Harrisburg Happenings

Here's the latest edition of Harrisburg Happenings courtesy of state Sen. Bob Mensch, R-24th District:

Military Family Relief Assistance Program Extension Sent to Governor

The Senate unanimously approved the extension and expansion of the Military Family Relief Assistance Program. House Bill 1533 has been approved by the House and Senate and was sent to the Governor’s desk for his signature. The Military Family Relief Assistance Program provides grants to military members who have a direct and immediate financial need due to the sudden loss of income directly related to their service or an emergency need for child care, food, shelter or other necessities. The program also provides emergency funding for travel and lodging in the event of the death or serious illness of a spouse, parent, sibling or child. HB 1533 would extend the program until 2016 and adds National Guard members to the list of service members who are eligible for the program. The legislation also expands eligibility guidelines so military families could be eligible for assistance for up to a year following their return from active duty.

Bill Strengthening Prosecution of Child Sex Offenders Headed to House

The Senate unanimously approved legislation giving the Attorney General stronger tools to prosecute child sexual abuse cases that cross county or state lines. Senate Bill 260 addresses a loophole in existing law that makes it difficult to prosecute sexual offenders who use the Internet to contact minors for sexual purposes. SB 260 would give the Attorney General concurrent jurisdiction with county district attorneys to investigate and institute criminal proceedings for the sexual abuse of children when involving more than one county or a county and another state.

Senate Approves Science in Motion bill

The Senate approved Senate Bill 766, legislation formally enacting into law the Science Technology Partnerships Program, better known as "Science in Motion." While the bill formally establishes the popular program, it does not address funding. Governor Rendell has repeatedly eliminated funding for the program in his budget proposals and left it to the Senate to restore the money. We provided $1.9 million for the program in the current budget, only to see the Governor eliminate the funding as part of his budget freezes earlier this year. Fortunately, $1.71 million or about 90 percent of the funding was restored in February. Funding is again eliminated in the Governor’s proposed 2010-11 budget, and this line item will again be considered by the Legislature during our budget deliberations. The program makes state funding available to higher education institutions to purchase high-tech science equipment. This equipment is then transported to and shared with surrounding schools. More than 300 public, private, and parochial schools were served throughout the state by 11 higher education institutions: Cedar Crest College, Clarion University, Drexel University, Gannon University, Gettysburg College, Juniata College, Susquehanna University, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, Ursinus College, Westminster College, and Wilkes University.

Committee Approves Bill for Military Burials at Washington Crossing

The Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee approved legislation to allow for formal military burials of veterans at Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Bucks County. Current law does not provide for honor guard burial details at Washington Crossing National Cemetery. Only Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Lebanon County and National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Washington County are authorized to conduct those ceremonies. Senate Bill 1186 would expand the authority of the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to provide this honor and burial allowance to veterans buried at Washington Crossing.

Sen. Bob Mensch unveils new Web site

On his first full day in office, Pennsylvania's newest state senator, Bob Mensch, unveiled his new Web site.

The Web site is: www.senatormensch.com

The site includes information about the 24th Senate District, pending legislation, state laws, agencies and programs, special sections of interest to senior citizens, veterans and kids, as well as links to other governmental and civic organizations.

"There is a wide variety of information available on my Web site," Mensch said in a written statement announcing the launch. "The Internet is a good way to keep constituents informed about what is going on in state government and tell them about programs that are available. The Web provides an excellent way for busy people to keep track of what's going on in state government and how it affects their everyday lives - when it is convenient for them."

Mensch, a Republican who spent three years in the state House, won a special election on Sept. 29 to fill the remainder of former state Sen. Rob Wonderling's term.

Republican Bob Mensch wins in landslide

Voter turnout was small but the victory was decisive.

State Rep. Bob Mensch won a landslide victory over Democrat Anne Scheuring to fill the vacant 24th Senatorial District seat.

Mensch defeated Scheuring by a 2-1 margin. In his home county of Montgomery, Mensch defeated Scheuring by a remarkable 72% to 26% margin. In Lehigh County, Mensch won by a 64% to 30% margin. In Bucks County, Mensch won by a 68% to 29% margin. The tightest race was in Northampton county, where Mensch beat Scheuring by a 53% to 42% margin.

With all 123 precincts reporting results, Mensch finished with 12,496 votes. Scheuring had 5,730 votes. Libertarian candidate Barbara Steever had 660 votes.

