Harry Fawkes

A political battle between two powerful Bucks County women seems headed for resolution on Saturday, when a Republican Party reorganization meeting will yield a new vice chair for the first time in over three decades.

Keren McIlhinney Putnam, 65, has long been a force in Bucks County politics as the Republican Committee vice chair under longtime party leader Harry Fawkes. Rarely in her more than 30-year run as vice chair has McIlhinney Putnam, protected by Fawkes, ever been seriously challenged for reelection.

But last week she decided to cease her bid for reelection, paving the way for state party treasurer Pat Poprik to take her place, The Intelligencer reports.

"I realize now that even by winning the office of vice chairman, we would not have united leadership for the party," she wrote in a letter to committee members last week, according to The Intelligencer.

After considering ending his 36-year run as Bucks County's top Republican Party official, Harry Fawkes said Thursday that he would seek reelection for another two-year term, The Bucks County Courier Times reports.

“I've been doing this for 36 years and I think I want to continue to do what I can for Bucks County and the Republican Party,” said Fawkes, the chairman of the Bucks County Republican Committee.

His decision to run again, announced in a letter to Republican Committee members this week, confirmed an earlier report by PolitickerPA's Wally Edge. He is expected to run unopposed.

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About three weeks ago, long-time Bucks County Republican Chairman Harry Fawkes floated the idea of not running for another term. Inside Edge has learned candidate are going to have to visit the Croydon basement for at least another cycle as Fawkes is running for reelection.

If you are a Republican and want to run for office in Bucks County or if you are a state-wide Republican candidate and you want the support of the South East you needed to make an appearance in the Croydon basement. 

For those who have never heard of this, it is the basement/political museum in the home of Bucks Republican Chairman Harry Fawkes.  Almost all Republican presidents and Republican governors since 1972 have sat in that basement and asked for the blessing from the chairman. 

One well placed Bucks source told Inside Edge the 2010 gubernatorial candidate will have been in the Croydon basement.  With the early Republican favorites being Tom Corbett, Rick Santorum and Bill Scranton III, all having already visited the basement, they may be the last to go through the long tradition. 

Another Bucks Committeeman said it will be a sad day when Fawkes walks away, but he has build a strong bench ready to take over the Bucks machine.