Letter to the editor: County Republican moves

Not one Westmoreland County Republican Committee member had the courage or ambition to oppose Bill Bretz for county chair on July 9 after all the outrage over how he treated Republican commissioner candidates Paul Kosko and myself, and committee members who helped us.

In 2023, Bretz called for an endorsement meeting without giving seven days’ notice; he personally sued Kosko and myself three times, all the way to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and lost. He kicked elected committee members out for helping us, and then deceived the public at the polls with their slate cards by saying all the Republicans were listed on them. Only the endorsed candidates were listed. Primaries are for the public to pick their candidates, not the party chair.

The huge swing in registered Republicans in Westmoreland has to do with Donald Trump’s patriotism and the insane policies and lack of values by progressives, not party efforts. Republicans hold nearly every office in the county for the same reasons. Since I ran for party chair against Bretz in 2020, he has lost nearly 40% of committee members (755 to 480). The true conservative county leaders, like myself and Kosko, are not committee members anymore.

It might be a few years, but look for Bretz to run for state Senate when Kim Ward retires so we can keep our RINO record, mail-in ballots and budget spending increases intact.

John Ventre

Hempfield