MCRC Announces Candidate Endorsements for 2012

With the legislative district maps still in dispute, more than 400 Montgomery County Republicans gathered at the Crown Plaza in King of Prussia on Thursday night to endorse the GOP slate of candidates for the upcoming November election.

Montgomery County Republican Committee Chairman Robert Kerns said that the party had to base its endorsements on the 2001 legislative map, and that depending on how the situation unfolds, the group may have to reschedule its primary election.

"We're in a situation right now, where this evening, we are going to be endorsing based on the 2001 map," said Kerns. "If the map changes, we could also have a change in the election day.  That is a possibility that we all have to understand.  The primary may be pushed back."

State Representative Mike Vereb, of the 150th Legislative District, added that the Republican caucus had submitted a new legislative map for review by the Legislative Reapportionment Commission, though Kerns said it would be all but impossible for the submission to go through a review and approval process prior to the April primary.

Regardless of the map dispute, Kerns was happy with the speed and unity of the MCRC's endorsement process, and he praised his group on its ability to rally behind one another.

"We have shown that we can unite behind candidates," said Kerns.  "Unity is what the Republican party is all about.  We need it, we have to have it to survive, and we have to have it to win."

Here is a the list of all 21 candidates who were formally endorsed by the Republican party on Thursday night.

State Representatives:

53rd district - Robert Godshall, of Franconia

61st district - Kate Harper, of Lower Gwynedd

70th district - Alan Apt, of East Norriton

146th district - Tom Quigley, of Royersford

147th district - Marcy Toepel, of Douglas Township

148th district - Mike Ludwick, of Conshohocken

149th district - Perry Hamilton, of Lower Merion

150th district - Mike Vereb, of West Norriton

151st district - Todd Stevens, of Horsham

152nd district - Tom Murt, of Upper Moreland

153rd district - Nick Mattiacci, of Abington

194th district - Linda Bateman, of Philadelphia

157th district - Warren Kampf, of Chester County

State Senate:

17th district - Charles Gehret, of West Conshohocken

19th district - Chris Amentas, of Chester County

United States Congress:

2nd  district - Robert Mansfield

6th district - Jim Gerlach

7th district - Pat Meehan

8th district - Mike Fitzpatrick

13th district - Joe Rooney