It took five ballots and two hours, but Rep. Dave Argall (R-124) was eventually victorious by the most razor thin of margins to become the GOP nominee for the 29th district senate seat Saturday afternoon at the Shoeneman Complex in Pottsville. Argall defeated Christopher Hobbs, a Pottsville attorney and son-in-law of the late Sen. Jim Rhoades, 30-27 on the final ballot to clinch the victory.
Argall, the former Republican Whip in the PA House of Representatives, will now set his sights on his democratic oppponent, Schuylkill County Clerk of Courts Steven Lukach, in what is shaping up to be a rapid-fire street fight of a campaign that will take place 73 days from now on March 3rd.
“This contest was oh so very close, ” said Argall to the conferees after he was announced as the winning candidate. “The difference between Gretchen, Chris, and myself was minute, but the difference between us and the democrats is wide. We need to concentrate on those differences and unite as a party to ensure that we retain this seat.”
As a sign of unity, after Argall had garnered the required majority plus one of votes on the secret ballot, conferees gathered for a voice roll call to unanimously confirm the nomination. In addition, one of the vanquished candidates, Schuylkill County Executive Committeewoman Gretchen Sterns, presented Argall with a $100 donation to his senate campaign fund.
“It is of the utmost of importance for us to retain this senate seat, said Sterns. “We all need to unite behind Dave and I would like to be the first to contribute to his campaign.”
The race was tight from beginning to end, with the conferees asking Argall and Hobbs, the two highest vote-getters on the first four ballots, to come back into the auditorium to make their final case. The totals on the ballots were as follows:
1st Ballot:Argall 28, Hobbs, 22, Sterns 6, Dellicker 1.
2nd Ballot: Hobbs 27, Argall 26, Sterns 4.
3rd Ballot: Hobbs 28, Argall 27, Sterns 2.
4th Ballot: Argall 29, Hobbs 28.
5th Ballot: Argall 30, Hobbs 27.
18 Comments
December 20, 2008 at 5:00 pm
A BIG CONGRATS to Rep. DAVID ARGALL! Now, we must unite behind Argall and get him elected to Senate. Hobbs supporters, Sterns supporters, TARs, movement reformers, and this blog/ author should all remind themselves that we are one party and ARGALL is our chosen candidate (just as the Delegates did with the final ceremonial vote). GOTV for Argall. Great move by Gretchen Sterns with her contribution….class act. I strongly encourage you to follow her lead.
December 20, 2008 at 5:33 pm
[...] For full coverage from inside the convention, see my story on The Clarke Report [...]
December 21, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Yawn! No, there is call to unite. We’re not sheep. Votes are earned not called. If half of what PA Clean Sweep and similar watchdog groups say about this candidate is true, I’ll sit this one out. Until the GOP wakes up, count me out. This from a former GOP Committee person in the 29th D.
December 21, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Come on Najarian, what’s wrong with Republicans who vote for higher taxes , bigger government and illegal pay raises? Get with the program maaaan.
December 21, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Najarian and Tax Collector’s “more conservative than thou” attitude is exactly what gave Tim Seip his House seat. Keep it up, and Luckach will be your next senator.
It’s time for this cockiness to stop. It is destroying the Republican party–not the alleged RINOs who are never good enough for you guys.
December 21, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Hook, line and sinker Dave. Crying towel is in the mail. Grab a pen and take this address down for yourself:
Lehigh County Democratic Committee
P.O. Box 33
Allentown, PA 18105
December 22, 2008 at 11:09 am
Sorry folks. The other guy is worse is no reason at all, even if its probably true. The lesser of two evils is no choice.
December 22, 2008 at 11:49 am
Dave,
I’ve heard at least 100 reason why D’s are winning lately and I’m sure you will respond to this post with the 101 reason. In my view you are not wrong about some of Argall’s votes being less then conservative, but look at how republican most of the D’s in our area are. I’m from Schuylkill County and all the D’s here are Pro-Life and members of the NRA. The difference is the left gives them a pass on these major issues because, to them, winning is more important. For example Argall’s been attacked for voting to fund “growing greener”. Although not a conservative vote, ALL of my REPUBLICAN farming neighbors would not support anybody voting against it. So even though there is no way to win in our area without farmer’s support people like you will still attack Argall for that vote.
When you hear the “call” for unity, and you’ll hear it alot, let me translate. “Dave, get off your high horse, realize you may not be know everything about ever vote Argall made. It’s time to cut him some slack”
I’m sorry if that is insulting but even if you think it is a choice of the lesser of two evils that IS still a choice that must be made because if Republicans don’t make that choice the Democrates are more then willing to.