After three years in the state House representing the 147th District, Mensch moves to the state Senate, giving Republicans a 30-20 majority.

The 24th Senate District has been vacant since July when former state Rep. Rob Wonderling resigned to become president and chief executive of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

There's no indication when Mensch's seat in the state House will be filled. While Senate Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, a Republican, got to decide when to hold a special election for Wonderlng's seat, the task of filling Mensch's seat falls to Speaker of the House Keith R. McCall, a Democrat.

With Democrats holding a slim 104-99 majority in the House, don't look for McCall to move quickly on replacing Mensch in one of the safest Republican districts in the state. Don't be surprised if McCall puts off a special election until next year.

One other interesting note. There have been three special elections this year to fill vacancies in the state Legislature and Republicans have won all three races by wide margins. That does not bode well for Democrats heading into the 2010 election cycle when all 203 House seats and 25 Senates seats are up for grabs.

Newspaper: Mensch is clear choice in special election

The editorial board of The Pottstown Mercury believes it's a bad idea to hold a special election for the vacant 24th Senate District seat five weeks before the General Election, but since the election is scheduled for Tuesday, one candidate is clearly best qualified to join the Senate -- State Rep. Bob Mensch.

From the newspaper's endorsement editorial:

Of the three (candidates), Mensch is the clear choice for the seat.

In his third year as a state legislator, he is demonstrating commitment and leadership for both his constituents and the state at large.

He has supported tax reform, champions smart business growth, and voted against last year's state budget that set the stage for the current $3 billion deficit.

He doesn't bear the stigma of the 2005 pay-raise since he was not then a member of the Legislature. And, close to home, he is involved with finding solutions for problems such as the bridge closures in Lower Frederick.

Mensch was previously a township supervisor in Marlborough, and his efforts toward regionalization among municipalities for planning and preserving open space are deserving of high marks.

Read the full editorial at the newspaper's Web site.

Bucks newspaper endorses Mensch in special election

The Doylestown Intelligencer has endorsed state Rep. Bob Mensch in Tuesday's special election to fill the 24th Senate District seat vacated by former state Sen. Rob Wonderling.

Part of the 24th District includes Bucks County, where the Intelligener is located.

From the newspaper's endorsement editorial:

(Mensch) remains a relatively fresh voice in the Legislature - hardly part of the entrenched and oft-maligned Harrisburg leadership - and his business background (28 years with AT&T) is a definite plus. Not surprisingly, he doesn’t look down on the business community but sees it as a vital component of Pennsylvania’s economic well-being. He promises to continue advocating for business interests and believes a position in the Senate, where Republicans hold a majority, would offer him a better platform to do so.

It should be noted that the Intelligencer is one of the most liberal newspapers in the state and rarely endorses Republicans.

Read the full editorial at the newspaper's Web site.

Mensch has been endorsed by numerous regional and state business organizations, law enforcement agencies and taxpayer groups. He is also endorsed by Wonderling, who is now CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

Also, check out the Bucks Right blog for more on Mensch's lightweight Democratic opponent, whose entire political experience consists of nine months on the Lansdale Borough Council.

(P.S. - I have it on good authority that The Mercury, the most widely read newspapers in the Montgomery County portion of the 24th District, will be endorsing Mensch over the weekend.)

Law enforcement backs Bob Mensch for state Senate

Republican state Senate candidate Bob Mensch has picked up the endorsement of the Pennsylvania State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police, as well as the Fraternal Order of Police Lodges in Bucks, Lehigh, Northampton and Montgomery Counties.

Mensch, a two-term member of the state House is seeking the vacant state Senate seat in the 24th Senate District held by former state Sen. Rob Wonderling. A special election is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 29, to fill the remainder of Wonderling's term, which runs through the end of 2010.

"It is our privilege to stand with Fraternal Order of Police Lodges in Bucks, Lehigh, Montgomery, and Northampton Counties to present you our highest endorsement for your special election campaign to the Pennsylvania State Senate," said Les Neri, President of the Fraternal Order of Police, Pennsylvania State Lodge, representing more than 41,000 law enforcement officers across Pennsylvania. Neri noted that Mensch has "always been an active supporter of the law enforcement community, the officers, and their families."

