I'll tell you exactly what happened. It got me SICK!!!!!!!! It started with Chuck Horvat practically yelling at Frank Schiefer demanding to know why he supported the UNENDORSED candidate (Judge Panipinto)instead of being a puppet like the rest of the county Republicans. He of course played the age card in not so many words told Frank that he was young and had a lot to learn. Frank handled it with class telling Chuck that he supported who he thought was the better candidate and refused to argue with him. Prior to this altercation Frank resigned as execuitive director of the party. After George Dunbar accepted the resignation Frank said a few words. As Frank was speaking Ben Wren was looking at him with so much evil and hate on his face. After Chuck was done with Frank, Ben took his turn at him yelling at him about not supporting Joan Orie Melvin and yelling about a slate card that Ben had in his possession that according to Ben was being passed out by some people at the polls and only had 4 names on it. Ben was actually talking down to Frank like he was some kind of a god. He definately has an evil streak in him. Frank combatted this with some words of his own. While all this was going on George did NOTHING to get control of the meeting. Looks like some people better read Robert's Rules. And in this Corner is Sue Sherif and our so called Vice Chair Elaine Gowaty. At the end of the "meeting" Sue and Elaine had a very loud and heated discussion. I'm not sure what this was all about, but when Sue asked George if she could speak during the meeting in regards to an investigation being done he told her no. Word to all committee members: Watch your backs. One false move and there will be an investigation and you will be kicked off the committee. Do you want to know a major difference between the County Republicans and the County Democrats? From what I have seen the County Democrats are united and they don't stab their own in the back. I know this is rather lengthy but, you wanted more info.
There were nasty words exchanged between Ben Wren and Frank Schiefer about the slate cards that Franks people passed out and Frank looked so red in the face that it appeared he would explode or slug Ben.
Well, at least it wasn't another fight over what we are going to do about illegal immigration.
For the record, I like both Ben and Frank.
In defense of George, those people do not want the meetings run by proper rule of order. I am sure George wasn't sitting there doing nothing. He most likely was doing what I did. Sat there, saying nothing, thinking to myself--HOW DID I GET HERE! At least I got to visit the White House, George just has to sit and listen to this stuff. So, be nice to George. These meetings are not fun.
I was at the meeting too. Yes, there were some nasty words said, but noone was anywhere near fighting, or even in arms length of each other. I thought Chuck Horvat respectfully said all that needed to be said, but Frank agreed to hear everyone out. I don't know what Frank expected. I respect his right to endorse and vote for anyone he wants, but I would not have voted for him if I knew this before the election. I felt cheated and I am sure others did too.
That said, it is a real shame that committee members engage this blog. The person who wrote this exaggerated, overblown story should probably be considered a RINO. We should watch our backs. It looks like the nastiest people in the room were not the ones having an open, though unplesant discussion.
Elaine Gowaty is awesome - and not a so called Vice Chair! She has given more to this party than anyone on that committee. In fact, I think she, single handedly, raised more money than this party has seen in a long time - and gave time to arrange phone banks during an "off" election year. Give me a break! Elaine rocks!
Ok, lets get started. Frank has always supported Judge Panipinto that never has been a secret. If you "felt cheated" you only have yourself to blame for not paying attention. Vote for whoever you like but Frank still won by more then 1600 votes. Slate cards are useless at best.
Ben is very loyal and I am sure he was mad. Everyone here loves the Orie's.
Chuck should be happy that there are young republicans age is not always a good thing.
I don't see George doing any better job then Perry. Where is the GOTV.
County dems do stab their own in the back just ask Toni.
Sue and Elaine got in to it because Elaine wants at least three members from each district to work the polls for the county judge (Michelle) race. District 5 has, quiet frankly, more important races. George and Elaine in their districts should be able to make up the votes for Michelle, but I saw yard signs for Megan in comittee members yards(not mine).
As for the Judge candidates George should have let them all speak it's always better to have the high ground ask any Marine.
In district 5 the school board and supervisor may be lost. If you don't think the Hempfield school race is important to you, just wait for your teachers to strike for the same HAEA contract and your taxes to go up. Two years from now that race will be even more important. There are some school board races that need to be paid attention to at the county level they effect taxes the most. Anyway Fagert, Fjellanger, Lutz, and Sullenberger should not have ran.
