Politics & Government

Local Republican Committee Hosts Record-Setting Lincoln Day Dinner

The Republican Committee of Lower Merion and Narberth's 46th annual Lincoln Day Dinner was packed with local and state politicians and supporters.

The Republican Committee of Lower Merion and Narberth (RCLMN) held its 46th annual Lincoln Day Dinner fundraising event, which set records Thursday night.

With upwards of 275 attendees and a record $125,000 raised, the event had to move from its usual setting in the Merion Tribute House to the Villanova Conference Center, said RCLMN Chairman Lance Rogers.

The dinner was packed with Republican officials not just from Lower Merion Township, among them commissioners Scott Zelov, Phil Rosenzweig, and Lew Gould, but also with representatives from Montgomery County and state representatives, including Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Jim Cawley and U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach. The dinner featured a presentation by well-known pollster and political consultant Frank Luntz.

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Jenny Brown, Lower Merion Township’s Ward 2 commissioner and candidate for Montgomery County commissioner, was the Special Service awardee but was unable to attend the event because she was sick. Brown’s running mate for county commissioner, Bruce Castor, was at the dinner and was able to accept the award on her behalf.

“This is a great turnout, and is usually what I expect out of Lower Merion,” said Bruce Castor. “I’m here representing both of us, and I’m proud to do so. Frankly, there’s not anyone here who’s not going to vote for her, and we want her to get better for future events.”

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Castor said with county finances “being such a disaster” and with allegations of corruption in regard to the Sunshine Law facing the current county commissioners, Democrats Jim Matthews and Joe Hoeffel, Castor feels that he and Brown have a good shot come November.

He said the Democrats have chosen candidates that are very much similar to those currently in office and that he is excited about his team with Brown.

“We have a wonderful slate countywide, with our own Jenny Brown, and with Bruce Castor,” Rogers said. “We’re really proud to have her on the ticket.”

Rogers added that he hopes they can bring fiscal sanity back to the county.

Local Republicans with political aspirations were also at the event. Trish Hueber is planning on running for Ward 1 commissioner for the township board of commissioners in November.

“I was thinking I was going to run in November against Mark Taylor,” said Ward 1 resident Hueber, who added she more often ended up calling Ward 2 Commissioner Jenny Brown for representation.

Taylor resigned last month and was replaced by Democrat Daniel Bernheim.

“I really want to speak for the people because I wanted that for me,” Hueber said, adding she’s gotten a lot of support from the Republican commissioners on the board.

Luntz’s presentation was peppered with jokes at the expense of both attendees and the not-present Democrats alike, drawing laughs. (While seeking out the person who had traveled the farthest to attend and several people sitting together were all indicating it had taken them more than an hour, he said “Clearly this table doesn’t know how to drive,” and later joked that he liked the Cash for Clunkers program if only because it got 95 percent of Obama bumper stickers off the road).

On a more serious note, he stressed the importance of uniting as a party instead of dwelling on differing views amongst Republicans. Luntz added that “accountability” will be a major talking point in 2012 in emphasizing not just what Republicans support but what Democrats don’t support and have failed in achieving.

“Men want money, and women want time—this is what we want,” Luntz said after an interactive exercise with the audience. “This is how people think, not in terms of philosophy, but in the day-to-day.

In a Q&A session, he discussed what Republicans might expect in 2012. While he’s not convinced Obama will be voted out of office (since “he’s an amazing teleprompter reader”), he likes New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

Afterward, the nearly 300 attendees all received free copies of Luntz’s new book, “Win,” and he stayed for book signings.

“This is a great turnout and a great event,” said U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach. “Everyone has worked hard to generate the excitement and energy that portends a successful election year. It’s great to be here.”


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