City Republican Chairman Dave Stoltzfus recently swung through West Lancaster to shovel snow at a home he's renovating.

Charlie Smithgall's West Lemon Street pharmacy was nearby.

And so Stoltzfus stepped inside with a greeting and a question.

"What would you think about running for city council?"

The former mayor had nixed the idea a couple of times before.

But Lancaster has been Democrat-controlled long enough, Smithgall said. "I thought I should get back into it."

The Lancaster City Republican Committee unanimously backed those sentiments at their endorsement meeting Saturday.

So it came to pass.

After more than a year's absence –– he took a shot at unseating Democratic Mayor Rick Gray in November 2009 –– Smithgall has re-entered politics.

He emphasizes that he's part of a team –– local business people Marilyn Schnee and Dustin Keener are vying to join him on council.

But Smithgall, 65, acknowledged, "I'm a surprise candidate. I'll be a lightning rod."

Gray did not deny any of that.

"We didn't know he was interested," Gray said. "I'm really excited to compare my record with Mayor Smithgall's record again."

Stoltzfus said "lightning rod" should be translated as "energy."

Smithgall's presence will enliven this year's race and move voters to the polls, Stoltzfus predicted.

"In the campaign ... if it's more interesting, people pay more attention."

Back in the saddle
In addition to the prospective council members, city Republicans on Saturday endorsed Lancaster school board candidate John Hickey (in a joint session with the Lancaster Township Republican Committee) as well as two  incumbent magisterial district judge candidates, Bruce Roth and Mary Sponaugle.

The county GOP will meet Tuesday to endorse candidates.

The primary election is May 17.

"We're going to have fun" in the race, Smithgall said.

"We're going to have a blast," Schnee said.

They plan to question Democratic policies.

"I'm not saying ugly debate," Smithgall said. "Discussion."

But, even if all three win, they'll still be in the minority. They know they'll have their work cut out for them.

Democrats have dominated city politics since 2005.

"I know the Democratic Party has a solid slate" of council candidates, said Stoltzfus, who added that the committee hopes to identify another school board candidate before the March 8 nomination deadline.

"It's going to be a tough election," he said.

The Democratic lineup includes five school board candidates and three candidates for the city council seats, John Graupera, James Reichenbach and Barbara Wilson.

But the Republicans say they like their team.

"We have youth," Schnee said, referring to the 30-year-old Keener. "We have wisdom," she added, citing Smithgall. "I'm the cheerleader."

Schnee, 57, who grew up in Ohio and served in the Army, formerly taught grade-schoolers in eastern Lancaster County. The grandmother of two sells high-end fabrics and is known for her work with the civic improvement group Lancaster's Economic Action for Downtown's Success.

Keener, a Franklin County native, worked for restaurants in Maryland before starting D.L. Keener Construction, a home improvement and repair company.

Smithgall was mayor from 1998 to 2006. In 2007 he narrowly lost an unendorsed primary run for county commissioner.

The trio appears to be going in swinging.

Smithgall said all three know their way around a business budget. He pledged to make the town more business friendly.

He also promised to revitalize block watch programs, which he said are flagging.

He contends that citizens don't get enough chance to voice their opinions because the current council quickly "rubber-stamps" decisions.

City officials don't have all the answers, he said. "We've got to get back to listening to the citizens" and working with them.

He also said that more residents are ducking what he sees as heavy-handed regulations by doing painting, plumbing and electrical work themselves –– illegally.

And he gave a thumbs-down to the recent decision to start fining people still marking dug-out parking spaces with small household items such as chairs.

That's impractical because it would be nearly impossible to link the items to individuals, Smithgall said.

He, Schnee and Keener also took aim at taxes, especially the 25 percent real estate tax increase proposed by Gray and approved by council in 2009.

Gray said at the time that taxes and utility fees were hiked and city employees were cut to avert a $5.4 million budget shortfall last year; in November, Democrats proposed the first balanced budget in eight years.

Gray said Saturday that council continues to have "good citizen involvement."

He added that his "user-friendly" city is subject to new federal regulations on painting and building codes "not of our making."

Smithgall will "have to reacquaint himself with government again," Gray said.

Smithgall said he's already well acquainted –– with Lancaster's people.

"It's not a big election where there's 5 million TV commercials," he said. But he's always been in the trenches anyway.

"One of the reasons I'm running is I have experience," he added. "I know the city inside and out.

At the pharmacy Saturday, standing with Keener and Schnee between shelves bearing moisturizer and shampoo, he took time out to chat with customers.

"Good luck," he called after one customer. "If it gets real red and inflamed, call the doctor."

Jon Rutter is a staff writer for the Sunday News. His e-mail address is jrutter@lnpnews.com.