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Republican state Rep. John Maher of Upper St. Clair also received his party's endorsement in a bid for an open seat for auditor general, and he plans to file for both the statewide office and the 40th Legislative District seat, which includes, in the most recent reapportionment plan, part of Peters Township.
Meanwhile, Tim Burns of North Strabane Township did not receive the party's endorsement to contest Democrat Bob Casey's re-election bid for U.S. Senate. Entrepreneur Steve Welch of Chester County won the endorsement vote Saturday at the party's winter meeting in Hershey, thanks to Gov. Tom Corbett's backing.
Welch has been criticized heavily by his rivals for briefly changing his registration to Democrat so he could vote for Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary and giving money to Sestak when he ran for U.S. House in 2006. In his prepared remarks to state committee members after the vote, Welch addressed the topic, saying he was one of hundreds of thousands of people who left the party because they felt let down by former President George W. Bush and a Republican-controlled Congress.
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Three candidates say they'll seek the Senate seat without the party's endorsement. They are former Berks County state Rep. Sam Rohrer, Cumberland County lawyer Mark Scaringi and former coal industry executive Tom Smith of Armstrong County. It wasn't immediately clear whether Burns, who had led the pack in the straw votes, would keep running, the Associated Press reported.
Burns' campaign did not immediately respond to an inquiry Saturday from the Observer-Reporter. The filing deadline for the April 24 primary is Feb. 14. On Friday, a campaign spokesman said Burns was not considering suggestions by Corbett that he run for a U.S. House seat instead.
Burns ran spirited campaigns in a special election and general election in the 12th Congressional District formerly represented by the late John Murtha, but he lost both times to Mark Critz, Murtha's longtime aide in Johnstown.
A recent reapportionment plan places North Strabane in the 18th Congressional District, a seat now held by U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, and the 12th District bypasses Washington County altogether.
Like Burns, Irey Vaughan is also a veteran of a 12th Congressional District run, losing to Murtha in 2006.
Elected to a fifth, four-year term as Washington County commissioner in November, she is making her first run for statewide office.
"I am honored to receive the endorsement of the State Committee today," Irey Vaughan, a Nottingham Township resident, said Saturday in a statement. "This race is bigger than the office of treasurer. Our country is headed down the wrong path. This is the Keystone State. We need to lead our country by example toward fiscal responsibility. I'll bring discipline and thoughtfulness to this office."
Jim Roddey, former chief executive of Allegheny County and Allegheny County Republican Party chair, nominated Irey Vaughan for the endorsement, and Patricia Poprik, a state committee member from Bucks County and an investment banker, seconded Irey Vaughan's nomination.
McCord, of Montgomery County, was elected in 2008. The state treasurer helps invest more than $80 billion per year.
Because of a two-term limit, Auditor General Jack Wagner won't be running this year.
Maher is one of two men seeking the Republican nomination for auditor general, and Maher on Saturday afternoon received more than 80 percent of Republican leaders' votes, which he called "an enormous boost to my hope to be the accountant for accountable government."
Maher, who has represented the 40th District in Peters, Upper St. Clair and Bethel Park since a special election in 1997, has been auditing since 1980 and has been a certified public accountant since 1983.
A former owner of the firm Maher Duessel in Pittsburgh, he divested his interest in the firm in 2004.
Republicans also endorsed Cumberland County District Attorney Dave Freed for attorney general.
Why : 1/29/2012
Why did Irey and Maggi run for commissioner when they knew they were going to run for something else ? When will they spend time campaigning ? We will have 1 full time commissioner who is brand new.
Irey : 1/29/2012
I hope Irey wins. That way we get her out of Washington County. She will fit right in with the rest of the bunch in Harrisburg. So tired of her politics of self promotion.
Irey & Maggi : 1/29/2012
So Irey-Vaughn is running for State Treasuruer and Maggi is running for Congress - If they don't like the jobs of County commissioner they were elected to just three (3) months ago, why did they run? And while they are out campaigning, who will be running the county? I like them both, but this just isn't right in my book. Do the job you were elected for or quit. You both just lost my vote.
Of course the GOP will endorse Irey Vaughn... : 1/29/2012
Google "Dale Stoffel and Rick Santorum". Check out the connection with Irey Vaughn.
endorsement? : 1/29/2012
What does that mean? I should vote for them because you know better than me? Or maybe we both have opinions, but it's just that you as a person (or an organization) are better than me and I need to toe the line. The whole idea is pathetic vanity.
John Maher : 1/29/2012
It's about time a financial professional ran for Auditor General. In fact, the legislature would be a lot better off if there were fewer lawyers and more accountants in it.
