As the only Republican running for state House in the 96th Legislative District, Eric Beezer is a near-shoo-in to win the party’s nomination in the April 23 primary.
Yet with just weeks to go, the county GOP still hasn’t backed his candidacy.
Beezer, 42, said he largely blames his late entrance into the race. He filed his nomination petitions on deadline day, which was more than two weeks after the Republican Committee of Lancaster County’s annual endorsement convention.
But Beezer’s pro-marijuana policy stances and past ties to the Democratic Party could be the more significant factor explaining the lack of a post-convention endorsement.
Beezer — who owns The Green Bee, a Manheim Township store that sells hemp-derived CBD products — said one thing he wants to do if elected is expand the state’s medical marijuana program “so that everyone can participate.”
JENNIFER KOPF | Staff WriterHe said the majority of Pennsylvanians support expanding access to cannabis and that state legislators have failed their constituents by not acting to expand marijuana use.
“I have to change people’s minds,” said Beezer.
Beezer said Republicans’ opposition to loosening cannabis rules has muddied his feelings toward the party in the past and that he’s lost track of how many times he’s switched his party registration.
Most recently, in December last year, Beezer was registered as a Democrat. Around that time, he contacted the executive board of the county Democratic committee to seek its help in challenging state Rep. Mike Sturla in the Democratic primary. Once the Democrats declined to help him get on the primary ballot, Beezer said he switched his registration to Republican.
Beezer initially explained his registration change by saying he thought candidates have a better chance of winning a seat in Harrisburg by running as a member of the party that has more registered voters within the district. Later, he said he only inquired with the Democratic Party to conduct “opposition research.”
Democrats make up about 47% of the 45,00 registered voters in the 96th District, which covers the northern half of Lancaster city, much of Manheim Township and East Petersburg. About 35% of voters there align with the Republican Party, while roughly 18% are not affiliated with either major party, according to the Department of State’s voter registration records.
“It’s unfortunate that Mr. Beezer is confused on whether he’s a Democrat or a Republican,” said Stella Sexton, vice-chair of the county Democratic committee.
Beezer said he was not confused and insisted that he is a Republican. He said he’s supported the party’s efforts to limit government overreach. He also said he appreciated party members’ efforts to lift state restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I want to save democracy,” Beezer said. “I think we need to go back to Republican values of limiting government and allowing more competition in markets.”
Eric Beezer, owner of The Green Bee, a CBD store in Lancaster, speaks with a reporter about his run for the PA House of Representatives in the 96th District on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
Missing support
Members of the local GOP committees that fall within the 96th can still endorse Beezer.
Lisa Colón, Lancaster city’s GOP area chair, said she wants to meet with Beezer because “it’s the respectful thing to do.” She said she and the area committee are scheduled to meet with him on April 9.
Though Beezer said he has contacted the county Republican committee about an endorsement, he said “nobody I really ever reached out to there offered me much any help.”
Kirk Radanovic, chair of the Republican Committee Lancaster County, did not respond to requests for comment.
Manheim Township GOP area chair John Bear said he was contacted by the county committee to vet Beezer before nomination petitions were due in February and to consider helping him gather signatures. Bear said he decided not to help Beezer.
“After a quick review of the public record and through some of my own due diligence, I decided to decline the request because there wasn't sufficient time to do a thorough vetting of his candidacy via the normal committee endorsement process,” said Bear, in a statement.
When referring to Beezer’s public record, Bear may have been alluding to an incident in 2013 where Beezer was cited for allegedly causing a disturbance at a nursing home in Manheim Township. Beezer had claimed nursing home workers had mowed grass on his property, which bordered the nursing home.
Beezer, reflecting on the charge, said he had a history of issues with Lancashire Hall’s property maintenance crew crossing onto his property and that the staff had ruined a tarp on his property by running it over with a lawn mower.
“Some Republicans took issue with that,” said Beezer.
