Bucks GOP July Newsletter

Bucks County GOP Announces 2025 Recommended Candidates Doylestown, PA - The Bucks County Republican Committee has announced its team of recommended candidates for the 2025 County Elections. Over the last several weeks, regional meetings of local Republican Committeepeople were held to screen candidates for Court of Common Pleas, District Attorney, Sheriff, Controller, Recorder of Deeds, and Prothonotary, and to vote on their recommendation. These regional votes were confirmed by a vote of the Executive Committee, made up of representatives from across Bucks County. The candidates listed below earned the overwhelming support of the Bucks County Republican Committee. “We are proud to recommend to the voters of Bucks County this qualified, experienced, and dedicated team of public servants and candidates,” said Bucks County GOP Chair Patricia Poprik. “We look forward to sharing their impressive record of protecting our community, supporting our families, and restoring fiscal discipline to county government.”  Bucks County Court of Common Pleas Grace Deon : President and CEO of Eastburn and Gray, P.C, the largest and oldest law firm in Bucks County, Grace Deon brings 32 years of experience as a trial lawyer in multiple areas of the law. Grace is a Past President of the Bucks County Bar Association. She is a graduate of St. Joseph’s University and Temple University School of Law. Grace is a 50-year resident of Bucks County, currently living in Northampton Township with her husband of nearly 35 years, Vincent. They are proud parents to their daughter, Aubrey. Grace is an alumna of the Central Bucks School District, having attended Buckingham Elementary, Holicong Junior High and Central Bucks East. For 30 years, Grace has acted as the President of the Distribution Committee for the Bucks County Foundation, a $17 million dollar community trust, that awards charitable grants and scholarships throughout Bucks County. Grace currently serves as a Board Member of the National Alliance for Mental Illness (“NAMI”) - Bucks County Chapter, an organization that supports individuals and families affected by mental illness through recovery-focused support, education, and advocacy. She previously completed multiple terms as a member of the Board of Directors of the non-profit Network of Victim Assistance ("NOVA"). Chelsey Crocker Jackman : Chelsey Crocker Jackman has spent nearly her entire legal career serving the residents of Bucks County in the District Attorney’s office, rising to the position of Deputy District Attorney. Chelsey has worked in both the Special Victims Unit and the Human Trafficking Division, of which she was Chief, and was instrumental in getting some of the worst offenders off of our streets and into prison. Chelsey is a graduate of Penn State University and Widener University School of Law. From 2021 to 2023 Chelsey was Deputy Bucks County Solicitor focusing on the legal needs of the Bucks County Children and Youth Agency. In this role she Co-authored the Bucks County Human Trafficking Ordinance and supervised and supported other Agency attorney’s. Since November of 2023, Chelsey has been an Associate at Begley, Carlin, & Mandio, LLP representing client in matters related to land use, real estate, and municipal law. She resides in Buckingham Township with her husband and two daughters. Colin Monahan : Colin has worked on a litany of matters spanning the legal spectrum from high value injury matters and federal Civil Rights cases to simple traffic cases. He brings a breadth of experience and a commitment to efficient, practical, commonsense solutions to bear on client matters. Colin has also had experience in the field of Election Law and regularly represents clients at the Board of Elections. A graduate of Lock Haven University and Widener University School of Law, Colin has represented clients throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Colin resides in Upper Bucks County with his wife and three children. For the past five years Colin has run the Law Offices of Colin Monahan after working in larger firms. Joe Pizzo : Joe Pizzo is an experienced and respected municipal and litigation attorney with more than 30 years of service to municipalities, school districts and municipal authorities. He graduated magna cum laude from Temple University in 1986, and he received his J.D. from the Temple University School of Law in 1991. Joe is the Managing Member of the Bucks County law firm of Pizzo Rudolph, LLC. Joe’s areas of practice include municipal law, zoning and land use law, real estate law, election law and civil litigation. He has served as solicitor and special counsel to numerous municipalities and governmental agencies, including Bensalem Township and Northampton Township where he currently serves as township solicitor. