Curt Schroder

State Rep. Scott Boyd (R-Lancaster County) is backed by several Republican lawmakers as he calls for a Constitutional Convention: Politicker PhotoHARRISBURG -- Can Harrisburg's latest scandal motivate voters to demand a Constitutional Convention?

A group of legislators gathered in the Capitol said Wednesday that, in the wake of "Bonusgate," they're at least going to find out.

State Rep. Curt Schroder (R-Chester County), flanked by several midstate Republican lawmakers, announced he has introduced a bill that would ask voters in 2009 whether they want what many reformers consider the only way to overhaul the Capitol's political culture.

It's the latest call for a convention, which would grant elected citizens, not lawmakers, the power make significant changes to the structure and processes of state government.

Chester County Republicans have endorsed financial advisor John Lawrence to replace Curtis Mason on the ballot for state House in the 13th Legislative District, a prominent local lawmaker told supporters this weekend.

In an email Friday night, obtained by PolitickerPA.com, state Rep. Curt Schroder (R-East Brandywine) announced that Mason had dropped out of the race against Democrat Tom Houghton. He described Lawrence, a senior account officer at JP Morgan, as a "conservative, young family man."

With Republican incumbent Rep. Art Hershey not seeking re-election and Chester County in a state of political flux, the race is expected to be a fiercely fought one. In his email, Schroder called Lawrence a step up from Mason, who The Inquirer reports withdrew for health reasons. Both men have challenged Hershey in the past, with Houghton running a close race against the incumbent in 2006 and Lawrence challenging Hershey in that year's Republican primary.

"He actually ran against Art in the primary last time and came with 6 points or so of winning," Schroder said in his e-mail. "I don't know where John stands on every issue. I can tell you with great certainty that he will be light years better than Curtis Mason. I spoke to John Lawrence today and he is excited and ready to campaign hard to win the seat. I truly believe he has a better chance of winning the seat than the former candidate did for reasons that I would rather not go in to."