What were Bob Davidson and Joe Lutz doing at a county exec meeting? Two years ago the county comittee supported Dopkis, and district 5 supported with Kim's approvial John Henry. And didn't Davidson support Yert some years ago? If they want to throw Gordon off the comittee then what should have been done to everyone two years ago? The phone bank was for Michelle and Harry.
The previous anonymous post was right on, except for the part of Ben Wren. I realize that he is very dedicated, but he also has an evil streak in him. If you don't support who he supports he has no use for you. I agree with so many things that were written in the previous post. Yes, the older Republicans SHOULD appreciate Franks youth and what all he brings to the county party. Frank is also dedicated to what he believs in. I don't know of anyone else who knows the county better than Frank. I just don't understand what people have against him. You're right, George isn't doing a better job than what Perry did. George should have called order to the meeting when it was getting out of control. The yelling should not have gone on as long as what it did. In fact, in view of the witch hunts that the county is going on to find Republicans who openly support Democrats, I think that Perry maybe should have appealed the decision of the committee. I realize that during the primary a lot of Republicans wrote in Antoniono. Harry Smail even had one of his signs in his yard. Why isn't there an investigation done on him? Oh I get it, only certain ones get investigated. If Gordon gets kicked off the committee, he should take it higher up. Yes, a couple years ago we supported Dopkis, a registered DEMOCRAT. Should we ALL be kicked off the county committee? I think a lot of people should be kicked off for supporting democrats, but of course it's ok for some, but not for others. I got a laugh out of the one post who said committee members should not engage in this blog. YOU were at the last execuitive meeting which means you are not only a committee member, but you are either a chair or vice chair. What DOES that make you? Hmmmmmmmm I just bet Tom Ceraso is having a field day with this topic.
George is doing a fine job as chair. He's raising more money, with Elaine's help on a very successful dinner that I heard raised almost 5 K.
As far as GOTV I helped on phone banks(the first of its kind in an off year primary in the years I've been involved) aimed at helping Harry and Michele as well as the statewide endorsed ticket for judges. I was surprised by how thankful some people I called were for the information since they didn't know anything about the judges.
I'm not on executive committee so I don't know what happened but I did want to pass on the above info to set the record straight on at least George and Elaine who have been doing a great job in my opinion
I hear it is a lot easier to raise money when people actually help you. That being said, we did not have to raise a lot of money because we were able to ride along with some major campaigns and their structure.
As for George being silent, he may have wanted whatever was being said...said!
Committee members were allowed to support Bilik Defazio because candidates were permitted to cross file and there were no endorsements.
I disagree. There is always something like this going on. When it comes time for the election, people pull together. It is just harder in an off year election to get everyone pull together. Last time Bononi ran,some republicans supported Feliciani to her detriment. I supported Bononi. The person I ran against for county chairman did not. Wasn't against the bylaws because of the nonpartisan nature of the race.
MORE TENSIONS. Tempers reportedly were short at a recent Westmoreland County GOP executive committee meeting.
Some old-timers reportedly were mad at jury commissioner-elect Frank Schiefer because he supported Pennsylvania Supreme Court judicial candidate Paul P. Panepinto, who was not endorsed by the state committee. The Westmoreland executive committee members were angered that Schiefer supported a Philadelphia Common Pleas judge over Judge Joan Orie Melvin, who was endorsed by the state committee.
Melvin, former chief magistrate in Pittsburgh and currently a state Superior Court judge, won the Republican nomination.
Schiefer says the dispute had nothing to do with his resignation as executive director of the county party, which was accepted that night.
"No, I wrote the letter even before the primary election. Now, as an elected jury commissioner, I automatically have a seat on the executive committee," Schiefer said.
As for the dispute, Schiefer shrugged it off.
"You'll have a few disputes in a growing party where people disagree on issues. I think we need to get back in touch with rank-and-file Republicans to move this party forward and some people don't," he said.
Get a grip chuck - it is the old timers that stand in the way of new and innovative thinking. The ways that worked years ago no longer are effective in the current climate. Same old - same old has to change!
You know, Chuck, I'm sure Frank is really flattered at how much power you think he has, but I would like to know how ONE person destroyed an entire party? Will you just listen to yourself. What worked 40 years ago won't work now. We need the young go-getters, like Frank in our corner.
Frank need kicked off the committee heck he should switch his registration to independent or democrat. We should start hearings on him being kicked off permanently.
Get a life kicked off for supporting a Rep candidate. We have the right to support any of our parties candidates. Just like you probably supported toomey when he wasn't endorsed last time he ran against sepector. But you probably think that was ok!!!!!