"I have the utmost respect for the men and women who serve in law enforcement and put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe," said Mensch. "The members of the Fraternal Order of Police are on the front lines in the fight against crime and it is an honor to have their endorsement and support."

Mensch has supported legislation that would add 10,000 police officers to the streets in local communities and cities throughout Pennsylvania. The bill would provide funding to local counties, in the form of block grants, and empower local municipalities to decide how best to spend the money and select how many additional officers are needed.

"Putting more police officers on the streets allows law enforcement to be more proactive in preventing crime in our communities," said Mensch. "Numerous studies have shown that the more police officers we have on the street, the more crime rates go down. We need to provide local municipalities with the support they need to keep our neighborhoods safe."

Mensch has taken a leadership role on a number of other legislative initiatives that help keep our communities safe or are priorities of the Fraternal Order of Police, including:

· House Bill 1144, legislation to combat the growing problem of prescription drug abuse. The bill targets some of the main methods in which prescription drugs are diverted to street and motorcycle gangs and other drug dealers, groups that are increasingly trafficking and selling controlled prescription drugs.

· Mensch is an original co-sponsor of House Bill 1926, legislation that will strengthen Megan’s Law registration and restrictions for sex offenders.

· He is a co-sponsor of House Bill 1758, legislation that would increase the amount of state death benefits to the survivors of firefighters and police officers who die in performance of their duties.

Mensch has also received major endorsements from business organizations and citizen taxpayer groups across Pennsylvania.

For more information on Mensch visit his campaign Web site at www.electmensch.com

Chamber endorses Mensch for state Senate

The TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce, which represents 700 businesses in Montgomery, Chester and Berks counties, has endorsed state Rep. Bob Mensch for the 24th Senatorial District seat in a special election on Sept. 29.

The election will fill the vacant Senate seat previously held by Sen. Robert Wonderling, who recently resigned to serve as the president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

Mensch, serving his second term in the state House, has been an ally of the business community and a strong advocate for policies that will foster job creation and economic growth, according to the Chamber.

"He brings a valuable insight to the legislature with his experience as a business professional," said TriCounty Area Chamber President P. Timothy Phelps.

Mensch was named the TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce's Legislator of the Year in 2008 for his impact on the region as well as his 100 percent voting record on business issues supported by the Chamber.

More from the Chamber's endorsement:

Mensch continues to support key chamber initiatives, and he is an advocate for tri-county's regionalization efforts. His pro-business stances include investment in improved transportation infrastructure, business tax structure reform, health care reform, and tort reform. Also, as a member of the House Republican Policy Committee Task Force on Budget and Economic Policy, Mensch has remained strongly opposed to Governor Ed Rendell's proposal to increase taxes to offset proposed state spending increases.

Having worked his way through the ranks at AT&T for 28 years, he truly understands the needs of the business community. The Chamber believes that Representative Bob Mensch's dedicated leadership, combined with his community, charity, corporate, and political experiences, provides the mix needed for the success of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

This is the second major endorsement Mensch has picked up from the business community. Mensch is also supported by ChamberPAC, the political arm of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry.

Mensch is also endorsed by the Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations for his support of the elimination of property taxes.

For more about the TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce, visit tricountyareachamber.com

For more about Mensch, visit his campaign Web site.

Mensch challenges opponent to debate in 24th Senate race

State Rep. Bob Mensch, the Republican candidate in the special election to fill the vacant seat in the 24th state Senate District, has been trying to get his Democratic opponent to agree to debates for several weeks without success.

With just two weeks left until the Sept. 29 special election, Mensch issued an open invitation to Democrat Anne Scheuring to debate him pretty much any time, any place.

"Voters have a right to hear directly from the candidates in a civil and open debate on the issues," said Pete Peterson, spokesperson for the Mensch campaign. "The region and state face a number of critical challenges, including the need to create jobs, open space preservation, and the need to hold the line on any tax increases on working families. Voters deserve to know which candidate has a strong command of the issues and best represents their views."

(The fact that Scheuring's entire political experience consists of nine months on the Lansdale Borough Council may have something to do with her reluctance to face Mensch in a public forum. Scheuring was a last-minute candidate after several prominent Democrats declined to run in the special election.)

Ideally, the Mensch campaign would like to see three separate debates in various regions of the district "to offer voters the best opportunity to hear from the candidates and reduce long travel times," Peterson said.

