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Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Montco GOP group censures Matthews for Hoeffel deal

The Montgomery County Republican Committee said today it had voted to censure Montco Commission Chairman James R. Matthews, a Republican, for his ongoing alliance with Democrat Joseph M. Hoeffel III which prevents unilateral Republican control of county leadership.

The announcement comes 11 months to the day after Hoeffel and Matthews announced their power-sharing deal last December. During that time, county commission meetings have often taken an acrimonious tone, with Republican Commissioner Bruce L. Castor Jr. vocally complaining about being cut out of power despite getting the most votes in the 2007 general election.

In a statement today, Montco Republican Committee chair Robert Kerns, a close ally of Castor, said he tried this summer to broker a rapprochement between Matthews and “his Republican colleagues in county government,” but the effort failed.

“At some point, we have to decide to move on and accept that, based on his actions, he is not a Republican anymore,” Kerns said in the statement. “No matter how often Jim insists he is a Republican, you are ultimately judged by how you govern and your record, not your words.”

Reached by phone, Matthews said today he had not gotten to read the resolution, which Kerns said was unanimously passed at a Monday night meeting attended by 56 Republican leaders. Matthews called the censure “kind of an oddity, kind of a desperation move” by Kerns after Republicans lost three Montgomery County races for state legislative seats in that Matthews thought were winnable.

“It's hysterical,” Matthews said, “that here we are still in the month of defeat and you have someone working on divisive, nonunifying activities when you cannot win races you should win.”

He said he has not been a member of the Montgomery County Republican Committee for about a decade, but now may make an effort to win a place on its executive committee, which he said is now controlled by “the inside Castor crew” that carries a grudge against him for aligning with Hoeffel.

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Posted by Inquirer Online Desk @ 12:48 PM  Permalink | 7 comments
Comments   
Posted 01:05 PM, 11/18/2008
nosmoke
We finally have democrats and republicans working together, and the republicans are upset that they don't have unilateral control over the County? I thought it was good to have both parties agreeing on some things that are good for all citizens.
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Posted 01:29 PM, 11/18/2008
Flyersfan76
CASTOR-SUCKER?
Posted 01:37 PM, 11/18/2008
chrissmith
You guys have no clue what is going on here behind the scenes. It is all connected to the Barnes Museum and Gov. Rendell. Do some investigating before you make ignorant comments. This all stinks and once you look into it you'll see why.
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Posted 02:12 PM, 11/29/2008
JackieBoy
This is all the result of the arrogance of Bruce Castor. If he was a cooperative, team player with a good personality then this "unholy" alliance never would have happened. But Castor is a legend in his own mind. You reap what you sow!
7 comments