The Republican City Committee on Saturday welcomed statewide candidates to its first Great American Family BBQ, at Cannstatter’s. The fundraiser replaces the annual clambake.
Sean Parnell, a candidate in next year’s U.S. Senate race, was the guest speaker. Parnell is a retired Army captain who fought in Afghanistan, authored a book on the platoon he led and founded an organization that gives service dogs to disabled veterans and first responders.
Parnell’s platform includes banning sanctuary cities, securing the border, lowering crime rates in cities, banning critical race theory, supporting school choice and stopping Democrats from packing the Supreme Court, making Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico states, defunding the police and ending the filibuster.
Parnell said the Senate race is the most important in the country.
“Win Pennsylvania, save America,” he said.
State Rep. Martina White, party chairwoman, was the emcee. The crowd of 200-plus observed a moment of silence for Daphne Goggins, a party activist who died of the coronavirus.
Radio host Dom Giordano noted the event was taking place one day after the 30th anniversary of the death of former Mayor Frank L. Rizzo, who was the GOP mayoral nominee when he died in 1991.
The party’s judicial candidates in the Nov. 2 election were on hand: Kevin Brobson (Supreme Court), Megan Sullivan (Superior Court) and Stacy Wallace and Drew Crompton (both Commonwealth Court).
Sullivan is a Juniata native and a 1989 Nazareth Academy High School graduate whose parents live in Bridesburg. Her dad, Larry Sullivan, is a former soccer coach at Father Judge.
Candidates running for governor in attendance were Lou Barletta, Charlie Gerow, Scott Martin and Dr. Nche Zama. Former U.S. Attorney Bill McSwain, who is expected to enter the race in September, was also present.
James Jones, who is running for lieutenant governor, was in the crowd.
U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and state Sen. Tommy Tomlinson came from Bucks County. ••
