Pennsylvania GOP hires Turzai fundraiser as new executive director

In the midst of a leadership shuffle following a sex scandal, new Pennsylvania GOP Chairman Lawrence Tabas has tapped a former staffer for a powerful state GOP elected official to head the party.

Gerry Wosewick, a former campaign aide to House Speaker Mike Turzai, and one-time finance director for the statewide GOP, has been brought on as its new executive director. He replaces outgoing executive director Mike Stoll, who’s been in the post since January 2018.

The state party is undergoing changes after the election of Tabas, a long-time party attorney, as chair earlier this month.

He replaces former state party leader Val DiGiorgio, who resigned in late June after the Philadelphia Inquirer reported he sent sexually explicit text messages to a Republican city council candidate in Philadelphia.

Republicans emphasize unity, 2020 as they tap Tabas as new state party chair

It’s a return for Wosewick. According to his LinkedIn, he fundraised for the state Republican party from November 2013 until January 2017, rising by the end of his time to finance director.

Directly before this hiring, Wosewick worked as finance director and advisor to Turzai, R-Allegheny, during the 2018 campaign cycle. He also spent nine months in 2017 working for the Maryland Republican Party.

“Gerry is a charactered, honest man who works hard, is very good at what he does and is respected by all,” Tabas said in an emailed statement. “He has been a tremendous grassroots coalition builder, he’s an expert fundraiser, and has developed critical rapport with congressional and legislative leaders. Gerry will help bring unity to our party and serve our members and candidates well.”