October 22, 2005

State Committee Endorsement Crosses Party Lines
Reform Party Endorses the Democrat Selected by the Republican Voters in Scranton

The Reform Party of Pennsylvania is guided by its Statement of Principles adopted at its Inaugural State Convention in Harrisburg on January 23, 1993. The First Principle states "We declare the primary test for the value of any policy or activity of this Party will be what is good for the country, the state, the community, and the people, NOT what is good for the Party."

In keeping with this Principle the Reform Party of Pennsylvania crosses party lines to endorse and/or support candidates of other political parties when the State Committee believes supporting those candidates is in the best interests of the people in the affected district. In 2003 the Reform Party State Committee formally endorsed Republicans Robert Cordaro and A.J. Munchak for Lackawanna County Commissioners and Democrat David Kovach for Columbia County Commissioner. All three won upset victories in extremely close races.

This year the Reform Party State Committee has formally endorsed only two Candidates in all of Pennsylvania. At the recent Reform Party State Committee Meeting in York, Mr. Gary DiBileo was unanimously endorsed for Mayor of Scranton.

By Party rules "endorsement" means: "These candidates have the official public support of the Reform Party of Pennsylvania. The Reform Party supports their candidacy and urges all voters to cast their vote for these candidates on the General Election."

Gary DiBileo, current President of Scranton City Council, has long support allowing alternative voices to be heard in the community. "In past elections Mr. DiBileo has supported the ballot access efforts of various third party and independent candidates. While some political leaders have covertly, or at times openly, sought to stifle our efforts to bring candidates and issues to the table, Gary has not only supported our right to do so but has openly urged others to so as well," stated past Reform Party Candidate and Party Spokesman, Tom McLaughlin.

As a Democrat, Mr. DiBileo faced-off against the incumbent Democratic Mayor in the Democratic Primary. The Republicans failed to field a candidate in this and many other races in Scranton. In order to seal the November Election in the Spring Primary, before minor party voters and Independents even had a chance to participate in the electoral process, the Mayor conducted a write-in campaign for the open Republican Primary line. Mr. DiBileo was up to the challenge and mounted his own write-in campaign. Although he finished second in the Democratic Primary, the Republican voters chose Mr. DiBileo to represent them on the Republican ballot line.

"Year after year the number of candidates who go unopposed in the November Elections in Pennsylvania increases. Since our inception in 1993 our Party has worked to provide the voters of Pennsylvania with a choice on Election Day. Gary DiBileo has gone beyond the norm in his effort to provide the voters of Scranton with a choice in this year's Mayoral race. We wish to thank Mr. DiBileo and the Republican voters of Scranton for supplying ALL the voters of Scranton with a choice in the Mayoral race. Something the Republican Party failed to do and Republican Leadership openly opposed," commented Reform Party State Chairman Christopher Hollenden. "We applaud his efforts and urge all voters in Scranton to support Gary DiBileo on November 8th."