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Bucks County Housing Development Corporation, where he served as Board President, and on the Board of Directors of the Bucks County Community College Foundation. A native and life-long resident of Bucks County, Joe and his family reside in Bensalem, Bucks County. Bucks County District Attorney – Jen Schorn District Attorney Jen Schorn (Warwick Twp) took office in January 2024 following former District Attorney Matt Weintraub’s election to the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas. Jen Schorn is a Bucks County native with over a quarter-century of experience as a prosecutor. Throughout her career, Ms. Schorn has prosecuted all types of criminal cases including murder, child sexual and physical abuse, human trafficking, and major crimes, and is credited with helping solve a number of cold case homicides in Bucks County. During her time in the office, she has also served as the Chief of the Investigative Grand Jury, Chief of Special Victims and Chief of Major Crimes. She is on the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania District Attorney’s Institute and on Pennsylvania District Attorney’s Association Education and Training Committee. Bucks County Sheriff – Fred Harran Sheriff Fred Harran (Bristol Boro) has spent nearly 4 decades serving Bucks County as a Law Enforcement Officer. Starting as a Police Officer in Bensalem Township and rising to the rank of Director of Public Safety in Bensalem, a position he held for 16 years before being elected Bucks County Sheriff in 2021. Over his many years in law enforcement, Sheriff Harran has developed critical insight into 21st century policing and a unique ability to bring people together. These skills define his approach to sheriff’s office operations, which involves thinking “outside the box.” In all situations, he strives to work collaboratively and create key partnerships—not only with other government agencies, but also with the community he serves. Bucks County Controller – Pamela Van Blunk, Esq. County Controller Pam Van Blunk (Doylestown Twp) is running to build on her achievements as Bucks County’s independent fiscal watchdog by continuing to focus on government transparency and conservative fiscal responsibility. Ms. Van Blunk’s education, experience, and training as a litigation attorney, small business owner and community volunteer make her uniquely qualified to serve in this critical role advocating on behalf of taxpayers. During her tenure as Bucks County’s Controller, Ms. Van Blunk prioritized the Controller’s Fraud, Waste & Abuse program that saved the county over $1 million in taxpayer funds. Ms. Van Blunk also implemented the Unclaimed Funds program which, in just two years, has returned over $700,000 to the rightful owners, including municipalities, police departments, school districts, small business owners, non-profit organizations, and residents. In the name of transparency, Ms. Van Blunk publishes all audits, financial reports, and retirement investments account reconciliations on her website. When re-elected, Ms. Van Blunk will continue to safeguard your tax dollars and promote transparency by ensuring the lawful, appropriate, and efficient receipt, maintenance and disbursement of county assets and communicating related information in an accurate and timely manner. Bucks County Recorder of Deeds – Dan McPhillips Dan McPhillips (Warminster Twp) is a lifelong resident of Bucks County, currently serving as your Recorder of Deeds. Previously, Dan served as Chairman of the Warminster Township Board of Supervisors, and as President of the Bucks County Association of Township Officials. As the Bucks County Recorder of Deeds, Dan’s office is responsible for recording and maintaining real estate documents in Bucks County. Dan understands that for the average resident of Bucks County, the single largest purchase they will make is the purchase of their property. That’s why Dan’s office offers a free Fraud Alert Program to protect your property. As an active member of the community, Mr. McPhillips previously served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Bucks County Community College Authority Board. Dan currently serves as member of the Board of Directors for the Centennial School District Education Foundation, and as a member of the Warrington Rotary Club. Dan received his bachelor’s degree from LaSalle University and his associate’s degree from Bucks County Community College. He lives in Warminster Township with his wife, Piyumika. Bucks County Prothonotary – Coleen Christian Coleen Christian (Upper Makefield Twp) is a former Township Supervisor, entrepreneur, and small businesswoman whose experience in both the public and private sectors has positioned her to serve as Bucks County’s chief clerk in the civil courts division. Coleen has modernized the Prothonotary’s office, and is committed to continuing serving both the public, and the legal community, in the most effective and efficient way. A graduate of Villanova University, with a certificate in Urban Planning from Harvard University, Coleen has been responsible for managing a number of projects in the private sector, coordinating significant budgets, overseeing a large staff, and meeting deadlines. During her term in office, Coleen Christian re-opened the satellite offices to serve residents throughout Bucks County and has streamlined the passport application process in the Prothonotary’s office and is committed to ensuring that the main office and satellite locations are providing the best possible service to the residents of Bucks County. These recommended candidates will be joined on the ballot by statewide candidates Judge Ann Marie Wheatcraft for PA Superior Court, and Matthew Wolford for Commonwealth Court. Candidates for statewide office were endorsed at a meeting of the Republican State Committee. Attached is a photo of the recommended Countywide candidates (Back L to R): Fred Harran, Joe Pizzo, Colin Monahan, Dan McPhillips (Front L to R): Pamela Van Blunk, Coleen Christian, Jennifer Schorn, Chelsey Crocker Jackman, Grace Deon

Calling all Republican owned businesses in Bucks County! Help us fill up our Republican business corkboard!  If you would like your business card displayed at our HQ in Doylestown, for our committee members and volunteers to see, please send them to Bucks GOP HQ – 115 N. Broad St. Doylestown, PA 18901 or email us at info@bucksgop.org with any questions you may have.