Unfortunately, Scheuring has even refused to be a guest on local radio and television programs if Mensch will be on at the same time to discuss the issues, Peterson said.

"Rather than engage in an open and honest debate on the issues, Anne Scheuring has resorted to mudslinging and false attacks on Rep. Mensch," said Peterson. "Voters deserve better. Scheuring made the ridiculous claim that Rep. Mensch voted for the controversial pay raise, but he hadn't even been elected to office yet. He even donates his annual cost-of-living adjustment to charities that provide assistance to disabled individuals and victims of domestic violence."

(The pay raise accusation is a common false charge made by Democratic strategists who run campaigns from Harrisburg. It's been used before in the 2008 election cycle against Republican candidates who were not serving in the Legislature when the pay raise vote was taken in July 2005.)

Scheuring has rejected or refused to respond to numerous debates, forums and radio and television appearances with Mensch. The list includes forums with Upper Perkiomen Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, PBS 39, WFMS Channel 69, and WNPV 1440 AM, according to Peterson.

Scheuring's refusal to debate may be related to her lack of willingness to address the false attacks she has made on Mensch, Peterson said.

The 24th Senatorial District seat opened up when former Sen. Rob Wonderling resigned in August to accept the position as CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

Mensch is in his third year in the state House and previously served six years as a township supervisor in Marlborough. For more on Mensch, visit his campaign Web site.

Taxpayer groups endorses Mensch in 24th Dist. Senate race

The Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations has endorsed state Rep. Bob Mensch, the Republican candidate in a special election to fill the vacant seat in the 24th Senatorial District.

In making its endorsement, the PCTA noted Mensch's "unequivocal support for the enactment of Pennsylvania House Bill 1275, the School Property Tax Elimination Act, pending legislation that would abolish school property taxes for all Pennsylvania homeowners and restructure a crumbling, antiquated education finance system."

David Baldinger, PCTA spokesperson and the administrator of the Pennsylvania Taxpayers Cyber Coalition (PTCC), said in a written statement: "For 30 years the residents of Pennsylvania have been deceived time and again by phony, unsound property tax relief schemes and false promises of property tax reform. Bob Mensch has taken a definitive stance on this vital issue with his pledge to work for the passage of House Bill 1275, legislation that will at last give legitimate, sustainable relief to the homeowners of Pennsylvania through total school property tax elimination."

Rebecca Heller of the Patriot's Voice, a PCTA member group, added: "We need more people like Bob Mensch who are willing to work for true property tax reform in a General Assembly that has historically avoided a resolution to this issue. The Patriot’s Voice wishes Bob Mensch much success in his bid for the District 24 Senate seat."

The Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations is an alliance of 33 grassroots taxpayer advocacy groups from across Pennsylvania that is dedicated to equitable education funding reform through the enactment of House Bill 1275, the School Property Tax Elimination Act.

Learn more about the group's efforts at http://ptcc.us

A special election will be held Tuesday, Sept. 29, to fill the seat held by former state Sen. Rob Wonderling, who resigned Aug. 1 to take a position as CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

The 24th Senate District covers parts of Montgomery, Lehigh, Northampton and Bucks counties.

Business group backs Mensch for PA Senate

ChamberPAC, the political arm of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, announced today it has endorsed Republican state Rep. Bob Mensch for the 24th Senatorial District.

Mensch, who has represented the 147th House District in Montgomery County since 2007, will face Democrat Anne Scheuring in a Sept. 29 special election to fill the seat vacated by Sen. Robert Wonderling, who resigned to head the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

Scheuring is a newcomer to politics, serving on the Lansdale Borough Council since January.

The winner of the special election will complete the remainder of Wonderling's term, which runs through the end of 2010. Candidates will have to compete again in November 2010 for a full four-year term in the state Senate.

The 24th Senate District includes parts of Montgomery, Northampton, Lehigh and Bucks counties.

From ChamberPAC:

"Rep. Mensch's election to the state Senate would be a natural extension of his dedicated public service in the state House," said Gene Barr, PA Chamber vice president of government and public affairs.

Barr said Mensch understands the concerns of job creators and has voted consistently for policies that promote economic and job growth to the benefit of his constituents and all Pennsylvanians.

"With an economy in crisis, it is essential to have someone in office who understands what it will take to move Pennsylvania forward," said Barr, noting as well Mensch's past 28 years of experience with AT&T.

