Lloyd Smucker got a little more help from his friends this morning.

The Republican state Senate candidate picked up several endorsements from current and former officeholders, just five days before the primary election.

In a 10-minute ceremony on the steps of the old Lancaster County Courthouse, state Rep. Scott Boyd, former Lancaster City Mayor Charlie Smithgall and retiring state Sen. Gibson Armstrong spoke on Smucker's behalf.

Calling him a "longtime friend," Boyd said the former president of a drywall company has the private sector experience and the coalition-building ability needed in the state Senate.

"To be effective in Harrisburg it is absolutely essential that you know how to build coalitions and work together," Boyd said.

Smithgall, in announcing his endorsement this morning, emphasized that Smucker cares about Lancaster City.

"Lloyd is committed to revitalizing our cities, towns and boroughs and again making Lancaster City the crown jewel of Lancaster County," Smithgall said.

Armstrong, whose retirement is creating the vacancy Smucker hopes to fill, said the West Lampeter Township supervisor is uniquely equipped to take his place.

"Sending one person to Harrisburg to be a senator is not going to change anything at all unless that person can get along with other people and get the job done. And I think Lloyd's proven that," said Armstrong, who had previously announced his endorsement of Smucker.

Also lining up literally and figuratively behind Smucker this morning were state Rep. Gordon Denlinger, Prothonotary Randall Wenger and West Lampeter Township supervisors Barry Hershey and Jim Kalenich.

Former county commissioner Paul Thibault is widely seen as Smucker's top challenger to replace Armstrong in the 13th Senate District, which covers eastern York County, southern Lancaster County, Lancaster city and Manheim and Lancaster townships.

The other candidates are Bill Neff, who runs a local lock business, and Steve McDonald, the county's Recorder of Deeds.

Of the legislators who offered new endorsements of Smucker this morning, only Boyd represents an area covered by the 13th Senate District. Other local state representatives whose House districts lie within the 13th Senate District have said they won't be endorsing anyone.

In response to Smucker's latest endorsements, Thibault's campaign put out a press release faulting Smucker for heralding the backing of "career politicians" while his Web site criticizes "career politicians."

"Lloyd says career politicians and special interests are the problem in Harrisburg, yet today he is joined by multiple career politicians who have either voted for the pay raise, taken per-diems or been in office so long we forget when they were elected," Scott Migli, Thibault's campaign consultant said in a press release issued this morning.

This fall, the winner of the GOP nomination in the heavily Republican 13th district will face Democrat Jose Urdaneta, who is uncontested in the Democratic primary.


Staff writer Chad Umble can be reached at cumble@LNPnews.com or 481-6031. blog comments powered by Disqus