Please see the below statement from Matt Weintraub on campaign signs that recently appeared in Bucks County: “Over the weekend, I was disappointed to learn that my name has been used by the Marseglia-Harvie campaign without my authorization or permission. I’ve worked hard serving the people of Bucks County over the last 3 decades and have lived here with my family for most of half a century. I’ve earned my reputation, I’m proud of my good name here, and I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the people of Bucks County as the next Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. Earning the support of Bucks County voters, regardless of their party affiliation, is important to me because Judge is not a partisan position. That is why I accepted the will of the Democrat voters who wrote me in during the Primary Election in May. So, now I appear on both sides of the ballot. Unfortunately, in typical underhanded politics, the Bucks County Democratic Party seeks to capitalize on MY name, and MY reputation, for their own selfish reasons. I can’t allow this, and I won’t stand for it. In February, I neither sought, nor received, the endorsement of the Bucks County Democrat Committee, despite their endorsement for every other candidate on their slate. I was the only one not endorsed, and it was their choice. I was never consulted on whether my name could be used, and it has now been misappropriated in a purely political move by the Bucks County Democratic Party. Let me be crystal clear: my name appears on their signs without my endorsement or my permission. It is the worst kind of underhanded politics. I resent it, and I demand that they take my name off their signs, immediately.”  ###

Doylestown, PA – The Fraternal Order of Police Bucks County Lodge No. PA-53 has endorsed Commissioner Gene DiGirolamo and Bucks County Controller Pamela Van Blunk in their campaign for Bucks County Commissioner in the 2023 election cycle. DiGirolamo and Van Blunk were honored to be unanimously endorsed by the Lodge 53 membership at their July meeting. “We believe that now, more than ever, law enforcement needs the full support of the County Commissioners,” said DiGirolamo and Van Blunk. “We are the team that will deliver meaningful results for the men and women who risk their lives each and every day to keep us safe. We believe the Commissioners should be partners with law enforcement, and we are so proud to have the backing of those who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe.” Bucks County Sheriff Fred Harran joined Lodge 53 in support of DiGirolamo and Van Blunk, saying that “they have already demonstrated their commitment to public safety. Despite vocal opposition from the two other commissioners, Gene and Pam voted to provide 8 new sheriff’s deputies to help keep our county safe. They will be strong advocates for all law enforcement, and that is why I am proud to support Gene DiGirolamo and Pam Van Blunk for Bucks County Commissioners.” Commissioner DiGirolamo consistently earned the endorsement of the Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police during his 25 years serving in the State House. Pamela Van Blunk, currently serving as Bucks County Controller, was the Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Falls Township National Night out, earning the Governor’s Award for Crime Prevention.

Doylestown, PA – “This past Friday was a clear victory for transparency and the right of citizens to seek answers from those who should be representing them” said Bucks GOP Chair Pat Poprik. The Bucks County Court of Common Pleas recently ruled in favor of parent activist and county resident Megan Brock who has been tirelessly fighting the Democratic Majority of the Bucks County Commissioners in her quest to seek transparency. For nearly a year now, Democrats Bob Harvie and Diane Ellis-Marseglia have been using county resources to overrule decisions by the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records in order to hide communications and documents generated when the county’s guidance for schools related to COVID suddenly changed in the midst of the pandemic. After a review of the hidden documents, the Court sided with Brock. Pamela Van Blunk, the County Controller, called the litigation the county brought against Brock a “waste of taxpayer dollars. Harvie and Ellis-Marseglia are irresponsibly spending taxpayers’ money to hide communications that the public—including Brock—have a right to see.” This was confirmed by the Court’s ruling, which also imposed the maximum civil penalty in the form of monetary sanctions against the county. The Court specifically found that county—Commissioners Harvie and Marseglia—denied access to the public records in bad faith. The editorial board of the Bucks County Intelligencer wrote an op-ed in the summer of 2022 about the County’s lawsuit. In it they stated that they “hate to see the county throw good taxpayer money after bad or fight tooth-and-nail to keep information away from members of the public.” Van Blunk calls on Commissioners Harvie and Marseglia to end this wasteful spending and release the documents to Brock and to also release the public information sought by Jamie Walker in a separate but similar litigation. Poprik added that “Transparency is a keystone of good government. Something we have lacked in Bucks County these past four years. To return transparent, competent, caring leadership to Bucks County Government we must elect Gene DiGirolamo and Pam Van Blunk as our County Commissioners.”

