Show of Support: GOP's new office draws crowd in Slippery Rock
What was meant to be the grand opening of the Butler County Republican Party's new office in Slippery Rock on Wednesday turned into a rally of more than 150 people.
As more people showed up, the event was moved outside. The crowd gathered around a gazebo just outside of the new office building at 140 Main St.
“Every time we come to one of the Trump rallies, it's so fun,” said Kara McDougall, Slippery Rock resident. “It's fun to get everyone together and to hear the enthusiasm and excitement that everybody has.”
Brian McLaughlin, former president of the SRU College Republicans, said he returned to support local Republicans and to see actor Scott Pressler, the keynote speaker.“They're opening this establishment, and I'm extremely supportive of that also,” McLaughlin said.Slippery Rock Mayor Jondavid Longo, a Republican, is the newly elected secretary of the Butler County Republican Committee.Longo said the new office will be a base for engaging people, registering new voters and having events and conversations across political lines. The building had been vacated by the nonprofit Our Angel's Attic, which closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.“What's really important to me too is that we are engaging young people,” he said. “What better way to engage young people than to do it in a college town like Slippery Rock?”
Longo served as the master of ceremonies as multiple speakers took turns to endorse the values of the Republican Party and encourage those in attendance to vote to re-elect President Donald Trump. The consistent applause through each speech raised no questions about the group's loyalties.Pressler, a nationally-known activist with 750,000 followers on Twitter, fed off the energy of the crowd and incited laughter as he talked and joked about his work moving from city to city, cleaning up tons of trash in areas where it was most needed.“I want people to know that this is a no-judgement movement and that every single person is welcome in the Republican Party,” he said. “You have a place with us.”Pressler, who spoke last, reiterated what many of his predecessors had said.“I believe in deeds, not words,” he said. “President Trump is the promises made, promises kept president.”U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th, was the first speaker Longo introduced. Kelly encouraged people to vote because it is their duty and privilege that millions of men and women have fought and died for.
“Don't believe it for one minute this election is a landslide,” he said. “It is your vote on Nov. 3 that is going to put the president over the top.”State Sen. Scott Hutchinson, R-21st, and New Castle Mayor Chris Frye, a Republican, also spoke Wednesday night.Two state legislators, Rep. Marci Mustello, R-11th, and Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-10th, drove directly from Harrisburg to speak with constituents, hours after a measure failed to counter Gov. Tom Wolf's veto of the rescinding of his disaster declaration.“We're all responsible adults who can take care of ourselves,” Mustello said. “We've got to keep this momentum next year when there's a governor's race.”Bernstine also expressed frustration with Wolf over his decisions and the 18 votes that doomed the measure. He said people need to vote and encourage others to do so if they want to see the president re-elected.“The people here, we're going to the polls, and we're going to vote,” he said. “Four more years.”“Four more years,” everyone chanted.