"For these reasons, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry wholeheartedly supports his state Senate candidacy. Constituents in Montgomery County will be well served by Mensch as their senator."

The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is the state's largest broad-based business association, serving more than 24,000 members and customers statewide. For more information, visit the group's Web site at www.pachamber.org

For more on Mensch, visit his campaign Web site, http://electmensch.com

PA GOP outlines plans for picking 24th Senate District candidate

The Republican Party of Pennsylvania has released details on how it will pick a candidate to run in a special election to fill the vacant 24th Senate District seat held by Sen. Rob Wonderling.

The details are below, but if you want to cut to the chase, the nominee will be state Rep. Bob Mensch, who will likely win the Sept. 29 election and serve the remaining 18 months of Wonderling's term.

From a PA GOP press release:

The Republican Party of Pennsylvania announced that a conferee meeting will be held on August 6th, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.in Bucks County to nominate a candidate to fill the Republican Party's position on the ballot for the upcoming September 29th, 2009 special election.

The meeting will be held at the Spinnerstown Hotel in Spinnerstown, PA 18968. The special election was scheduled to fill the vacant seat in the 24th State Senatorial District created by the resignation of State Senator Rob Wonderling.

"Senator Rob Wonderling did a great job during his time in office and we are looking forward to nominating a strong candidate who will put our Party in the best position to retain this critically important seat," Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason said. "The conferee process will be carried out in an open and transparent fashion, consistent with the way we have conducted similar meetings in other areas of the state. I am confident that the Republican Party will select the best candidate to represent this district."

The Department of State has determined that candidates' paperwork must be filed no later than Monday, August 10th, 2009.

Due to the fact that this State Senatorial District is made up of more than one county (Bucks, Lehigh, Montgomery and Northampton counties), PA GOP Bylaws dictate that the State Party preside over the conferee meeting. Conferees must be registered Republican electors that reside in the 24th State Senatorial District. County Party bylaws dictate the counties' conferee selection processes. Conferees are allotted based on the electoral results of last year’s presidential race and distributed proportionally to each county. We have informed each county that there will be a total of 62 conferees.

Conferees broken down by county:

Bucks County – 12
Lehigh County – 14
Montgomery County – 22
Northampton County – 14

During the conferee meeting, each candidate will have the opportunity to make a short presentation. After each candidate has an opportunity to be heard, the conferees will vote to nominate a candidate to fill our Party's position on the ballot. A nominated candidate must secure a majority plus one of the votes cast to earn the nomination. No proxies will be permitted at this meeting, and only conferees will be permitted to vote.

Any registered Republican, 25 years or older, who has resided in the 24th State Senatorial District for at least one year may seek the Party's nomination. All candidates interested in seeking the Party's nomination must contact Republican Party of Pennsylvania Deputy Political Director Mike Downing by calling 717-234-4901, ext. 111 or by emailing mdowning@pagop.org so that we can ensure that every interested candidate receives all the details of the process.

Special election for Wonderling seat set for Sept. 29

Voters in the 24th state Senate District will go to the polls on Tuesday, Sept. 29, to pick a successor to state Sen. Rob Wonderling, who is leaving the Senate for a job in the private sector.

Lt. Gov. Joe Scarnati, who is also Senate Pro Tempore, made the decision to hold a special election instead of waiting until the Nov. 3 General Election.

That means county officials in Montgomery, Berks, Lehigh and Northampton counties will have to gear up for two elections within five weeks.

Scarnati's decision was criticized by Secretary of the Commonwealth Pedro A. Cortes, a Gov. Ed Rendell appointee.

"At a time when the state is facing a $3.2 billion budget deficit and the legislature is considering dramatic budget cuts, I am greatly concerned that a costly special election was scheduled just five weeks prior to the Nov. 3 general election," Cortes said.

The Department of State estimates the cost of the special election to range from $250,000 to $375,000, all of which will be underwritten by Pennsylvania taxpayers, Cortes said.

If Mensch wins the Senate seat, then another special election will be called to fill Mensch's House seat, Cortes points out.

Wonderling resigned his Senate seat on July 28 to take the job as president of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

The Republican candidate to succeed Wonderling state Rep. Bob Mensch, who currently represents the 147th District.

There are no announced Democratic candidates.

