But incumbent state Reps. Roy Baldwin and Gibson C. Armstrong did not fare as well.

The party backed John Bear in his primary election bid to defeat Baldwin for the 97th District House seat and called for an open primary between Armstrong and challenger Bryan Cutler in the 100th District.

Both Baldwin and Armstrong have been criticized for their roles in a controversial legislative pay raise approved last summer and then repealed.

More than 280 county GOP committee people attended the endorsement convention at Willow Valley Resort & Conference Center to choose which candidates will receive the party's financial backing and manpower in the May 16 primary.

Heading into the convention, the campaign in the 36th Senatorial District was wide open as four candidates sought backing to replace Wenger: Brubaker, former county GOP chairman Chet Beiler, Rapho Township supervisor Lowell Fry and East Hempfield Township supervisor Heidi Wheaton.

Wenger plans to retire in November at the end of his sixth term.

Wheaton withdrew from the endorsement process just before the convention but pledged to continue running in the primary.

"Obviously, there is a handpicked candidate," she said, referring to Brubaker. "I don't think it should be a handful of people who decide. Let's let the people decide."

Although Brubaker took a lead into Wednesday's endorsement meeting by winning 45 percent of district committee straw-poll votes, he lacked the two-thirds majority he would need for endorsement.

Beiler was second, with 34 percent.

It took two rounds of voting Wednesday for Brubaker to emerge victorious. Just before the second round, Fry chose to back Brubaker, which proved decisive.

"He has the ability to build consensus and coalitions," said Fry, who, like Brubaker, works in the farming industry. "There were a lot of similarities between Mike and I, and (committee people) recognize the similarities."

Brubaker won, 109-51, and Beiler immediately backed the chosen candidate.

"I was first in line to congratulate Mike," he said. "He's a gentleman and a friend."

Also supporting Brubaker is Wenger, who has been a champion of agriculture in the Senate.

"He has the experience with agriculture and environmental issues," Wenger said. "He's a fine person, and I'm pleased with the selection."

The winner of the primary will likely face Democratic challenger and Iraq War veteran Jason Leisey of Mountville.

In other results:

tGOP committee people from the southern end of Lancaster County wrangled for hours and 16 rounds of voting before chosing an open primary between Armstrong and Cutler in the 100th District.

It was the result Cutler wanted, although Armstrong said he's prepared for a primary battle.

"The goal all along is to get out in front of the voters and discuss the issues," said Cutler, who is finishing his law degree at Widener University School of Law. "Ultimately, they will decide."

Armstrong, who has served two terms in the House, admitted the result was not what he had hoped for.

"I need to do a better job of reaching out to the committee, and I intend to do that," Armstrong said. "This gives us a chance to continue connecting and building bridges with people."

Sources said supporters of both candidates would not budge during a heated closed-door debate.

For most of the night, the vote count stood at 22 for Armstrong and 16 for Cutler, not enough for an endorsement.

Armstrong's supporters touted his experience in the Legislature, while those backing Cutler called for a change in leadership because Armstrong accepted the pay raise. He did not vote for the bill, however, and he later returned the raise.

tBear took the endorsement from Baldwin by a 59-5 vote in the 97th, which includes Manheim Township and the Warwick area.

"It sends a message that people want change," Bear said. "I hope to give them that opportunity."

Baldwin, who has been criticized for approving the pay raise, was unavailable for comment after the vote.

He is a two-term incumbent who won his first state House race in 2002 without the party's endorsement, knocking out endorsed candidate and incumbent Jere Strittmatter.

Another candidate, Stephen Mentzer, was out of the country but supported Baer through a proxy.

tSchool District of Lancaster board member Patrick Snyder won the endorsement over businessman Keith Charles to run in the 96th District, which includes Lancaster city.

The winner of the primary will face incumbent Democrat Mike Sturla, deputy minority whip.

tSenate Majority Leader David "Chip" Brightbill won endorsement over Lebanon County challenger Mike Folmer.

Brightbill's district covers a portion of northwestern Lancaster County.

tIn the uncontested races, state Reps. Katie True, Tom Creighton, Scott Boyd, Gordon Denlinger and Dave Hickernell were unanimously endorsed.

Dave Pidgeon's e-mail address is dpidgeon@lnpnews.com. blog comments powered by Disqus