Congressman-Elect Tom Marino Announces Four Appointments

REP.-ELECT MARINO FILLS TOP 4 STAFF POSITIONS

WILLIAMSPORT -- U.S. Rep.-Elect Tom Marino has announced the appointment of the four individuals who will fill his top congressional staff positions.

The appointments are effective Jan. 3 and will ensure the freshman congressman “hits the ground running” when the 112th Congress is sworn into office on Jan. 5, Marino said.

Lackawanna County natives Bill Tighe and David Weber will head Marino’s Washington and district operations, respectively. Tighe, formerly of Newton Township, was named chief of staff while Weber, who had served as Marino’s campaign manager, was appointed district director.
Drew Kent of Arlington, Va., was tabbed as legislative director, and Renita Fennick, Wilkes-Barre Township, will serve as Marino’s communications director.

“This is a solid team with a lot of energy and a good synergy,” Marino said. “I have the utmost confidence in each one of them and also am certain they have the skills and mindset to work together as a team.

“Most importantly, each of them knows that our mission is to serve the constituents of the 10th District,” Marino said. “The four of them share my sentiment -- and that is, that we must never forget who we are and why the good people of Pennsylvania sent us to Washington in the first place. We will work together with our varied backgrounds and experiences to make sure the voices of the people in the 10th District are heard in D.C.”

Marino Announces Committee Appointments

Yesterday was a big day for Congressman-elect Tom Marino. First he announced the appointment of Renita Fennick, executive director of the Luzerne County Republican Party, as his communications director. Bill O'Boyle of the Times Leader filed this report.

Renita Fennick, who has served as executive director of the Luzerne County Republican Committee for nearly two years, has been named Marino’s communications director.

Fennick, 50, of Wilkes-Barre Township, will be based in the 10th Congressional District and will travel occasionally to Washington as required.

Fennick said Marino “has a great message” and she said she is honored to be able to help him convey that message throughout the district.

“Tom is a man of integrity and honor and there’s no doubt that he will be one of the most hard-working representatives the 10th District has ever seen,” Fennick said. Fennick said her new job will be a challenge and she will miss working with the county GOP on a daily basis.

“It is difficult to leave the county Republican Party, yet very exciting to be part of this historic chapter in our nation’s history,” she said.

“I am very happy that Renita has agreed to join my staff as communications director,” said Marino, R-Lycoming Township. “Her experience, connections with local media, and eagerness to directly communicate with constituents will help me to keep the lines of communication open.”

Steve Mocarsky of the Times Leader reported that Marino received two key committee appointments.

Marino, R-Lycoming Township, was notified Wednesday that he will join the U.S. House Homeland Security and Judiciary committees when the 112th Congress convenes next month.

“I don’t think there is anything more important than to serve on a committee that is dedicated to protecting our people and our land,” Marino said in a press release. “Our focus not only will be to prevent terrorist attacks but to eliminate the terrorists.”

Marino, when he takes office on Jan. 5, will represent the 10th Congressional District, which encompasses parts of Bradford, Tioga, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Pike, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Union, Wayne and Wyoming counties.

Congressman-elect Lou Barletta will be announcing his committee assignments in the very near future. One committee will be key to plotting a course for Pennsylvania's future. Its area of oversight will address the growing needs of Pennsylvania. Exploring PPP's(public-private partnerships) will be on the agenda.

Barletta resigned his mayoral duties as of December 14th.

Democratic Registration Edge In Luzerne County

Today I had the pleasure of listening to Republican National Chairman Michael Steele at the grand opening of the Luzerne County Republican Party headquarters located at 41 S. Main Street, Wilkes Barre. His speech was inspiring, down to earth, and struck a chord with everyone in attendance.

He talked about his days as a county chairman. You can tell from listening to him that he not only talks the talk he has walked the walk. His vision for the future of the party is well thought out. He was thirty minutes late for his flight after his speech but he wouldn't leave. His penchant for a grassroots effort had a genuine flavor for making everyone in the room feel important. Chairman Steele not only recognized the attendees but he talked about the importance of family involvement, Teen Republicans, College Republicans, and Young Republicans. Michael also talked about the importance of the Republican philosophy.

Chairman Steele brought along his Blueprint For Tomorrow - En-Route to a Republican Revolution for the county and state party representatives. This first installment of the plan describes the current landscape how we got here and where Michael believes we can go together as a Party. Here is a link to that document.

Afterwards I had an opportunity to listen to Luzerne County Republican Chairman Terry Casey talk about the Democratic registration edge in Luzerne County. His talk made alot of sense. What is the real reason for a 2 to 1 edge? It made me reflect on the following question. Are the people of Luzerne County more ideoligically aligned with Democratic or Republican philosophy?

There is no doubt that this area is pro-life. There is no doubt that this area is fiscally conservative. If it wasn't I believe we would have witnessed more home foreclosures than we see to date.

Don't believe for a moment that a Republican does not care about his neighbor next door. Many of you have children involved in sports. How many Republican businesses have supported your leagues? How many donate to the United Way every year? How many donate to charities where you are a member of the board?

Yes it is a pro union area. But unions are not a bad thing. At one point in my life I was a union member. In the same thought Democrats are not bad people. But the bad people who faced recent charges in Luzerne County are all Democrats, except for one.

When voters allow one party to have total dominance corruption has been planted on firm ground. The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over and expect a different result.

The time has come to look to a party that promises reform, promises accountability, and promises transparency in transactions. Employees/officials who are not required to list their hours of work is unacceptable. Employees/officials who take taxpayer money illicitly is unacceptable. Employees/officials who use work time to campaign for candidates is unacceptable. Officials who use their position for personal financial gain including accepting gifts above prohibited amounts and failing to report them is unacceptable. Requiring people to register as a certain party member so a family member receives a job is unacceptable. And that is my personal view for the 2 to 1 edge.

If the people elect Democrats with no accountability to office this November it will be a signal that unacceptable is acceptable. Only time will tell the tale.