After Reilly, Delco GOP searches for a new leader
As Andrew Reilly has indicated he intends to relinquish his county political role, the Delaware County Republican Party has a process to select his successor.
Reilly, 56, assumed the head of the Southeast Pennsylvania Republican Caucus Dec. 1. And, although he has not yet resigned as chairman of the Delco GOP, he has stated his intention to do so.
Reilly has been chairman of the Delaware County Republicans since 2009.
Carol Miller, vice chair of the Delco GOP, explained that an executive committee meeting will have to be called with all of the county’s committee people.
In the meantime, she said people who are interested in the position are in the process of being interviewed.
Until Reilly formally resigns, he will be the head of both the county GOP and the Southeast Pennsylvania Caucus, as did Mike Meehan, the Philadelphia GOP Chair when he headed the caucus.
Spokesman Pete Peterson explained that neither the county GOP chair or the caucus leader receive any financial compensation or salary.
“That said,” Peterson explained, “he does plan to officially step down once a formal timeline and process is agreed to with the municipal leaders for selecting a new chair.”
Peterson said a timeline for the process should be determined over the next few weeks.
Michael Puppio, chairman of the Springfield Republican Party, said he presumes Reilly will step down from the county chair in a timely manner.
As Miller stated, Puppio said the county party bylaws state that the committee chairs select the county head for a four-year term.
However, Puppio said Reilly must formally resign first. When and if he chooses to do so, Miller will serve as the interim chair until she calls a selection meeting and the committee leaders make their decision.
Puppio said he was aware that several people have indicated their interest but declined to name them.
The position requires six or seven days a week of duties, especially in consensus building. The chair must relate to a variety of people and bring them all together for a common goal.
A source speaking only with the condition of anonymity said there was some speculation that Puppio may be interested.
Another identified as having interest in the chairmanship is outgoing state Sen. Tom McGarrigle, R-26, of Springfield.
“I think Tom would be fantastic,” the source said, adding that McGarrigle has also served on county council and is a small-business owner. “He’s a personable guy. He’s a people person ... I think Tom would be an outstanding person. I think Tom’s the front runner.”
However, another source said officials want to be open to a variety of possibilities regarding the chair and committing to any one or two people at this stage is too preliminary.
Of the municipal leaders, the source said, “they want to cast a wide net for people to step forward and express their interest.”
Reilly also served on Delaware County Council but much of his activism was behind the scenes, running campaigns of municipal officials to state representatives and senators to county Common Pleas and Commonwealth Court judges.
He’s also served in a variety of party roles, first as a Young Republican of Delaware County then up through a delegate to the National GOP Convention and a member of the Pennsylvania Electoral College, as well as secretary of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania.