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Officials from West Manchester Township and York city on Thursday afternoon expected to find out how much security -- if any -- they will be asked to offer for Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain's upcoming visit to York.
West Manchester Township Police Chief Arthur Smith said Thursday that his department planned to meet with the U.S. Secret Service later that day.
"I'm sure we'll be asked to do something," he said.
McCain is scheduled to appear Tuesday at the Toyota Arena in the York Expo Center. He last visited York County in July 2006.
Further details about Tuesday's event were still unclear Thursday. A state campaign official could not be reached for comment.
The appearance, described by the national campaign as a "major campaign event," will likely require the help of local police forces, Smith and York Mayor John Brenner said.
The West Manchester Township and York City Police departments also provided support at the Expo Center in 2004, when President George W. Bush visited the Toyota Arena during his re-election bid.
After the event, York Mayor John Brenner asked the Bush campaign to reimburse the city nearly $21,000 for security costs.
It wasn't anything new. Since 2002, the city has billed several white supremacist groups for security provided at rallies.
This spring, the city also billed Sen. Hillary Clinton, then a candidate for the Democratic presidential nod, for costs incurred during her appearance in York.
Brenner said the city will not hesitate to provide police support for Tuesday's event if asked, but he said it will not deviate from its policy of pursuing reimbursements.
"It will be the same as what we've been doing for years," he said.
West Manchester Township Manager Jan Dell said his township does not plan to seek reimbursement if it is asked to help with security.
"We have never done that," he said.
Those costs are rarely hefty for the township, he said. Help from other agencies usually
McCain's visit will be the first by a presidential candidate in the area since Pennsylvania's April primary.
Melvin Kulbicki, a York College political science professor, said he believes the Arizona senator is turning his eyes to the county, a Republican stronghold, to secure support from his constituent base.
"This is going to be a close election," he said. "There are more states in play than people think."
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IF YOU GO
John McCain on Tuesday will appear at the Toyota Arena in the York Expo Center. Doors open at 9:45 a.m. If you're interested in attending, you can e-mail pennsylvania@johnmccain.com or call 412-1538 and leave your name and phone number.
The Republican Party of York County is also offering tickets, chairman A. Carville "Peck" Foster said. They will be available until Monday night or until supplies last.
You can stop by the group's headquarters, 2453 Kingston Court, Suite 101, in Springettsbury Township, between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., or you can call the office at 854-7276.
The local party received about 1,500 tickets for the event, Foster said. About a quarter of that had been given away by Thursday afternoon, he said. Tickets are free, he said, and are open to people of any party.
DEMOCRATS ORGANIZE
The York County office for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama's campaign was expected to be one of 29 across Pennsylvania to hold grand openings Thursday night.
York Mayor John Brenner and state Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-West Manchester Township, were scheduled to speak at the York County event, at 200 W. Market St. in York.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL
This year's area campaign stops:
· Chelsea Clinton visited York College, Hanover school on April 3.
· Michelle Obama visited Strand in York on April 15.
· Hillary Clinton visited downtown York on April 19.
· Ted Kennedy visited Barack Obama headquarters in York on April 20.