Governor Corbett’s and the PAGOP Endorsements : 1/29/2012
This exhibits everything that is wrong with politics. The ultimate endorsement is the primary vote. When the PAGOP (and Governor) endorses candidates, according to their bylaws, all party resources are cut from the other candidates. This effectively cuts any opposition campaigns off at the knees and makes the PAGOP hierarchy “king-makers.” New York and New Jersey, the only other two states currently using this endorsement process, are hardly hot-beds of conservatism. One of the major party contrasts put forth by the GOP to the Democratic party is increased individual freedom and responsibility. The state endorsements deny both freedom and responsibility from the republican primary voter. In addition, not all of the endorsed candidates are even qualified for the offices they desire. The one we are most familiar is Commissioner Diana Irey-Vaughn for State Treasurer. What are the commissioner’s qualifications for this high office? I understand that she may have a two-year business degree and no other experience outside of being commissioner. What she clearly does have going for her are connections and the ability to access deep-pockets – these are definitely pluses, but are not job competency qualifications. If this endorsement was based on party loyalty, then the PAGOP did not consider Commissioner Irey-Vaughn’s lack of support for fellow candidates on her ticket and interference in the WCRP’s fundraising efforts in the past election cycle. Clearly, the PAGOP and our commissioner were planning this before the last election and successfully blocked another qualified individual (who actually wanted to serve the people of Washington County) from the commissioner’s office. This high-level manipulation of the political process is distasteful and exhibits the PAGOP’s own “Rockefeller-republican” hierarchy.
Maggi & Irey-Vaughn : 1/30/2012
I voted for Mr Maggi & Ms Irey Vaughn for County Commissioners. I like them and think they are good people. However, it seems that fter they got elected, they both are now seeking other jobs, she the State's Treasuruer's job and he a State Congressional seat. If they didn't want to be commissioners, why did they run? And while they are out campaigning for new jobs, who will be running the county? Our commissioners get full time salaries, don't we deserve full-time commissioners? I'm sorry, but they you just lost my vote.
Burns not endorsed : 1/30/2012
I guess Tim Burns now knows what LtCol. Bill Russell felt like.
Irey-Vaughan for PA Treasurer? : 1/30/2012
"I'll bring discipline and thoughtfulness to this office." Notice she didn't mention experience and the education. The Commonwealth needs more than a figure head, it needs a seasoned professional.
Commissioner Irey-Vaughan : 1/30/2012
During her successful campaign for re-election, she constantly remarked about a lack of time and the hardship of balancing family commitments and campaigning. As it turns out, the commissioner was planning a state wide office run where the ultimate postion is in Harrisburg. Sounds like politics as usual.
Irey - Maggi : 1/30/2012
"We won't get fooled again."
Maher Endorsement : 1/31/2012
Rep. Maher has great qualifications, but that doesn't make the endorsement process right. He would have rose to the top without it.
Endorsement connection : 1/31/2012
The connection between Gov. Corbett and the candidates that he endorsed is Brian Nutt. Brian Nutt was the Corbett campaign manager that has since moved on to work for Brabender Cox, a political consulting firm. The Corbett endorsed candidates use Brabender Cox for political consulting. Last year Corbett attempted to get Brian Nutt's father appointed to the turnpike commission as well. It is all money and political favors.
county resident : 1/31/2012
is it really any different than a Senator, COngressman, or Governor running for President? At least they can show up to vote "present" once in awhile. Or for that matter, a sitting President campaigning for re-election...for four years!
SSSSS : 2/1/2012
I could be wrong, but there is a difference in this case. We are talking about annnouncing for another office the day they (Maggi & Irey) were sworn back in. Other than our own Senator Casey, who does that?
What are the odds??? : 2/1/2012
If Diana is unsuccessful in her bid for Pa Treasurer, I bet she receives an appointment to another government position or staff.
another county resident : 2/1/2012
agreed but there is no other office for the President to aspire to. Very few polititians including every President started with lesser offices. Was Obama not a Senator when he was running for the White House? Wasn't W and slick willy governors?
Endorsements and Political Stepping Stones : 2/1/2012
Is it any wonder why the citizens are giving up faith in the whole system?
SSSS : 2/2/2012
Agreed, but in your examples, only President Obama immediately "stepped" from one office to the next. Similiar to Senator Casey's just being elected to one office then immediately campaining for the next political rung on the ladder. What we end up with is professional campaigners, not leaders.
Irey-Vaughan : 2/6/2012
So not qualified, she doesn't have a degree and averages 2 full days in her county office a week. She won't win, but I'm sure their is an appointment in it for her. It's not politics, it's business.
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