John Weigel said something at Saturday's county Democratic Party convention that one doesn't usually hear at a Democratic political event.

"I am proud to say I am a follower of Jesus Christ," Weigel announced to the 125 people gathered Saturday morning at The Country Barn, adding, "and that is precisely consistent with my Democratic values."

Weigel was one of three first-time legislative candidates endorsed Saturday by the county committee, which is seeking to weaken the Republicans' grip on Lancaster County's state House and Senate seats in the November election.

The West Lampeter Township psychologist won the endorsement to run for the 43rd District House seat now held by Scott Boyd, a Republican who is retiring at the end of the year.

The county GOP committee has endorsed Scott Greiner to replace Boyd.

The other newcomers winning endorsements Saturday were:

• Tom O'Brien, of Manheim Township, a buyer for Rite Aid and a former longtime Manheim Township school board member. He plans to run for the 13th District state Senate seat held by Republican Lloyd Smucker.

• Russell Stahley, of Manheim, former pastor of Salem United Methodist Church of Manheim. He plans to run for the 37th state House seat held by Republican Tom Creighton, who will retire at year's end.

The county GOP has chosen not to endorse a candidate in the 37th. Republicans Mindy Fee, Stephen Black and Barry McFarland have announced they are seeking the seat.

The trio were among the 10 candidates endorsed at a sometimes raucous event where politicians bashed the policies of Republican Gov. Tom Corbett, claiming they've weakened public education and social services for the poor, undermined environmental protections and benefited big business without creating jobs or addressing the state's crumbling infrastructure.

"It is wrong to promote an economic policy that starts with the privileged few being able to stock up their pantries and fill their bellies in hopes that some crumbs from their table will trickle down to you and I," Weigel said.

"It's immoral, it's unneighborly, and it's ungodly."

The committee also endorsed incumbent state Rep. Mike Sturla, who is seeking re-election to a 12th term for the 96th District state House seat, and incumbent U.S. Sen. Robert Casey Jr.

Also endorsed was Aryanna Strader, a challenger to U.S. Rep. Joe Pitts in the 16th Congressional District. Strader got the committee's blessing despite living about three-quarters of a mile outside the district.

Some party members expressed concerns about the residency issue, saying it could make Strader's campaign to unseat the eight-term incumbent more difficult, but a party official dismissed the worries.

Greg Paulson, chairman of the campaign committee, said the U.S. Constitution does not require that a candidate live within the district that he or she would serve.

"I don't think it's a problem at all," he said.

A U.S. Army veteran who runs an information technology consulting firm from her home, Strader said her children go to school and she attends church in Kennett Square, which is within the 16th District.

"I feel like I'm a part of the 16th, and prior to the redistricting, I was," she said, referring to the recently redrawn district boundaries.

Those boundaries were not affected by a state Supreme Court ruling last week that tossed out a redrawn map of all state House and Senate districts approved last year by the Legislature.

Saturday's convention was altered at the last minute to reflect the old (existing) boundaries rather than the new ones.

But the Lancaster County Republican Committee held its convention the night before the court ruling was announced based on the new legislative map. That may force the committee to seek revotes on all of its state House and Senate endorsements.

The Democrats Saturday also endorsed the re-election of President Barack Obama and candidates for statewide office, including Patrick Murphy for attorney general, Eugene DePasquale for auditor general and Rob McCord for treasurer.

Committee members also announced that Tony Crocamo was named Democrat of the Year, and Bruce Beardsley was named a lifetime achievement award recipient. They will be recognized at a banquet in April.

bwallace@lnpnews.com