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Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Jessica Banotai Takes Over Lehigh County GOP

Jessica Banotai and Dean Browning

Last night, Lehigh County Republicans elected Jessica Banotai as their new party chair. Though just 26, she has worked for both Congressman Charlie Dent and Senator Pat Toomey, earning high marks from both. Dean Browning was elected Vice Chair. Above is the only photograph I can find of Dean and Jess together.

Dean forgot to shave.

20 comments:

Scott Armstrong said...

That's a good picture of Dean.

Anonymous said...

well if she worked for dent , she must be a republican (sarc). the gop party leadership in the valley is horrific. lets hope this lady turns things around.

Anonymous said...

Bernie,
That being said and a new face upon the horizion, I am wondering if DA martin has a incububatio grant set up with the chamber and ienelli for palumpas party favor consessionair comPETitors 50/50 as we hear not a peep as too the happenings in lehighcounty?! Also is this p pa rticular grant setup in a situational transeiant transplant relocation after hostel t ta kover tactiks employeed have been carried out implimented against the public as a whole?!

One must wondor how deep the corruption goes as now appointees are now going state level for the triple dipp pension package proCUREment too?!
RE:publican redd,"no paty affilliation".?!

Scott Armstrong said...

Bernie,

On a more serious note; I believe the combination of youth,new ideas,optimism,and high energy we see in Jessica will be the perfect compliment to Dean's know how,thoroughness, connections, and intellect.
The local committee has been at war with itself for too long. In that time we have lost all relevance.Bill Heydt deserves credit for putting the committee back on it's feet. Now it may have the leadership and core volunteers it needs to once again make an impact on local, regional, state, and national politics.

Anonymous said...

Apparently last night Browning spoke out AGAINST LEGAL immigration.

That makes him an interesting choice for Vice Chair, particularly since a recent Morning Call article put him on Mike Fleck's call list.

Anonymous said...

Anon 12:24:

We have over 94,000,000 working age American citizens that are not working. The labor force participation is 62.8% which is the lowest in 38 years. When I spoke against immigration last night, I highlighted those facts to provide context. To me, it does not make sense to continue programs such as H-1B (it is a visa program with dual intent that provides a path to a green card) when there are 94 million Americans that are not participating in the labor force. That is one example. Another example that I did not mention but falls in the category of immigration that I oppose, is the desire to bring Syrian refugees to the United States. I fail to see how that is in our national interest.

This was mentioned by me as one of several potential issue that the Committee might consider.

Dean Browning

Anonymous said...

Putting comments on your site is not easy to do. This is the third time I have tried. My name is Barry Nelson and I was a candidate in last nights GOP chairman's
election. I wish to thank those Committee people who supported my candidacy, which was based on fundraising to win in November and beyond and not on wandering the streets doing it drops. I wonder if the elected chairman is not a straw dog for the vice chairman. His comments on this blog sure make me wonder. I also would like thank this blog for mentioning the election and praise them as the only news outlet to do so.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Barry, thank you for your involvement. If I removed the human verification requirement, this blog would be inundated with spam. I try to make it as easy as possible

Anonymous said...

It is worth the trouble. Again thank you for the job thank you do, especially with no sponsorship or pay-Barry Nelson

Anonymous said...

Mr. Armstrong what could be more important than stopping palumpas party favor consessionair comPETitors for the school district?! I know your consern is more on education butt if a child takes a dirt napp because of the deralicktion of duty of any school administration suffers?! This is the loss of one insurable peril on a state level that has been pilfered by the hole local political level administration?!
I have redd that LVHN formally known as the great Allentown hospital carnival nonprofit for profit is making too much no to contribute to the poor, this suit does not even mention the tax except status of the hospitals as well as the failing palumpadome and all development with in the ZONE?!
RE:publican redd

Wondering in South Whitehall said...

94 million Americans unemployed, and the country has 320 million citizens.... 1/3 people unemployed???? I wonder if the 94 million counts the retired people who earned the right to be retired

Please Mr Browning clarrify, are there 94 million unemployed in the USA????

Anonymous said...

Are you insane or just an idiot

Anonymous said...

This Barry walks into the meeting, no one knows him,no one has seen him before. He nominates himself for chair and then spins yarns about his vast political experience. In a room full of political activists this just didn't add up. The room was however polite to him. Now he is on this post making claims as if he actually knows what's going on.

Bernie O'Hare said...

As opposed to you, who lacks the personal integrity to say who you are.

Scott Armstrong said...

Bernie,

I was struck that Barry Nelson would make the charge that he did here. As a regular with the LCRC I had never seen Barry in the flesh or communicated with him by phone. So the claim may be viewed as spurious. I could write more but chose to be kind.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to Jessica and Dean!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to Jess and Dean. My only hope is that she stay far far away from the likes of Wayne Woodman. Hopefully, the party can do w/o his tainted money.

Anonymous said...

In response to Mr. Armstrong's comments about me. We have meet on several occasions, I remember visiting GOP headquarters to find alone on the computer. doing what I can't say. I had not been on the GOP committee for two years, thus I have a lousy attendance record. As I recall, I never remember him working on any of Congressman Ritter's campaigns (I don't know or really care how old he is.) At the meeting I visited with his former School Board member. Bob Smith as well as former Chairman Charles McKenzie (he is Ryan's dad in case you didn't know))Congressman Dent and I go back to the days of his first campaign for State Rep. As this blog's resident GOP philosopher and pundit, I usually find myself in agreement with him. Obviously, we don't share the same view on fundraising as his two campaigns for school so aptly demonstrate. Lightning struck once for him and he won but not twice (despite the fact I voted for him) It appears that being there is important to him, fellow committee people be sure he makes sure you are seen. As for my issue fundraising, for the record, I hired the Amazing Kreskin to do a fundraiser for Cong. Ritter and rented the Rodale Theater for a play viewing fundraiser. I wish him luck in having GOP bake sales in the lobby of Rendner's. -Barry Nelson, now on the loser's bench with him.

Anonymous said...

Ive never commented on this site before but do enjoy reading the many articles that cover all aspects of life around the valley. Thank you Bernie for what you do.

In regard to the Lehigh County GOP and the recent election of officers, it is important to note the importance this this year politically. Ms. Banotai is a very capable leader and has the ability to project consistent and strong leadership to the many different types of Republicans around the county. It is also of merit to mention that she is not the only young face involved with the local Rep. party, Trevor Waldron, the Executive Director, has been working hard with recruitment and fundraising as well. There are a decent amount of ambitious up and coming political figures in Lehigh County that have the ability to do some very good things moving forward. I look forward to what Ms. Banotai, Mr. Waldron and the rest of new leadership will do in such an important election year.

Anonymous said...

Post lacks integrity given lack of name.