Always Growing

Republican Committee of Pittsburgh

Breaking News

************************************************************************************

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

DATE; JULY 3, 2008

CONTACT: Bob Hillen 412-571-1126 / Email: bobhillengop@hotmail.com

The Republican Committee of Pittsburgh cast a vote of confidence in their leadership team by electing Bob Hillen, Chairman, Joe Weinroth, Vice-Chairman, Alan Perry, Treasurer.

The Republican Committee of Pittsburgh held its Re-Organization Meeting on June 16, 2008, and elected officers for a four-year term. In a contested election for Chairman Bob Hillen was re-elected to another four-year term. “I am proud to have earned the support of Grass Roots Republicans in the City of Pittsburgh. We are eager to build upon the accomplishments of the past four years.” Hillen said.

Our accomplishments include, the two most competitive Republican Mayoral Candidates in the last four decades; voting precincts and wards won by Republican mayoral candidates; and revitalization of the long dormant Ethics Hearing Board.

Despite these significant accomplishments, much more work needs to be done to strengthen our neighborhoods and to put Pittsburgh on a strong financial footing.

Bob Hillen is a father of five and a Grandfather of six (soon to be seven) and a Painting Contractor. Bob has run for City Council four times and School Board once. He has just started his fourth term as Chair of the 4^th City Council District Republican Committee and his third term as Chair of the Republican Committee of Pittsburgh. Bob is also the 2^nd Vice-President of the PARA pagopwing.com , the Treasurer of the Zone 3 Public Safety Council and Vice-President of the Beechview Merchants Association.

Joe Weinroth easily won re-election to his second term as Vice-Chair of the City Committee. Joe Weinroth was born and raised in Pittsburgh, and has been a lifelong resident of Squirrel Hill. A first generation American and the son of Holocaust Survivors. A graduate of Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh (1976); University of Pittsburgh, BA in both Economics and Political Science, Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Asher Isaacs Prize in Economics (1980); and University of Pittsburgh School of Law, JD (1983); Admitted to the Bar in Pennsylvania (1983); Practicing Attorney (1983-present); 2005 Republican Mayoral Candidate, and the first City GOP Candidate to win voting districts over a Democrat since 1969; Elected Vice-Chairman of the Republican Party of Pittsburgh (2004-present); Founder and Director of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Republican Jewish Coalition (2003-Present); Elected member of the Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania.

Alan Perry was elected to his first term as Treasurer of the City Committee. Alan has an extensive history of community involvement. He is a long-time volunteer with the Greater Pittsburgh Council of Boy Scouts of America. As a result of his dedication to scouting, he was awarded three of the highest awards given to a volunteer: the District Award of Merit in 2006, the Silver Beaver Award in 2007, and the Whitney Young Jr. Service Award for Urban Scouting in 2008. Alan is also an Elder in his Church. He was a member of the Racial and Social Justice Team of the Pittsburgh Presbytery whose mission was to challenge all forms of discrimination. He is also an active member of Star of the West #62 Lodge of Prince Hall Masons. The owner of Perry Insurance Group and founder/owner of Perry’s Catering- both of which enable him a degree of scheduling flexibility, giving him time to devote to issues that he is passionate about. In the 2006 election, Alan competed, unsuccessfully for a position in the City Council District Six election. Alan’s election as the new Treasurer of the Republican Party of Pittsburgh will strengthen the leadership team.

~~~END~~~

 

*********

Real History of Pittsburgh

Lafayette Hall, which stood on Wood Street between Third and Fourth avenues, Downtown, in 1856 brought together political partisans whose common identity was little more than a disillusionment with the Whigs and the Democrats.
Library and Archives Division, Sen. John Heinz History Center

GOP born at Wood Street convention in 1856

By F.A. Krift
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, April 20, 2008

It might be hard to believe that Pittsburgh once was at the heart of the Republican Party, considering that, according to the Allegheny County Division of Election, 74 percent of city voters today are registered as Democrats.

Yet, Pittsburgh can argue it's the Grand Old Party's national home since Republicans held their first organizing convention during a February weekend in 1856 at the now-gone Lafayette Hall on Wood Street between Third and Fourth avenues, Downtown.

"I find it ironic that this is a birthplace of the Republican Party as a national institution," said local historian James Wudarczyk, 55, of Lawrenceville. "We're a Democrat stronghold."

Before meeting in Pittsburgh on Feb. 22 and 23, 1856, multiple parties identifying themselves as Republican met in places like Ripon, Wis., and Jackson, Mich. Wudarczyk said they identified more by name than by a consistent ideology, although they had a similar disillusionment with the Whigs and Democrats, the two national parties.

The ideology formed in Pittsburgh inside Lafayette Hall.

Between 1,000 and 2,000 delegates from eight southern states and 16 northern states showed up for the Pittsburgh convention, newspaper accounts estimated. While New York newspaper editor and political leader Horace Greeley attended, some notable party leaders did not: Ohio Gov. Salmon Chase, a future Supreme Court chief justice; U.S. Sen. William Henry Seward of New York; and Abraham Lincoln.

The delegates came here at the suggestion of Chase to unite with other third parties and splinter factions like the Anti-Nebraska Party and Know-Nothings. They hoped to create a legitimate threat against the Democrats for the White House and Congress in the 1856 election, Wudarczyk said.

"Everybody thinks these guys walked in one door at the Lafayette as Whigs and walked out the back door as Republicans, and that's not true," Wudarczyk said.

In fact, dissenting voices bickered until a committee in the final hours assembled a national platform, Wudarczyk said. The platform centered on blaming the federal administration for destroying the Union and demanding the repeal of laws that allowed slavery's extension into the West.

F.A. Krift can be reached at bkrift@tribweb.com or 412-380-5644.

***************

Young Conservatives Have Allies!

The Musical Group, The Right Brothers are here!

The Right Time, The Right Place

The Right Brothers are a conservative music group whose lyrics are devoted to addressing the issues at the forefront of the political arena. The music they make has been described as "a lethal weapon for conservatives", "a morale booster for the troops and their families" and "the perfect tool for converting liberals to the right".

Our Committee would like to thank The Right Brothers, for the donation of their song "Bush Was Right" for our use on the Home Page of this web site. We look forward to The Right Brothers visiting Pittsburgh someday (and we hope its soon). We need them here!

******

Web Changes

This is where we'll announce the most recent additions to our web site. If you've visited us before and want to know what's changed, take a look here first. Our site will be changing and updating on regular bases.

Music -"Carrying The Banner" from the movie "Newies"

Home News Donations Veterans Feedback Candidates ElectedOfficials FriendlyBusinesses UnionMoney YouthAwards CommitteeStructure CityGov SchoolDistrict Links

Paid for by the Republican Committee of Pittsburgh

Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee