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Edited on Mon Sep-27-04 09:22 PM by gauguin57
Lancaster County, PA, is VERY Republican. Two county commissioners there (one Repug, one Dem) had made an agreement that there would be no political tables at the local hot-air balloon festival -- only a nonpartisan voter-registration table.
So, the Democrats did not apply for a booth. And the Repugs showed up anyway. The Dems. complained, the Repugs basically said shove it.
From the press release from the Dem. side (props to the Democratic Committee for sending it out to the media to complain!):
"Lancaster County Democrats today accused county Republicans of a double-cross regarding partisan political presence at the Balloon Festival held this past weekend at the county park. According to Lancaster County Democratic Chairman Bruce Beardsley, there was an agreement between County Commissioners Molly Henderson, a Democrat, and Dick Schellenberger, a Republican, that neither party would appear at the festival. Instead, the County Board of Elections would set up a non-partisan voter registration table. Henderson said she and Schellenberger wanted this to be a family-oriented, non-partisan event.
"Henderson informed Beardsley of this agreement two weeks ago. As a result, the Democrats did not apply for a booth at the festival. “Imagine our surprise and shock,” Beardsley said, “when we discovered a Republican booth at the event Friday afternoon.”
"Henderson approached the Republicans Saturday and asked that they leave or just have a non-partisan voter registration table. They refused, and as of Sunday afternoon, the Republicans were still there promoting Republican candidates.
"Beardsley said. “It’s a shame when you can’t count on people to keep their word. The Republicans have long felt that they own this county and can do whatever they darn well please. I guess this is just another example. Shame on us for trusting them.”
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