who founded PACleanSweep shortly after the pay raise, said his candidacy would focus on the need for a constitutional convention, elimination of property taxes and “defending Pennsylvania from federal intrusion.”

“Pennsylvania needs a strong advocate for reform in the executive …

January 5, 2010 at 9:32 am | Comments (0)