Breaking News
Local news

State and local candidates speak at Lincoln Day Dinner

By From Staff Reports 8 min read

FLEMINGTON -- More than 200 Republican candidates, guests and registered voters attended the annual Clinton County Republican Party's Lincoln Day Dinner held at the Red Eye Center in Flemington Saturday.

Following the social hour, Clinton County Republican Party chairman Kurt Smith thanked everyone for coming. He also thanked Congressman G.T. Thompson, Senator Cris Dush, and Representative Stephanie Borowicz for sponsoring the appetizers and Faye Courter of The Cottage Restaurant for catering the meal.

Senator Dush and Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity, both veterans, led the Pledge of Allegiance and Pine Creek Township Supervisor Dave Winkleman said the prayer.

Republican candidates including U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District Glenn G.T. Thompson, Pennsylvania State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, Pennsylvania State Auditor General Tim DeFoor, Pennsylvania 25th District Senator Cris Dush, and Pennsylvania 76th District House of Representatives member Stephanie Borowicz attended the event.

York County District Attorney Dave Sunday, the PAGOP endorsed candidate for Pennsylvania Attorney General, canceled his appearance to investigate an overnight domestic dispute that involved more than 80 rounds fired at police officers and resulted in the death of the shooter.

The incumbent Auditor General Tim DeFoor, running for reelection, was the first candidate to speak.

"I am the first Auditor General who has actually been an Auditor, and the only person running in this election that is also an auditor," DeFoor said.

DeFoor said he works to ensure that government programs are run correctly and they are following the PA Fiscal Code. He noted that he and his staff are making continuous improvements and have cut 90% of the department's audit time in half while making the audits more efficient.

DeFoor encouraged everyone to vote in the 2024 Primary Election and to fill out their whole ballot completely and vote for all of the Republican candidates who are highly qualified.

"We really want to do the job, we are running because we care, and need your support and vote," he said.

Stacy Garrity, State Treasurer, seeking re-election was the next to speak. Garrity, a retired Army Reserve Colonel with decorated service on the battlefields of Iraq, said she brought military discipline to the job. She noted that Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro's budget is calling for $3.4 million more than the prior year and has proposed sweeping changes to higher education that even his own Chancellor could not explain.

"The far left wants to spend every single one of your tax paying dollars, and the entire rainy day fund as well. We need a Republican Treasurer and a Republican Auditor General to work together to guard Pennsylvania tax payers' dollars and the checkbook against waste. We need watch dogs, not lapdogs," Garrity said.

Garrity emphasized that during the past year the State Treasurer's Office returned $274 million dollars in unclaimed property, the highest number of funds ever returned to Pennsylvanians. She also said that 413 military decorations, to include 9 Purple Hearts and three Bronze Stars, were returned to veterans or their families. Fees were cut three times for the Pennsylvania 529 College and Career Savings Plan which put $111 million back in the pockets of hardworking parents. Her office divested public funds out of China and Russia when Putin invaded Ukraine and recently supported Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East, by investing $20 million in Israeli Bonds.

Garrity said that politics in our nation and state have become extremely polarized. Republican candidates are labeled 'extremists' "when they ask questions or object when a Democrat secretary rewrites election laws to suit her party's needs. When one side becomes so convinced in their own arguments, two things go right out the window -- common sense and common decency."

Glenn "G.T." Thompson thanked Clinton County for its support over the years, noting that Clinton County voters helped him win his first election against none other candidates by a "whopping 1% margin."

Thompson, who currently chairs the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, has been working for the past three years on a Farm Bill that will benefit agriculture, jobs, the economy, national security, the environment and food security. Thompson hopes it will be up for a vote in March.

Thompson said a key issue the nation, the state, and Clinton County now faces is the impact of more than 10 million undocumented illegal immigrants crossing into America and creating a crisis at our border. Thompson said he voted for the impeachment of Homeland Secretary Mayorkas who took an oath to follow the rules of the land but has ignored that oath and his duties.

"America has always been a melting pot. We believe in The Rule of Law and immigrants coming in the front door, not the back door," Thompson said.

Thompson encouraged the audience to take on a mission to reach out to Clinton County residents who have not ever voted or who think their vote doesn’t count and convince them to vote because a lot is at stake for the future of the county, state and nation in the 2024 elections.

Senator Cris Dush spoke next. He discussed the passing of Senate Act 39 which targets human trafficking and makes it easier for the State Attorney General to go after people who use the internet to target children and others. The legislation also allows the victims of human trafficking to get the services they need to cope with the aftermath of sexual slavery and abuse,

Dush noted that during appropriations hearings in the Senate, various department heads were questioned about what they are accomplishing and doing with the funds given them by the Legislature before receiving future funds.

According to Dush, Governor Shapiro has a grand scheme to further consolidate the PASSHE schools and combine them with our community colleges. The Appropriations Committee asked many questions about the logistics and impact on students and communities should such consolidations occur.

The most common answer, 'I don't know,' was heard during six meetings held with all departments which Dush says indicates that the governor is not communicating effectively or maybe at all with department heads and others about these proposed changes.

"We need honest answers from the Governor and Democrats to help us work together to make better decisions that will benefit the citizens of Pennsylvania," noted Dush.

Dush and his Harrisburg team have made some changes in the Senate chambers to work more effectively with the constituents in the 25th PA Senatorial District. The team is working with Bucktail Medical Center to help keep their hospital open.

Dush ended his remarks saying, "If you are not exercising your franchise rights to vote, you are abdicating it to someone else. Keep in mind the old saying, 'It's always "no" if you don't ask.'

So please get out and knock on doors and ask people to register to vote and get as many people out to vote as you can in the 2024 elections."

76th District Representative Stephanie Borowicz was the last speaker for the evening. Borowicz noted that a lot of evil is going on in the State House of Pennsylvania with bill proposals for a constitutional amendment that would allow abortion until birth, a ban on assault weapons, and would create a directory of all Pennsylvania gun owners and more.

"The most dangerous thing that has killed more people over the years is the government. They always disarm their citizens before they take total control. The Second Amendment is under attack," said Borowicz.

"Government does not create jobs, the private sector creates jobs but the State of Pennsylvania has yet to learn that fact and wants to grow the government and raise taxes for its citizens. Take a good look at Governor Shapiro's proposed budget and you'll see what I'm talking about," she said.

Borowicz reminded the audience that the Democrats only have a one seat majority and that it is critical that 'We, the People,' do our part and get out and vote in order to win the PA State House back and keep the Democrat Governor in checks and balances with the State House and Senate.

"We need all hands on deck! Re-read the Constitution, re-learn the Constitution, and then rise up and act, get out and vote to ensure the future for your children and grandchildren," Borowicz said.

All of the speakers spoke highly of York County District Attorney Dave Sunday who is running for PA Attorney General, recognizing him as an experienced prosecutor who has compassion, upholds the law, and has worked hard to reduce gangs and crime.

State Treasurer Stacy Garrity and State Auditor General Tim DeFoor see Dave Sunday as a much needed addition to the PA State Row Offices.

Congressman G. T. Thompson, State Senator Cris Dush, and State Representative Stephanie Borowicz all encouraged those in attendance to support Dave Sunday who is endorsed by the PAGOP.

Dave McCormick, candidate for the U.S. Senate, was not able to attend the Lincoln Day Dinner due to a prior commitment but is expected to come to Clinton County at a later time to meet with voters.

For more information about the upcoming election, how to register to vote and the Clinton County Republican Party, visit and like their Facebook page or contact Clinton County Chairman Kurt Smith.

Starting at /week.