There are some serious concerns about what is going on with our committee in Cumberland County.

Back in February, the Cumberland County Republican Committee (CCRC), through a process they controlled, endorsed two candidates in the primary for county commissioner - Nate Silcox and Kelly Neiderer. Both candidates were vice-chairs on the committee led by Lou Capozzi. During the endorsement meeting, it became clear this was a coordinated effort to unseat incumbent Gary Eichelberger in the primary for which they all appeared to have a personal vendetta against. Gary has been a successful county commissioner for at least 4 terms and is largely popular with the voters, winning the last several elections without the endorsement of the CCRC. About 1/3 of the committee did not want to endorse and did not want to endorse Silcox or Neiderer. The primary election resulted in Neiderer winning with the most votes due to her first position on the ballot, Silcox lost by 53 votes to Gary Eichelberger. 

Post-primary, Capozzi and one of his regional directors formed a new Ethics Subcommittee for the sole purpose of exacting revenge on several committee people, including myself, who did not actively support their endorsed candidates. I was so disgusted with how Silcox and Neiderer conducted themselves at the endorsement meeting, later finding out that current Cumberland County Treasurer, Neiderer, supported ESG policies. Furthermore, both candidates were being endorsed by a local PAC who was also endorsing Democrat school boards. Because of this, I could not openly support their candidates. Capozzi, who claims to be a long time Republican, also made donations to Democrat PACs in recent years, and did not personally support Doug Mastriano in his bid for Governor, even after he was the nominee. His new committee coordinator, Jennie Jenkins-Dallas, who was a registered Democrat up until 2 years ago before she ran as a candidate for the 103rd district, has been actively recruiting appointed committee people to fill in all positions.

The CCRC has served notices to at least 8 elected and 1 appointed committee people ordering them to come before a special meeting on July 22 along with a list of "charges" and evidence against them. Their recommendation is removal from the committee. These are elected committee people and the CCRC does not have any authority to remove an elected official as per Article VI, § 7 of the Pennsylvania Constitution.

A copy of the CCRC by-laws can be found here:

https://www.gopccpa.org/uploads/9/1/0/8/9108683/2022-02-08_ccrc_bylaws.pdf

(Note, Kelly Brent, the recording secretary, is no longer a resident of Cumberland County and is not allowed to hold the this position according to their by-laws, but she remains in her position)

An example of the notice served against Michael Zarcone, an elected committeeman in East Pennsboro Precinct 7 and East Pennsboro Township Republican Association President, can be viewed here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/119R5hZyataMdz5-UzxazBX3ivhGwmxxK/view?usp=sharing

Eight other letters like this were sent to various committee people across the county, including a current township commissioner and a school board candidate (who coincidentally is running against another CCRC regional chair who is an incumbent school board director herself.

They are doing this because they thought they had the primary locked up and Gary Eichelberger ended up beating Nate Silcox by 53 votes. They are seeking revenge claiming they violated the by-law that says we must "support endorsed candidates". Primary elections are for the will of the voter to choose. We support the Republican party for their conservative values, not their corrupt, establishment games.

We would appreciate your prayer and support for our upcoming meeting on July 22 10am at the Elks Club in Camp Hill. If you are, or you know someone who is a committee person, please be sure they can attend this meeting to help vote against these egregious tactics.