December 22, 2008 at 12:35 pm
I personally feel that Argalls victory speaks for itself. The people of this county wanted someone who could stand proud and not peek behind the coat tails of ones family or in-laws. Political seats are NOT a birthright! Respect is earned not bought! This county is still stuck on some old outdated gender beliefs like it’s still okay to beat your wife, get away with murder if it was in defense but at least the peoples voice has spoken that it takes more than family to buy your seat. Go Argall!
December 22, 2008 at 7:19 pm
“Dave, get off your high horse, realize you may not be know everything about ever vote Argall made. It’s time to cut him some slack”
No I’m not offended by that. Its certainly more subtle then Crying towel is in the mail. Grab a pen and take this address . . .
But the ‘D’ is worse . . . is not a reason to vote for any ‘R’, even if its true.
the lesser of two evils that IS still a choice that must be made because if Republicans don’t make that choice the Democrates are more then willing to.
Ironically, Clinton was the best President the Republican Party ever had. Without Clinton, there would have been no Contract with America, no R majority in Congress.
By that same token, Bush was the best President the Democrats ever had, with Bush, the ‘D’s gained back the House, Senate and the Presidency.
I want to vote for a guy, not against the other guy. Too long we did the later and not the former. And it shows. I’ll forgo a short term boost for meaningful long term reform.
My thoughts here were that there were better choices from a good government standpoint.
Time will tell whether this was the best choice. Maybe I’ll eat my words . . . but maybe not.
December 22, 2008 at 7:23 pm
“more conservative than thou” attitude
I never thought the issue of illegal pay raises was a Ultra Right versus RINO thing. That never occurred to me.
December 22, 2008 at 7:52 pm
I appreciate all your back and forths but the truth of the matter IS we won’t always agree on what our politicians say & do but that’s the beauty of democracy. When all is said and done, each and everyone of us have a choice, do good or not. There’s much to be said about “pointing fingers” 3 always point back to ourselves. Agrall must be doing something right as he got voted in. Politicians & the lrg majority of attorneys (incl Hobbs) have several things in common, they divide people, take your money to put in their pockets, lie to win and don’t truly care the rubble they leave behind. Someone asked me one time if I knew what 1000 attorneys and politicians at the bottom of the ocean ment?…a good start!
But really, think global act local and if you believe that much in something take a stand but harm none.
December 22, 2008 at 10:24 pm
But really, think global act local and if you believe that much in something take a stand but harm none.
I too, am thankful for the back and forths too, that is a republic, of which I am thankful, very thankful. But I am not sure what you mean by the above. Some think a taking a stand simply is harm.
But we do agree, Respect is earned not bought! So I enter this and any election with a truly open mind, my first point was to say, the table is not slanted one way or the other. That is, until a choice becomes obvious!
December 22, 2008 at 10:43 pm
I knew what 1000 attorneys and politicians at the bottom of the ocean ment?…a good start!
Alas, I am an attorney and a politician! Oh well! No offense taken!
December 24, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Well Mr. Dave, I’m certainly happy to read that you took no offense to the above. I know a few attorneys that I’d personally put my money on to get the job done. You must be part of the smaller majority, hats off… what I mean by the above, is simply this, if from a political stand point, you have an self serving agenda that one knows does not help give power back to the people and hurts it’s nation (I’m not talking Monica here) I’m talking more on the lines of 9/11. Appointed Judges, greasing of palms, doing everything to defend a client even when you know they’re wrong and have been caught lying point blank but the money is good so you do everything in your power to “work” angles to get a victory even when you know your client is in the wrong, get real… I know that there is corruption out there in our backyards and transends our borders however, I’m refrencing the top 2 nominees. I feel that if Hobbs were as clean of an attorney as he presented to be a candiate, perhaps I wouldn’t find such joy in his loss. Part of this comes from personal experience, I guess I have more dirt than most. That’s all…
December 30, 2008 at 7:05 pm
[...] a husband, father, grandfather, and friend. The effects of Rhoades’ death continues to ripple across the countyas 2009 will bring about possibly two special elections to go along with the May municipal primary [...]
June 28, 2009 at 3:40 am
[...] Chris Hobbes is the son-in-law of the late State Senator Jim Rhoades, who died tragically in an October car crash. In December Rep. David Argall won the GOP nomination for the Senate seat over Hobbes after 5 rounds … [...]
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