Doylestown, PA – The Bucks County Republican Committee today announced its team of recommended candidates for the 2023 County Elections. Over the last several weeks, regional meetings of local Republican Committeepeople were held to screen candidates for Court of Common Pleas, County Commissioner, Register of Wills, Treasurer, Clerk of Courts, and Corner, and to vote on their recommendation. These regional votes were confirmed by a vote of the Executive Committee, made up of representatives from across Bucks County. The candidates listed below earned the overwhelming support of the Bucks County Republican Committee. “We are proud to recommend to the voters of Bucks County this qualified, experienced and dedicated team of candidates,” said Bucks County GOP Chair Patricia Poprik. “Our strong ticket of candidates is ready to get to work protecting our community, supporting our families, and restoring fiscal discipline to county government.” Bucks County Court of Common Pleas – Matt Weintraub Matt Weintraub (Doylestown Twp), a Bucks County native with over a quarter-century of experience as a prosecutor, has tried over 100 criminal cases, including the successful prosecution of the killers of teenager Grace Packer and musician Danny DeGennaro. He was also instrumental in bringing Cosmo DiNardo to justice for murdering four young men in Solebury Township. As District Attorney, he has also worked with community partners to combat the opioid epidemic and to reduce the overall number of prosecutions by diverting more offenders into treatment programs at the earliest stages of the justice system. Matt’s clear mission is the relentless pursuit of justice and keeping Bucks County families safe. County Commissioner – Gene DiGirolamo Gene DiGirolamo (Bensalem Twp) has served as Bucks County Commissioner since his election in 2019. During his first term, Commissioner DiGirolamo has delivered results for Bucks County families on the issues that matter most. Continuing his decades-long advocacy on behalf of drug treatment and prevention programs, Commissioner DiGirolamo was selected to represent Southeastern PA on the Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust. Additionally, Commissioner DiGirolamo was instrumental in providing security at the County’s Election Drop Boxes. By championing the policy that each Drop Box is monitored by a camera, and staffed by ballot clerks, Commissioner DiGirolamo has helped to protect the integrity of our local elections. Finally, Commissioner DiGirolamo has been a voice for fiscal responsibility on the Board of Commissioners, fighting to protect hard-earned taxpayer dollars. Prior to serving as County Commissioner, DiGirolamo served as Bensalem Township Auditor and spent 25 years representing the 18th Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. County Commissioner – Pamela Van Blunk Pamela Van Blunk (Doylestown Twp) currently serves as Bucks County Controller acting as the fiscal watchdog on behalf of taxpayers. Pam believes that Bucks County families deserve someone fighting for them each and every day. As Controller, she has seen firsthand the challenges we face as a County. From holding county government accountable and promoting responsible economic growth, to combating the opioid crisis and keeping our streets safe, Pam is committed to making Bucks County an even better place to live, work and raise our families. Before taking office, she was, and is, an experienced litigation attorney. Pam graduated from law school as a single mother with three young children, graduating cum laude from Widener University’s Delaware Law School. She received her B.S. from Rutgers University Newark College of Arts and Sciences. Treasurer – Sherry Labs Sherry Labs (Plumstead Twp) has served her community for the past 26 years as Tax Collector. A leader both in the County and State Tax Collector Associations, Sherry has worked diligently for the taxpayers of Bucks County. Sherry has previously served as the Second Deputy in the County Treasurers office and will bring experience and professionalism to the office. Register of Wills – Robyn Goodnoe Robyn Goodnoe (Richland Twp) brings to the race nearly a decade of county experience in County government, including 5 years working in the Register of Wills office. During a routine audit of the Department, by the Pennsylvania office of the Auditor General, the report had the following finding “Robyn’s records are superb”. Robyn will bring this same professionalism and attention to detail to the position of County Register of Wills. Clerk of Courts – Jeff Hall-Gale Jeff Hall-Gale (Lower Makefield Twp) is a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. After graduating from Villanova University School of Law, Jeff clerked for a Franklin/Fulton County Court of Common Pleas Judge where he gained valuable knowledge about the workings of Pennsylvania’s court system. Jeff is a former investigator for the New Jersey Supreme Court’s Office of Attorney Ethics, and currently works in private practice at an area law firm. Coroner – Charles Stockert Charles “Chuck” Stockert (Hilltown Twp) is a former Deputy Coroner in the Bucks County Coroner’s office where he earned numerous state and national certifications. Chuck has spent his life in service to his community, including as a local fire Chief, EMT, and police officer in Telford and Franconia. He also has experience working for Steeley Funeral Home providing compassionate care for grieving families. Chuck will bring an intimate knowledge of the County Coroner’s office, as well as decades of public service. These recommended candidates will be joined on the ballot by statewide candidates Judge Carolyn Carluccio for PA Supreme Court, Judge Harry Smail Jr. and Maria Battista for PA Superior Court, and Megan Martin for Commonwealth Court. Candidates for statewide office were endorsed at a meeting of the Republican State Committee in early February.