Bruce Castor drops bid for Wonderling state Senate seat

Montgomery County Commissioner Bruce L. Castor Jr. announced today he will not seek the Republican nod for the soon-to-be-vacated 24th District state Senate seat held by Republican Rob Wonderling.

Castor was one of three Montgomery County politicians competing for a chance to fill Wonderling's unexpired term in a special election this fall.

Castor's surprise announcement leaves state Rep. Bob Mensch, R-147th, as the likely choice to run on the GOP ballot.

The other potential GOP challenger, former state Rep. Jay Moyer, announced late Monday he's dropping out. Moyer endorsed Mensch and said he wants to concentrate on another run for the 70th House District seat that he lost in 2008.

Castor said he received plenty of encouragement from residents of Bucks, Lehigh, Northampton and Montgomery counties about a 24th Senate District run, but he decided to finish his term as a commissioner in Montgomery County, which is facing a fiscal crisis under the leadership of Democrat Joe Hoeffel and GOP turncoat Jim Matthews.

"If I were to run in the Special Election I would vacate my seat as a commissioner at a critical point in the budget process, leaving my colleagues to adopt a budget with no third commissioner in place or with a new commissioner who had little or no time to study the budget before being asked to act on it," Castor said in a written statement. "I do not believe that is fair to the citizens of Montgomery County to create such a situation and at this time I believe the best way I can serve the citizens is to remain a commissioner and a vocal critic of the policies that have led us to this point while offering my own suggestions on a better way to govern Montgomery County."

Castor was the top vote getter in the 2007 election to fill three Montgomery County commissioner seats. Hoeffel finished second and Matthews came in third thanks to a last-minute push by Castor to get Matthews re-elected at the request of party leadership.

Instead of joining Castor to form a GOP majority on the board, Matthews made a deal with Hoeffel to form a power-sharing arrangement, where Hoeffel supported Matthews as commissioners' chairman in return for obtaining unprecedented control of county government by a minority commissioner.

Hoeffel has hired all sorts of Democratic Party cronies to high-paying county jobs in the past 18 months.

"For 18 months, I have warned that the spending policies pursued by the county commissioners would lead to an unavoidable budget crisis," Castor said in a written statement. "Last year my colleagues used $16 million of our savings and failed to fund $7 million in pension obligations to our county employees in order to balance the budget. They do not have that option this year. The Finance Department projects a $50 million plus budget shortfall for 2010 while reminding us that the pension obligation will come due at the end of this year -- an obligation my fellow commissioners failed to budget for and now do not have the funds to meet. I cited this failure as one of my principle reasons for voting against the 2009 county budget.

Castor is the lone voice of fiscal reason on the commissioners' board and said he will work to inform Montgomery County taxpayers about the irresponsible spending by the Hoeffel-Matthews regime.

"This year we face a mounting deficit that my fellow commissioners will attempt to blame on the economy, Harrisburg, Washington, and just about anyone and anything else they can," Castor said. "But the fault lies in their reckless pursuit of cronyism, patronage and borrow and spend governance using tax dollars to fuel their appetite. This year may be the most critical budget deliberations in the history of Montgomery County. I believe I have an obligation to see this budget process to completion and that is what I intend to do."

The 24th District Senate seat will become vacant on Aug. 1 when Wonderling steps down to take a new job as president of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

Republicans should be able to hold Wonderling's seat in a special election this fall and again in 2010 when a full four-year term is up for grabs.

Democrats have had trouble finding a candidate. The leading contender, state Rep. Bob Freeman, D-136th Dist., bowed out last week after a poll showed Freeman losing to both Castor and Mensch.

So much for party unity in Montco

I predicted a schism in the Montgomery County Republican Party over the 24th District state Senate race in a June 8 column you can read here.

Below is a copy of a letter state Rep. Bob Mensch sent over the weekend to Montgomery County GOP Chairman Bob Kerns regarding the soon-to-be vacated 24th state Senate seat held by Rob Wonderling.

It appears Rep. Mensch, who was the first to announce he is running for the Senate seat, initially had the support of Kerns until Montgomery County Commissioner Bruce L. Castor Jr. also expressed interest in the seat.

From the tone of the note, it appears Kerns is favoring Castor over Mensch. Castor has not announced his candidacy yet, but is expected to enter the race. A third Republican, former state Rep. Jay Moyer, is also planning to run, but nobody is paying much attention to Moyer.