What was the deal with the slate cards in FRSD area? The school board was missing from the backs of the slate cards being passed out. Who approved that? I find that odd that would happen without approvial.
Frank needs kicked off and banned from all county GOP activities besides his campaigns for himself hes caused enough trouble already and continues to undermine our efforts in the county.
Frank kicked off the committee???????? GET A LIFE!!!! Just WHO do you think you are? Maybe YOU should be kicked off the committee. Maybe someone does not like my hair color or the way I part my hair. Maybe I should be kicked off the committee. Maybe who ever supported Toomey instead of Spector (the ENDORSED candidate) should be kicked off the committee. I don't think any of the so called "good" Republicans supported Spector. I think there are just too many people that just better get off their soap boxes. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Ben was the one who posted that Frank should be kicked off the committee. A few people dislike Frank, but I don't know of anyone who has as much hatred for him as what Ben and Chuck K. do.
I think Ben, Chuck, Debbie, the Horvaths and others like them would fight against Frank being a commissioner stronger then the democrats would fight against him.
And this is why the party is where it is, because of people with this mindset. If their was a a candidate that held the same values of me and he was purple I would support him. These older party people need to get out of the way and let some young people take over. And then the party would head in the right direction.
Why does Frank Schiefer create so much talk and controversy? What is it about him that people like to talk about? Why does it seem he is such a threat?
41 comments:
I heard something about people getting so mad there was almost a fight.
Your kidding?! If it is true, we need more info than that.
I'll tell you exactly what happened. It got me SICK!!!!!!!! It started with Chuck Horvat practically yelling at Frank Schiefer demanding to know why he supported the UNENDORSED candidate (Judge Panipinto)instead of being a puppet like the rest of the county Republicans. He of course played the age card in not so many words told Frank that he was young and had a lot to learn. Frank handled it with class telling Chuck that he supported who he thought was the better candidate and refused to argue with him. Prior to this altercation Frank resigned as execuitive director of the party. After George Dunbar accepted the resignation Frank said a few words. As Frank was speaking Ben Wren was looking at him with so much evil and hate on his face. After Chuck was done with Frank, Ben took his turn at him yelling at him about not supporting Joan Orie Melvin and yelling about a slate card that Ben had in his possession that according to Ben was being passed out by some people at the polls and only had 4 names on it. Ben was actually talking down to Frank like he was some kind of a god. He definately has an evil streak in him. Frank combatted this with some words of his own. While all this was going on George did NOTHING to get control of the meeting. Looks like some people better read Robert's Rules. And in this Corner is Sue Sherif and our so called Vice Chair Elaine Gowaty. At the end of the "meeting" Sue and Elaine had a very loud and heated discussion. I'm not sure what this was all about, but when Sue asked George if she could speak during the meeting in regards to an investigation being done he told her no. Word to all committee members: Watch your backs. One false move and there will be an investigation and you will be kicked off the committee. Do you want to know a major difference between the County Republicans and the County Democrats? From what I have seen the County Democrats are united and they don't stab their own in the back. I know this is rather lengthy but, you wanted more info.
There were nasty words exchanged between Ben Wren and Frank Schiefer about the slate cards that Franks people passed out and Frank looked so red in the face that it appeared he would explode or slug Ben.
Well, at least it wasn't another fight over what we are going to do about illegal immigration.
For the record, I like both Ben and Frank.
In defense of George, those people do not want the meetings run by proper rule of order. I am sure George wasn't sitting there doing nothing. He most likely was doing what I did. Sat there, saying nothing, thinking to myself--HOW DID I GET HERE! At least I got to visit the White House, George just has to sit and listen to this stuff. So, be nice to George. These meetings are not fun.
Ben looked like he was the one who was going to slug Frank and yes George did just sit there while all this was going on.
I was at the meeting too. Yes, there were some nasty words said, but noone was anywhere near fighting, or even in arms length of each other. I thought Chuck Horvat respectfully said all that needed to be said, but Frank agreed to hear everyone out. I don't know what Frank expected. I respect his right to endorse and vote for anyone he wants, but I would not have voted for him if I knew this before the election. I felt cheated and I am sure others did too.
That said, it is a real shame that committee members engage this blog. The person who wrote this exaggerated, overblown story should probably be considered a RINO. We should watch our backs. It looks like the nastiest people in the room were not the ones having an open, though unplesant discussion.
