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Grand Old Party

Republican candidates gather at Lincoln Day dinner

JIM RUNKLE/THE EXPRESS This year’s Clinton County Republicans of the Year were a couple— Sam and Karla Hoy. County Republican Party Chairman Kurt Smith presented them as most exemplifying the party through their participation in a large number of events and their dedication to the organization.

By JIM RUNKLE

jrunkle@lockhaven.com

LOCK HAVEN –The Grand Old Party crowded the banquet hall at the Elks lodge Saturday, as the party faithful gathered to sign petitions and listen to local and state candidates offer views on a variety of topics.

The annual Lincoln Day Dinner saw more than 230 Republican community members, business leaders, and party candidates attend the event hosted by the Clinton County Republican Party.

Municipal, county and statewide political candidates were represented, and many of them spoke after enjoying a cocktail hour and banquet created by the Dutch Haven.

Those in attendance heard about candidates’ perspectives on a number of issues commonly referenced by the party, from the effectiveness of local government, the right to bear arms to the importance of life, to the definition of marriage and the role of faith

Before all that, County Republican Chairman Kurt Smith announced two of the party faithful for the commitment to the Republican platform and the party as a whole.

In an unusual move, two people were named as the Republicans of the Year — Sam and Karla Hoy.

Smith said Sam and Karla worked diligently on behalf of the local party at a large number of functions, and went above and beyond the call in volunteering for activities all year long.

The event featured comments from local candidates for office, but was also highlighted by addresses from a large number of state level GOP hopefuls, a happenstance that created a theme of sorts for the event. The phrase “Seven for Seven in Seventeen’ underlined the ardent desire to elect all seven GOP court judge candidates this year.

Smith noted that U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson would normally have served as a master of ceremonies to introduce local candidates but was instead serving on a mission overseas and was unable to attend the gathering.

Likewise, State Senator Joe Scarnati might have made an appearance, but was also out of state and dealing with official duties, Smith said.

A representative for Rep. Thompson, Marci Lynch, honored the local GOP with a U.S. flag flown over Washington, D.C. during the inauguration of President Donald Trump.

As for the judges making an appearance, they included Supreme Court Justice Sally Mundy; candidates for Superior Court, Judge Emil Giordano, Judge Paula Patrick, Judge Wade Kagorise, and District Attorney Greg Stedman; and for Commonwealth Court, Judge Christine Fizzano Cannon and attorney Paul Lally.

Rounding out the judicial appearances was the keynote speaker, retired Judge Cheryl Lynn Allen, who served on the Pennsylvania Superior Court and was the first black woman to be elected to the Pennsylvania Superior Court.

Local candidates who spoke briefly to ask for support included:

r Eric W. Ditty, 43, a resident of Chapman Township, seeking the magisterial district judge seat in Renovo.

Ditty, a Republican, is seeking nominations on both the Democratic and Republican ballots in the Primary Election on Tuesday, May 16.

A lifelong resident of Renovo, Ditty served in the U.S. Army and Pennsylvania National Guard. He is a disabled veteran and the father of two sons, James and Ryan Ditty.

He was formerly employed as a corrections officer at the state penitentiary at Rockview and worked at Quehanna Boot Camp. He is owner of Ditty Candle Co.

He was certified as a magistrate in 2004 and again in 2011 and plans to register for the June 2017 class.

r Magisterial District Judge John W. Maggs, seeking re-election to a fourth term as magisterial district judge in District 25-3-02, which is comprised of Beech Creek, Mill Hall and Loganton boroughs and Bald Eagle, Beech Creek, Greene, Lamar, Logan and Porter townships.

He also seeks nominations on both the Democratic and Republican ballots in the May 15 Primary.

Maggs was first elected to this position in November 1999 and has been serving this district since Jan. 1, 2000.

Maggs said that during his tenure the court has processed more than 87,000 cases, conducted more than 5,800 trials and collected and disbursed more than $13 million in fines, costs and restitution.

Maggs is a lifelong resident of Clinton County and resides on the family farm in Bald Eagle Township with his wife of 32 years, the former Diane Lucas.

r Lock Haven Police Chief Keith Kibler is seeking the position of Magisterial District Judge in Clinton County District 25-03-01 which serves residents of the townships of Allison, Castanea, Colebrook, Crawford, Dunnstable, Gallagher, Pine Creek I and II, Wayne and Woodward; the city of Lock Haven; as well as the boroughs of Avis and Flemington.

Kibler is also seeking the Republican and Democratic party nominations in the May Primary.

A lifelong resident of Clinton County, he has served in every city police department capacity before being named chief of police in 2014.

Beyond his law enforcement role, Kibler said he has served on the YMCA board of directors, helped coach his children’s baseball and softball teams, served as program coordinator and volunteered with the Clinton County Camp Cadet Program, and assisted his son’s Cub Scout and Boy Scout troops.

r Michelle L. Kunes, appointed late last year as Clinton County treasurer, is running for that position in the primary.

Kunes was appointed to fill the unexpired term of the former county treasurer, Patricia Edwards, who retired. Kunes has worked in all facets of the office in her 22-year career.

She began her work in the office shortly after high school and had been deputy treasurer since 1997.

She is a member of the Tax Claim Bureau Association, Pennsylvania County Treasurers Association, Clinton County Prison Board, retirement board, and the salary board.

She was born and raised in Clinton County≥

As to the common theme of the judicial candidates, each offered a series of values they shared with the local faithful, including a keen sense that decisions should be based on the law and strict constitutionalism rather than judicial activism, and the hope that rural values will be part of that focus.

Judge Allen challenged the crowd to never succumb to the error of political correctness and to always stand up for the values that make America great.

She said the nation “dodged a bullet” in the last election, and said a certain segment of the population still holds to an agenda “to destroy this nation, economically and spiritually … to dismantle the bedrock of our nation — the family.”

She also noted her role as a black woman, and said the nation still has a way to go to achieve full equality, but “I thank God we are not where we used to be.”

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