GOP for Leisey is the latest coalition to form behind Jason Leisey’s run for the state Senate’s 36th District.


The seat is held by Sen. Noah Wenger, a Republican who is retiring. The GOP nominee for the seat is Mike Brubaker, who has the beginnings of his own cross-party coalition, Democrats for Brubaker.


Tim Queen, a member of GOP for Leisey, spoke at a news conference called by the Leisey campaign, saying his decision to pull the Democratic lever on Nov. 7 has more to do with Leisey than a difference with party philosophy.


“Jason is very unique,” said Queen, who served in the same National Guard unit as Leisey. “In the seven years I’ve known Jason, I’ve never known him to lie, cheat or steal or tolerate anyone who does.”


While Leisey was running in the May primary, Queen said a voter asked what professional qualifications Leisey has to serve in public office. Queen said, “Jason’s not a professional politician, and that’s good. Look at what the ‘professionals’ have done for Pennsylvania,” referring to the state General Assembly’s infamous “midnight pay raise” last year.


Tom Trkula, a consultant who works for the state Senate’s Democratic Campaign Committee, said Pennsylvania voters are angry with current politicians, and they want incumbents to earn their votes. “It’s open season in the 36th District,” Trkula said.


Leisey’s background of military service in Iraq and his convictions of not accepting money from political action committees “crosses all political lines,” Trkula said. Gary Schrenckengost, a military veteran who teaches American history at Martin Meylin Middle School, Lampeter-Strasburg School District, said he and other Republicans are seeking a leader who has integrity.


“I might not agree with Jason on everything,” he said, “but I trust him.”


Schrenckengost said he still views most Democratic leaders as “liberals, cry babies and cut-and-runners,” but he likes that Leisey personifies military veterans’ conviction of “living up to what we say we want to be as Americans.”


Schrenckengost served 25 months as an adviser to the Iraqi army in Falujah. He served in the same unit as Leisey, who was seriously injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq last year. While recovering in a Texas military hospital, Leisey said he read about the pay raise and decided he wanted to do something about it. “Money is the root of most trouble in Harrisburg,” Leisey said Thursday.


“People have lost confidence in our public officials. I want to usher in a new era of accountability and reform.” His “good government” platform includes campaign finance reform and requiring full disclosure of lobbyists’ activities, he said.


About 25 people have put their names on the Web site, www.gopforleisey.com. Rob Spicer, campaign manager for Leisey, said the movement includes Republicans who wish to remain anonymous to avoid conflict with the local GOP committee.


Doug Williams, head of Democrats for Brubaker, said Saturday he’s recruited five members, so far. (Keep in mind, Republicans outnumber Democrats in Lancaster County 2 to 1.)


Williams, a small-business owner, said he got to know Brubaker through the channels of commerce. Brubaker, an agricultural consultant, is a frequent customer at Williams’ UPS shop in Lititz.


“We want to make sure a voice is heard from the moderate side, calling for change in Harrisburg,” Williams said. Williams, who said he doesn’t support President Bush or many other Republican factions, said he is attracted by Brubaker’s 25 years of experience in the agricultural industry as well as his 10 years on the Warwick Township board of supervisors.


He said Leisey seems like a nice young man, but he’s “an unknown quantity.”




Eat and fund


The Leisey campaign will sponsor a fundraising dinner from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday at Yoder’s Restaurant, 14 S. Tower Road, New Holland. Cost is $50 per person or $80 per couple. RSVP to Pat Gribbin at 330-9663.


Both major parties plan a number of food-related fundraisers this month.


On the Democrats’ plate is a breakfast with Ginny Dillio, candidate for the 99th state House District. The Committee to Elect Ginny Dillio will host the pancake breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 16 at Liberty Fire Hall, 339 E. Main St., New Holland. Tickets are $12. For more information or to buy tickets, call Marjorie Gardner at 721-3873.


Dillio is challenging incumbent state Rep. Gordon Denlinger. On the Republicans’ menu are:


— Breakfast with U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter to benefit Patrick Snyder, state House candidate for the 96th District. Snyder, a Republican who serves on the board of the School District of Lancaster, is challenging incumbent state Rep. Mike Sturla, a Democrat.


The event will be from 7:45 to 9 a.m. Sept. 18 at Clipper Magazine Stadium. Tickets are $50 per person and $35 for Republican committee people. Call Russ Miller at 399-3570. — A pig roast and fundraiser for state Rep. Tom Creighton, 37th District, is set for Oct. 6 at Stillman’s Farm on Newport Road. Time will be announced later. For reservations, call 575-7854.


Democrat Lee Heffner is challenging Creighton.


— A barbecue and barn dance for Mike Brubaker is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 6 at Don Ranck’s farm. To sign up, call Frances Sears at 687-0340.




Rally Sunday




Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum is scheduled to debate Democratic challenger Bob Casey Jr., state treasurer, on NBC’s “Meet the Press” today. The program airs at 10 a.m. on WGAL-TV channel 8.


Area Republicans expect their man to come out on top and want to keep the momentum going by holding a post-debate rally at 12:30 p.m. today at Memorial Hall West at the York Fairgrounds. The debate, which will be taped during the live broadcast, will be re-aired and Santorum is expected to address supporters at 1:30 p.m.


Scott Martin, co-chairman of the Lancaster County committee to re-elect Santorum, expects a large contingent of local supporters to show.




Mixed audience




Casey is expected to speak to an audience of Christians, Jews, Hindus and Muslims at the Red Rose Foundation Interfaith Banquet at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at Millersville University’s Student Memorial Center. The event is free of charge.


Co-sponsored by the university, the banquet will mark the end of Ramadan and feature Turkish food.


For reservations, contact info@redrosefoundation.org by Sept. 19.




Debate dates




As campaigns heat up after Labor Day, debates are scheduled across the county.


— State Senate candidates Leisey and Brubaker will meet at 12:30 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Farm & Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road. The luncheon is sponsored by the Lancaster Rotary Club. Tickets are $12.


The candidates will verbally spar again at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at the East Hempfield Township Building, 1700 Nissley Road, Landisville. The event is courtesy of the League of Women Voters.


— Sturla and Snyder will face off at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28 in Lancaster City Council chambers, Southern Market Center, 100 S. Queen St. This also is hosted by the League of Women Voters.


— Republican Congressman Joe Pitts, 16th District, will debate his Democratic challenger, Lois Herr, at 12:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Farm & Home Center. Sponsor is the Lancaster Rotary; tickets are $12.




Trivia test




Answers to last week’s questions: former U.S. Rep. Bob Walker, a Republican, of East Petersburg, was re-elected to a ninth term in the 16th District in 1992, the year Bill Clinton first won the presidency. Bonus answer: Walker’s opponent was Democrat Robert Peters.


New question: What other Lancaster resident was returned to office that same year? Hint: a member of the state House.




Judy A. Strausbaugh is political writer for the Sunday News. She can be reached at 291-8689 or jstrausbaugh@lnpnews.com.