Here is Mensch's June 14 letter to Kerns:

Bob,

I was honored and flattered when you called me on June 1st to ask me to run for the 24th Senatorial District as your, County Chairman's, candidate. However, since then I've been disappointed that you have decided instead to campaign full time for Bruce Castor, so I guess your commitment to me on June 1st wasn't really worth very much.

I'm not going to recount all the incidents and occurrences in the past two weeks, but there is one large issue which screams foul, and that is the total lack of integrity to send me a copy of the poll that you insist on running to favor Castor. On several occasions, and notably, in front of others on June 5th at Republican State Committee you promised me a copy, but I've not yet received one. I understand that the other County Chairmen (Bucks, Lehigh and Northampton) have received theirs as well as Jay Moyer. I've emailed you several times asking for a copy, but to no avail. Then, earlier this evening I received a voice mail from someone by the name Ken Gates, with the message that I need to respond by tomorrow morning with any comments or changes on the poll. Funny thing though, he called from a private number and didn't leave an email or a phone number for me to respond. He said he sent a copy to me via email, but I have not received one in either of my emails, and he will be unable to present a verifiable receipt that he did. At this point, this just seems to be one more purposeful deceit in this process.

I have no doubt, despite your first commitment to me, you will continue to try to create every advantage for Castor in this polling process. Regardless, I will continue to pursue the nomination, even though I fully realize you are stacking the deck for Castor in Montgomery County. You know if Bruce is so serious about public service in the State legislature, why don't you first encourage him to run for the House seat in the 70th, which was lost by the Republicans in the last election.

You have my cell and you have my email. I expect to hear from you before this poll "goes to press". My previous two emails to you have not been responded to, but I expect that you will respond to this message.

Sincerely

Bob Mensch

Catch Rep. Bob Mensch on 'Talking Politics'

State Rep. Bob Mensch, R-147th District, a candidate for the 24th state Senate District seat being vacated by Sen. Rob Wonderling, is the guest today on "Talking Politics with Tony Phyrillas & Mike Pincus."

Mensch will discuss his qualifications for the Senate and also update listeners on the state budget debate in Harrisburg.

The one-hour program airs Thursdays from 5-6 p.m. on WPAZ 1370 AM.

You can call 610-326-4000 with questions or comments during the live broadcast.

"Talking Politics" can also be heard online at www.pottsmerc.com and www.1370WPAZ.com

24th Senate contest will test GOP unity

Robert Kerns is chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Committee. He is widely credited with bringing harmony and stability to the county organization, two things lacking under previous leadership.

Kerns is about to face his biggest challenge since assuming the leadership of the county party in May 2008. He will have to back a candidate for the soon-to-be-vacated state Senate seat in the 24th District, which covers portions of Montgomery, Bucks, Lehigh and Northampton counties.

The Senate seat will become available after Aug. 1 when Sen. Rob Wonderling is planning to step down to take over as president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

Wonderling, serving his second term in the state Senate, is seen as a rising star in the Republican party with ambition that could take him to the governor's mansion one day.

A special election will be held later this year to fill Wonderling's seat until next year's regularly scheduled legislative elections. The winner of the special election will have the advantage of being the incumbent in 2010 and should win a full four-year term in the state Senate.

The GOP needs to hold on to Wonderling's seat, but it appears too many well-known Republicans are interested in the job. That's where the dilemma comes in for Kerns, who will have to rally the party around a single candidate.

Within 24 hours of Wonderling's announcement that he is leaving the Senate, two potential candidates emerged. State Rep. Bob Mensch, R-147, and Montgomery County Commissioner Bruce L. Castor Jr. each stated publicly they would like to replace Wonderling.

Both already have high-profile elected positions, but the opportunity to serve in the state Senate is too good for either official to pass up.

Later in the week, another potential GOP candidate's name surfaced, but former state Rep. Jay Moyer is unlikely to attract much support from voters or party officials. Moyer barely won a seat in the state House in 2006 but lost his re-election bid in 2008. Not exactly the strongest candidate for a state Senate run.

On the other hand, either Mensch or Castor would have the edge in keeping Wonderling's seat in Republican hands.

There's no downside for either man making a run for the Senate because both have jobs to fall back on. Castor still has two years left in his four-year term as one of three elected commissioners running one of the largest county governments in the state. Mensch won reelection last November to a second two-year term in the state House.