“For more than 170 years, all of Bucks County has been part of one congressional district. The Bucks County Commissioners want it to stay that way. Last week, amid preliminary political discussions in Harrisburg that Bucks could soon be divided among two congressional districts, the commissioners approved a resolution condemning the idea. To split the county “would divide our community, create administrative problems and violate fair redistricting principles,” the resolution said. ‘I don’t think anybody in Bucks County wants to see (a split) happen – whether you’re a Democrat, Republican, Independent, or whatever party you belong to,’ said Republican County Commissioner Gene DiGirolamo. The U.S Census Bureau earlier this year released its decennial congressional apportionment counts based on data from the 2020 census. Pennsylvania is one of seven states that will lose a seat, starting with the 2022 midterms. Six states will gain one congressional seat, while Texas will gain two. ‘We are going to forward the resolution to our state House and Senate delegation,’ DiGirolamo said. ‘I think it’s important to let lawmakers know that we want Bucks County to stay whole as one district.’ Bucks’ 54 municipalities and a slice of Montgomery County currently make up Pennsylvania’s First Congressional District, which is represented by Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick. Statewide, the 18 congressional seats – nine held by Republicans and nine by Democrats – soon will be cut to 17.” Source

Doylestown, PA– Bucks County Republican Committee today issued the following response to the county Democratic transition report. “In this document, county Democrats have presented a vision for Bucks County that seeks to turn our beloved community into another Philadelphia. The report ignores the geographic, economic, environmental, and cultural diversity that makes Bucks County a great place to live, work, and raise a family,” said Bucks GOP Chair Pat Poprik. “Their vision asks Bucks County citizens to pay more in taxes, to pay more for services, and to endure more traffic and congestion, while employing more highly paid government executives without a meaningful measure of success.” The report recommends the failed policies of urban centers like Philadelphia and Trenton. Bucks County’s cultural, economic, and geographic diversity make this community one of the most desirable places to live in the nation. Unfortunately, the report describes Bucks County as “too boring/quiet” with “simply not enough to do.” A resident in Bucks County can live and work in an industrial hub like Fairless Hills, experience cultural centers in Bristol Borough or Doylestown, or buy fresh, local produce or hike a short ride away in Nockamixon. The report recommendations suggest reducing “red tape” and barriers to develop more high-density housing. It even suggests that our great and historic township, borough, and county designations are “confusing, and rarely helpful.” The report recommends inconsistent policy objectives. While describing the need to freeze county hiring and reduce capital spending, the report also recommends “resources” (i.e. employees) to coordinate economic development, renewable energy and sustainability, website administrations, and a director of “synergy.” While recommending more high-density housing, the report does not address the infrastructure strains caused by urban overdevelopment including increased traffic congestion, more students in schools, and increased usage of utilities. While the report describes the diverse number of small business spread across various industries as a strength, it proceeds to lament that Bucks County is not dependent on one or two, “big name” companies. The report endorses GOP leadership that the Democrat commissioners inherited, despite the report being assembled by county Democrats. The report does not find fault with the GOP budgeting and accountability process. Overall, we found a county leadership team that is talented, highly experienced, and motivated to serve the residents of Bucks County. These division and department leaders are proud of the work their units do for our residents and approach their roles with the perspectives of true public servants. And there is much to be proud of. We heard about several programs that were considered best of class in our region, and departments that were excited about doing more with less, having proactively introduced cost savings and headcount reductions in an effort to be the best possible stewards of our tax payer dollars. (p.120) “Generations of Republican leadership in Bucks County built a solid foundation of good government that reflects our Bucks County values. It is disappointing to see the new Democratic Commissioners, and the report assembled by their appointees, are so focused on bringing Philadelphia-style policies to our county,” concluded Poprik.