Why You Can’t Trust Bob Robbins and Good Reasons Not to Vote For Him!!

(Part II of a series)


(The following statements are my opinions, perspectives, and views after several years of volunteer work within the Mercer GOP. I served 12 years as a precinct committeewoman and 2 years on the PA GOP state committee.)

Summary of Bob’s Slush Fund: His Campaign Money or 2nd Salary

Let’s recap a section of Part I of this series, concerning Bob’s campaign fund, somewhat hidden accounts from my perspective. We could say that Bob is the Count of Hidden Accounts! Not only does this greedy official draw an outrageous salary for part-time work, a pension, and all expenses paid, including a Virgin Islands trip (corrected after he was caught), BUT it appears that he and his wife use the campaign fund as their private open checking account. Here’s a summary: $23,000 at Sam’s Club since 2006; $29,378 in “miscellaneous” reimbursement to Bob; $78,000 to the PA Republican Senate Committee in 2006 and $27,000 in 2008. His Dem friends and those Dem write-in’s should take note of Bob’s assistance to the Republican Club to the tune of over $100,000. Another absurd expenditure was over $168,000 for his 2006 re-election campaign, and lastly his $43,000 sneaky Dem write-in campaign. It is no wonder that the Count of Hidden Accounts does not want to give up his seat. The readers are invited to “do the math” and see how much money has changed hands since 2006.

The Robbins GOP Club

The Mercer GOP IS Bob and Cindy Robbins and Ginny Richardson, and maybe a little Brian Shipley on the side and everyone else is window dressing as far as they are concerned. Bob jealously guards his position and perks within the local GOP, the Northwest GOP Caucus, and the PA GOP State Committee. He, and his wife, work diligently within these organizations for their own selfish interests. Let me ask a reasonable question: For all the decades that Bob has held the senatorial position, including the extra bonus as senate secretary, WHAT GOOD HAS COME TO MERCER COUNTY? Nada, Zip, Nothing! He has just simply held the position; he is an ineffective senator.

Our county has higher unemployment than the national average, terrible crime, and poor prospects for the citizens. What has PayRaise Bob done to help solve any of these problems? NOTHING! Not only nothing, he has been quoted as saying that “it is a waste of time” to do any outreach in the Shenango Valley area. He avoids Farrell like the plague. His resignation to the status quo is not ever going to change things for us.

Bob’s Petty Power Plays and Why I Don’t Trust Him

Bob kept a low profile during 2006, since he was scared witless that his dark-of-night payraise vote PLUS the vote for full reimbursement of unvouchered expenses, would knock him out of his catbird senate seat. After he squeaked through the election, Bob was soon again the cocky Napoleonic, self-appointed undercover head of the Mercer GOP and the NW PA GOP Caucus, along with his wife, leading the charge against any rising stars or talents. When I decided to run for a PA State Committee seat, all hell broke lose. The Robbins and Richardsons began their campaign against me. Mind you, there are three committee seats and four of us were running. The senator and his wife visited my home, while I was at work, and met with my husband to urge him to convince me not to run. This is when the senator threatened “to bring out the artillery against me.” How ridiculous, and sad for all of us to have this type of man as our legislator. There was also a visit from then-Senator Arlen Specter’s Erie staff rep to my husband, again to convince me not to run. As far as I know, no one visited or threatened George Pokrant, and no one ever spoke to me about the matter. Mrs. Robbins also did her dirty work, behind the scenes and most likely on her cell phone (paid for by campaign money no doubt), and she conjured up $3000 from Bob Asher, the PA GOP national committeeman (convicted felon of fraud vis-à-vis the Bud Dwyer kickback scheme), $3000 which was given to Mrs. Robbins and Mr. Richardson to run their state committee campaign. Again, absurd, and another example of how greedy and mercenary the Robbins are about money: spend everyone else’s!

My experience as a PA state committeeperson was educational. There is a small network of so-called leaders and legislators who make decisions behind the scenes and then force them at the committee members. Unfortunately, I found that about 2/3 of the membership goes along to get along with this strategy, and 1/3 are independent thinkers. However, it was refreshing to be part of a group outside of the Mercer GOP, and I met many dynamic people.

A highlight of my state committee experience was my part in unseating the unscrupulous chair of the NW PA Caucus, a person who collaborated with the Robbins to do what was in his and their best interests. A lowlight was a verbal assault directly at the end of one of the state committee meetings, right there in the ballroom, by Ginny Richardson (she attended with the county chair‘s proxy), a puzzling assault on me because of my involvement with opening a McCain-Palin Victory Center in the Shenango Valley. Both of the Robbins were standing behind Ginny, silently backing her up. I came to see, by the end of my first year on the state committee, that we would never be able to elevate the GOP with leaders like Bob, Cindy, Ginny, Brian etc., who operate in the dregs because that is where they do their best work.

I don’t trust Bob Robbins because he is focused entirely on the control of persons and assets that serve his interests. I will never support him or vote for him and I urge all voters to seriously review the reasons which I have offered and dare to make a change and vote Independent this Fall. It is time that these imbedded incumbents are eliminated from controlling all levels of our government. It is time that we replace Bob Robbins.

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