Neither has to quit their day job to make a run for Wonderling's seat. The loser simply returns to his current position. The winner gets to move to a higher-profile office.

Castor could gain the most because he is currently in political purgatory as the odd man out in a power-sharing agreement between renegade Republican Commissioner Jim Matthews and Democratic Commissioner Joe Hoeffel. Although Castor was the top vote-getter in the 2007 election (and basically got Matthews reelected on his coattails), Matthews surrendered control of county government to Hoeffel rather than allow Castor to take the lead.

Although Wonderling's successor would have the least seniority in the 50-member Senate, the Republicans have a solid 30-20 majority and can push their agenda, especially with a lame duck governor in Ed Rendell counting down the days to the end of his second term.

Mensch would rather run every four years for the Legislature as a member of the Senate rather than every two years in the House. He would also like to be in the majority instead of suffering another two years in the Democratic controlled House.

A potential Castor-Mensch showdown for the 24th Senate District would create some friction within the Montgomery County GOP. That's why Kerns is facing some sleepless nights. He has to back the strongest candidate without alienating the other candidate's supporters.

Mensch represents many of the same communities in the state House that Wonderling has in his Senate district, but there's no question Castor has the bigger name recognition in Montgomery County and beyond.

Castor has a following as the flamboyant, two-term Montgomery County District Attorney who prosecuted some of the biggest criminal cases in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Castor also has more access to cash and has run bigger campaigns for Montgomery County D.A., county commissioner and Pennsylvania Attorney General.

Maybe Castor and Mensch can settle this with a coin flip. Otherwise, it's mostly up to Kerns.

Here's one scenario that could make everyone happy. Castor could win the state Senate seat in a special election this year, but make a run for higher office in 2010, say lieutenant governor, giving Mensch another shot at the 24th District Senate seat next year. Stranger things have happened.

Castor, Mensch have nothing to lose

Within 24 hours of the announcement by state Sen. Rob Wonderling that he is resigning his Senate seat to take a private-sector job, Montgomery County Commissioner Bruce L. Castor Jr. and state Rep. Bob Mensch, R-147, each stated publicly they'd like to replace Wonderling.

Both already have high-profile elected positions, but a chance to serve in the state Senate is too good for either official to pass up.

There's no downside for either man to make a run for the Republican nomination in the predominantly Republican district. Castor and Mensch both have jobs to fall back on.

Castor still has two years left in his four-year term as one of three elected commissioners running one of the largest county governments in the state. Mensch won re-election last November to a second two-year term in the state House.

They don't have to quit their day job to make a run for Wonderling's 24th Senate District seat. The loser simply returns to his current position. The winner gets to move to a higher-profile office.

Castor would appear to be the bigger beneficiary because he is currently in political purgatory as the odd-man out in a power sharing agreement between renegade Republican Commissioner Jim Matthews and Democratic Commissioner Joe Hoeffel. Although Castor was the top vote-getter in the 2007 election (and basically got Matthews re-elected on his coattails), Matthews surrendered control of county government to Hoeffel rather than allow Castor to take the lead.

Although he would have the least seniority of anyone in the 50-member Senate, the Republicans have a solid 30-20 majority and can push their agenda, especially with a lame duck governor in Ed Rendell counting down the days to the end of his term.

Mensch would rather run every four years for the Legislature as a member of the Senate instead of every two years in the House. He would also like to be in the majority instead of suffering another two years in the Democratic-controlled House.

A potential Castor-Mensch showdown for the 24th Senate District seat will probably a cordial affair with both men touting their experience. Both are fiscal conservatives so don't expect any major differences on the issues. They are friends and will remain friends despite the outcome of an election.

While Mensch represents many of the same communities in the House that Wonderling has in his Senate district, I think Castor has the edge because of better name recognition throughout Montgomery County ... and beyond.

The 24th District stretches over four counties and Castor is better known as the flamboyant, two-term Montgomery County District Attorney. Castor also has more access to cash and has run larger campaigns as Montgomery County D.A. and commissioner.

And consider this scenario. Castor could win the state Senate seat in a special election this year, but make a run for higher office in 2010, say lieutenant governor, giving Mensch another shot at the 24th District Senate seat next year. Stranger things have happened.