Kerns’ Vow: GOP HQ to Move

Party Chairman Candidate Wants
Presence Back in Norristown
By MARGARET GIBBONS , Times Herald Staff

COURTHOUSE — Lansdale lawyer Robert J. Kerns, one of two candidates vying to become chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Committee, vows that, if elected next month, he will move the party’s headquarters back to Norristown.

Returning the party’s headquarters to Norristown will help with the borough’s revitalization efforts, but there is also a political reason for the return, according to Kerns, the Upper Gwynedd GOP municipal chairman.

“Re-establishing our party’s presence in Norristown will demonstrate a commitment to the citizens of our county seat and will put the Democrats on notice that we will never concede a single municipality, precinct or voter,” said Kerns, referring to the fact that Norristown now has a majority of Democratic voters.

Republicans pulled their headquarters out of Norristown more than eight years ago. They explained that the building the party owned on Swede Street, several blocks from the county courthouse, had become too small for party functions. In addition, it was not wired for modern-day technology.

A lack of parking and a perception that Norristown was unsafe at night also contributed to the move at that time.

The move took the GOP to a storefront in an East Norriton shopping center.

The county GOP moved its headquarters again last year, this time to an office complex in the 800 block of DeKalb Pike in Whitpain.

In contrast, the county Democratic Committee has kept its headquarters in Norristown.

Once operating out of an office building in the first block of West Marshall Street, Democrats in July 2006 moved their headquarters to the first block of East Airy Street, directly across the street from the county courthouse.

The move was designed to give the party a higher profile while also supporting the borough’s revitalization efforts.

County Democratic Chairman Marcel L. Groen was quoted at the time of the move as saying, “We believe in the future of Norristown and we did not want to be an organization that turned its back on our county seat and moved away. We think that sends a message of retreat.”

Kerns’s pledge came in a letter he sent out this week to the party’s 800-plus committee people, who will gather May 8 to elect a new leader to replace outgoing GOP Chairman Ken Davis. Davis is stepping down after serving two two-year terms at the helm.

The letter details specific goals and objectives Kerns vows to pursue if elected chairman.

These goals and objectives include: unifying the multi-splintered organization; drafting a party platform that clearly states what the party stands for; aggressively reaching out to non-partisan voters and voters between the ages of 25 and 40; launching a comprehensive and innovative marketing campaign to promote the county organization and its accomplishments; and, improving the party’s fundraising.

Pottstown GOP Area Leader Jim Vlahos is battling Kerns for the top job in the county GOP.

Margaret Gibbons can be reached at mgibbons@timesherald.com or 610-272-2501 ext. 216.