RINO? Who decides? I really don't like self appointed RINO hunters. If you say you are a rep and you vote rep, then you are a republican.
Anonymous you stated that you were at the meeting and then go on to say committee members should not engage in this blog. Whats that make you?
Elaine Gowaty is awesome - and not a so called Vice Chair! She has given more to this party than anyone on that committee. In fact, I think she, single handedly, raised more money than this party has seen in a long time - and gave time to arrange phone banks during an "off" election year. Give me a break! Elaine rocks!
Ron Rometo wasn't so bad either. It is probably a bit easier to raise money with Kim Ward as state senator and two republican state reps.
Ok, lets get started.
Frank has always supported Judge Panipinto that never has been a secret. If you "felt cheated" you only have yourself to blame for not paying attention. Vote for whoever you like but Frank still won by more then 1600 votes. Slate cards are useless at best.
Ben is very loyal and I am sure he was mad. Everyone here loves the Orie's.
Chuck should be happy that there are young republicans age is not always a good thing.
I don't see George doing any better job then Perry. Where is the GOTV.
County dems do stab their own in the back just ask Toni.
Sue and Elaine got in to it because Elaine wants at least three members from each district to work the polls for the county judge (Michelle) race. District 5 has, quiet frankly, more important races. George and Elaine in their districts should be able to make up the votes for Michelle, but I saw yard signs for Megan in comittee members yards(not mine).
As for the Judge candidates George should have let them all speak it's always better to have the high ground ask any Marine.
In district 5 the school board and supervisor may be lost. If you don't think the Hempfield school race is important to you, just wait for your teachers to strike for the same HAEA contract and your taxes to go up. Two years from now that race will be even more important. There are some school board races that need to be paid attention to at the county level they effect taxes the most. Anyway Fagert, Fjellanger, Lutz, and Sullenberger should not have ran.
What were Bob Davidson and Joe Lutz doing at a county exec meeting? Two years ago the county comittee supported Dopkis, and district 5 supported with Kim's approvial John Henry. And didn't Davidson support Yert some years ago? If they want to throw Gordon off the comittee then what should have been done to everyone two years ago?
The phone bank was for Michelle and Harry.
The previous anonymous post was right on, except for the part of Ben Wren. I realize that he is very dedicated, but he also has an evil streak in him. If you don't support who he supports he has no use for you. I agree with so many things that were written in the previous post. Yes, the older Republicans SHOULD appreciate Franks youth and what all he brings to the county party. Frank is also dedicated to what he believs in. I don't know of anyone else who knows the county better than Frank. I just don't understand what people have against him. You're right, George isn't doing a better job than what Perry did. George should have called order to the meeting when it was getting out of control. The yelling should not have gone on as long as what it did. In fact, in view of the witch hunts that the county is going on to find Republicans who openly support Democrats, I think that Perry maybe should have appealed the decision of the committee. I realize that during the primary a lot of Republicans wrote in Antoniono. Harry Smail even had one of his signs in his yard. Why isn't there an investigation done on him? Oh I get it, only certain ones get investigated. If Gordon gets kicked off the committee, he should take it higher up. Yes, a couple years ago we supported Dopkis, a registered DEMOCRAT. Should we ALL be kicked off the county committee? I think a lot of people should be kicked off for supporting democrats, but of course it's ok for some, but not for others. I got a laugh out of the one post who said committee members should not engage in this blog. YOU were at the last execuitive meeting which means you are not only a committee member, but you are either a chair or vice chair. What DOES that make you? Hmmmmmmmm I just bet Tom Ceraso is having a field day with this topic.
George is doing a fine job as chair. He's raising more money, with Elaine's help on a very successful dinner that I heard raised almost 5 K.
As far as GOTV I helped on phone banks(the first of its kind in an off year primary in the years I've been involved) aimed at helping Harry and Michele as well as the statewide endorsed ticket for judges. I was surprised by how thankful some people I called were for the information since they didn't know anything about the judges.
I'm not on executive committee so I don't know what happened but I did want to pass on the above info to set the record straight on at least George and Elaine who have been doing a great job in my opinion
I hear it is a lot easier to raise money when people actually help you. That being said, we did not have to raise a lot of money because we were able to ride along with some major campaigns and their structure.
As for George being silent, he may have wanted whatever was being said...said!
Committee members were allowed to support Bilik Defazio because candidates were permitted to cross file and there were no endorsements.
Even WITH the endorsements, the state by-laws state that committee members SHOULD support the endorsed candidates, not that they MUST.
