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Republicans honor party at annual dinner

Local Republicans convened at the Genetti Hotel and Suites Saturday for their annual Lincoln Day Dinner.

“We are honoring the party and giving 2019 candidates a chance to tell us why they are the best candidate,” said Lycoming County Republican Committee Chairman Joseph Hamm.

Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Lincoln Day Dinner attracted over 230 guests.

“It’s a great turn out because there is a lot of excitement and a lot of people are here because [President Trump] has fired them up,” Hamm said.

What happens locally can reverberate nationally, Hamm said. “We want to send President Trump people to help get his agenda done.”

Hamm wrote in the Lincoln Day Dinner program, “2019 is an important year as we vote to retain three appellate court judges, elect two superior court judges and elect our county commissioners, county row offices, Common Pleas judges, city mayor, borough council and township supervisors.”

The dinner was named in honor of the 16th American President Abraham Lincoln, who was a Republican. “Lincoln represents the values of the Republican party – life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” Hamm said.

The evening commenced with a reception in the Garden Room where candidates’ posters lined the walls.

U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson Jr., R-Howard, gave the keynote speech.

“He clearly articulated the agenda of the Democratic party and their socialist viewpoints,” Hamm said.

The night had a couple of surprises for attendees.

First, former Congressman Tom Marino, R-Cogan Station, was presented the Distinguished Service Award for his years of public service.

To further honor him, a video was presented that chronicled Marino’s career as a lawyer and politician.

“Tom’s life is a personification of the American dream,” Hamm said. “He was a baker in a factory and was overlooked for a promotion because he didn’t have a college degree. So at 30 years old, he went to college and later law school.”

While Marino’s family and colleagues knew the award was coming, he did not.

“Tom was overcome with emotion and honored to received the award,” Hamm said.

Jeff and Sheila Yates also were surprised when they received the Alvin C. Bush award. The two have been planning the Lincoln Day Dinner for nearly a decade.

“The Alvin C. Bush award is given every year to an individual or individuals who have displayed extraordinary dedication and support for the goals and objectives of the Lycoming County Republican Committee,” Hamm said. In addition to planning the dinner, the couple has served in numerous positions with the committee.

The dinner as a whole was orchestrated to inspire local Republicans and Hamm feels they did just that.

“We were there four and half hours and there was a lot of energy and people looking forward to getting our message out. It was a successful evening,” he said.

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