'True-hearted patriots' gather at new GOP headquarters

By Charlie Reynolds

MILFORD — The Pike County Republican Committee opened its headquarters at 425 Route 6 and 209 in Milford Township Saturday amid red, white and blue balloons and political placards.
“The people who come in are of the genuine American, the true-hearted patriots,” said Tammy Gillette about the people who stop by and those who work in the headquarter's offices. “The spirit that gets involved in this office is phenomenal.”
Chris Decker, head of the Pike County Republican Committee, opened the office by thanking all in attendance, making special note of two senior citizen staffers.
“Without them, none of this would be possible,” said Decker, speaking of Gillette and Lynn Homer.
Volunteers and committee staff will man the phone banks, knock on doors, hold voter registration parties, attend face-to-face meetings, poll watch, and sign people up for rides on election day.
“Something of every flavor for people who want to get involved,” said Gillette.
“The road to Pennsylvania Avenue goes through Pennsylvania,” Decker said. “It is definitely a swing state.”
There isn't a Democratic campaign headquarters in Pike County yet, he observed.
In addition to the Presidential campaign, Decker spoke of the race for U.S. Senate, where Republican Tom Smith is challenging incumbent Bob Casey, a Democrat. Smith has worked in the real world, Decker said, while Bob Casey has “never collected a check from anyone but us, as taxpayers.”
And he predicted that U.S. Rep. Tom Marino of Williamsport was going to “crush” Democratic challenger Phil Scollo of Dingman Township in the Congressional race.
U.S. Rep. Mike Peifer said he was honored to be a member of the Pike County GOP, whose members “believe in lesser government, lesser spending.” He said there are a million more Democrats in the state than Republicans, making it harder for Republicans to win, which is why he feels it necessary to work that much harder to do whatever his constituents need him to do.
Peifer said it was "huge" for GOP Presidential candidate Mitt Romney to have Paul Ryan by his side to produce a workable budget.
Some of those in attendance included Westfall Supervisor Paul Fisher, PA GOP Northeast Caucus Vice Chair Eric Matthews, Matamoras Council member Pete Zagretto, Dave Clarke, Bradford County Commissioner Doug McLinko, state representative Rosemary Brown, U.S. Rep. Tom Smith, and U.S. Rep. Tom Marino.
Many cars driving past honked their horns, some in support, others with negative hand signals, bringing to light the extreme nature of the divisive political fervor beginning to rise in Pennsylvania and across America.
The campaign office phone number is 570-296-5270, email is info@PikeRepublican.com and Web site is PikeRepublican.com.