If you ask me, the county commitee is falling apart.
I disagree. There is always something like this going on. When it comes time for the election, people pull together. It is just harder in an off year election to get everyone pull together. Last time Bononi ran,some republicans supported Feliciani to her detriment. I supported Bononi. The person I ran against for county chairman did not. Wasn't against the bylaws because of the nonpartisan nature of the race.
I also agree that the county committee is falling apart.
You could be the same person making that observation over and over. I don't think the committee is falling apart.
Whispers
MORE TENSIONS. Tempers reportedly were short at a recent Westmoreland County GOP executive committee meeting.
Some old-timers reportedly were mad at jury commissioner-elect Frank Schiefer because he supported Pennsylvania Supreme Court judicial candidate Paul P. Panepinto, who was not endorsed by the state committee. The Westmoreland executive committee members were angered that Schiefer supported a Philadelphia Common Pleas judge over Judge Joan Orie Melvin, who was endorsed by the state committee.
Melvin, former chief magistrate in Pittsburgh and currently a state Superior Court judge, won the Republican nomination.
Schiefer says the dispute had nothing to do with his resignation as executive director of the county party, which was accepted that night.
"No, I wrote the letter even before the primary election. Now, as an elected jury commissioner, I automatically have a seat on the executive committee," Schiefer said.
As for the dispute, Schiefer shrugged it off.
"You'll have a few disputes in a growing party where people disagree on issues. I think we need to get back in touch with rank-and-file Republicans to move this party forward and some people don't," he said.
It will take years for us to fully see and grasp the damage Frank has done to the party!
Chuck, I guess you are one of the "old heads" as referred to in the paper.
Get a grip chuck - it is the old timers that stand in the way of new and innovative thinking. The ways that worked years ago no longer are effective in the current climate.
Same old - same old has to change!
You know, Chuck, I'm sure Frank is really flattered at how much power you think he has, but I would like to know how ONE person destroyed an entire party? Will you just listen to yourself. What worked 40 years ago won't work now. We need the young go-getters, like Frank in our corner.
Frank need kicked off the committee heck he should switch his registration to independent or democrat. We should start hearings on him being kicked off permanently.
Get a life kicked off for supporting a Rep candidate.
We have the right to support any of our parties candidates. Just like you probably supported toomey when he wasn't endorsed last time he ran against sepector. But you probably think that was ok!!!!!
Which old fool posted that?
What was the deal with the slate cards in FRSD area? The school board was missing from the backs of the slate cards being passed out. Who approved that? I find that odd that would happen without approvial.
Frank needs kicked off and banned from all county GOP activities besides his campaigns for himself hes caused enough trouble already and continues to undermine our efforts in the county.
I think Frank should run for county commissioner. But who would he team up with?
Frank kicked off the committee???????? GET A LIFE!!!! Just WHO do you think you are? Maybe YOU should be kicked off the committee. Maybe someone does not like my hair color or the way I part my hair. Maybe I should be kicked off the committee. Maybe who ever supported Toomey instead of Spector (the ENDORSED candidate) should be kicked off the committee. I don't think any of the so called "good" Republicans supported Spector. I think there are just too many people that just better get off their soap boxes. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Ben was the one who posted that Frank should be kicked off the committee. A few people dislike Frank, but I don't know of anyone who has as much hatred for him as what Ben and Chuck K. do.
Frank could team up with the candidate for clerk of courts, Bryan Kline. Bryan is a very respectable person and is a solid candidate.
Frank and all his people should just become democrats we dont need them causing trouble in our party.
I think Ben, Chuck, Debbie, the Horvaths and others like them would fight against Frank being a commissioner stronger then the democrats would fight against him.
And this is why the party is where it is, because of people with this mindset. If their was a a candidate that held the same values of me and he was purple I would support him. These older party people need to get out of the way and let some young people take over. And then the party would head in the right direction.
Maybe Joe Lutz should run for commissioner and get Chuck K. as his teammate.
Why does Frank Schiefer create so much talk and controversy? What is it about him that people like to talk about? Why does it seem he is such a threat?
You are the one who should change to a Democrat. You are just as hateful as what they are. Frank is a much better person than what you are anyways.
We need to cleanse ourselves of the Schiefer faction. Frank should get Bellers people to circulate Frank as a D for commissioner.
Who ever is suggesting that Frank change his party to Democrap are just plain stupid and they don't know Frank at all.
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