Town GOP endorses Trump, who’s coming to Patchogue next week

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is expected to attend a Suffolk County Republican Committee fundraiser next Thursday in Patchogue, after the county — and Riverhead Town — GOP parties endorsed him over his Republican rivals.

The Republican frontrunner will appear as a guest at the pre-primary fundraiser at The Emporium on Railroad Avenue, which is scheduled to run from 5 to 8 p.m.

The Suffolk County GOP officially endorsed Mr. Trump over his rivals — Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Ohio Governor John Kasich — Wednesday, with Committee Chairman John Jay LaValle urging Republicans to unite behind the New York businessman. Mr. LaValle could not be immediately reached for comment Thursday.

GreaterPatchogue.com first reported the news of Mr. Trump’s scheduled appearance at The Emporium.

The Riverhead Town Republican party has followed suit in endorsing Mr. Trump, chairman Remy Bell told the News-Review.

“I just think it’s time for a change,” Mr. Bell said. “It can’t be business as usual and you have to shake things up a little and get a leader that’ll bring this country back to where it should be.”

Mr. Bell said members of the town GOP were invited to the event, adding they were excited to see new voters supporting Mr. Trump.

“I think it’s great to see that there are going to be first time voters, people who have never really gotten involved in the political process, are getting energized by him and by his message,” Mr. Bell said. “The more people that come out and vote — it’s better for everybody. You want more and more people to get involved in the process.”

Mr. Bell declined to address controversies that have surrounded some of Mr. Trump’s previous statements, repeating that the town party had endorsed him.

Mr. Trump leads both Mr. Cruz and Mr. Kasich in the Republican primary race, with 743 pledged delegates to Mr. Cruz’s 517 and Mr. Kasich’s 143, according to the Associated Press.

Tickets to the fundraiser are $150 per person, with VIP tickets that cost up to $1,000 also available, according to the Suffolk County GOP.

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Visualhunt.com / CC BY-SA