(TNS) At the 57th annual Lincoln Day Dinner on Sunday, Schuylkill County Treasurer Jacqueline V. McGovern, who recently announced she'll be retiring at the end of the year, said she believes in the local Republican party, which she has been involved in for more than four decades.

"I continue to be proud of the party that I chose to be affiliated with, and I wish you all success in carrying on the traditions and values of this grand Republican Party. And it's been a privilege to serve the Republican Party and the great people of Schuylkill County. I will always appreciate this night," McGovern, 72, of Auburn, said as tears filled her eyes, "to say thanks for the memories."Then the crowd of more than 100 people at Pine View Acres, Pottsville, gave her a standing ovation.Schuylkill County Republican Committee holds the event to promote its candidates for upcoming elections. McGovern announced recently she will not be among them. When her term expires at the end of the year, she'll be retiring. McGovern was first elected in 1995 and is the county's senior official with five terms."My husband introduced me to politics. I remember attending the Lincoln Day Dinner when it was held in Lakewood," McGovern said."I think that was back in the '70s," Clyde C. "Champ" Holman, one of the four assistant chairmen of the Schuylkill County Republican Committee, said.Hes the husband of Schuylkill County District Attorney Christine A. Holman, who was also at the event."Many of the people that we knew then that helped us win our first election are no longer with us. But it was a privilege to know them and to have them on our side," McGovern said.Referring to her husband of 46 years, James, who is a supervisor for South Manheim Township, McGovern said in her first run for county treasurer, "Jim was my campaign manager and we won the first election together. It was because of him that I had the opportunity to run for office. And I thank my husband for that. Jim and I have always been proud Republicans and our involvement with the party goes back more than 40 years.""I wanted to mention that because a lot of people don't know we go back that far. It's a lot more than 20 years. And for all you young people here, just so that you know, there's a future in the Republican Party and I hope the best for this party and I hope that you'll stay united and take this party forward in the future," McGovern said.Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125, and Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-124, stepped up to thank her for her service, and Knowles leaned over to McGovern and said, "I haven't seen you cry since I was a county commissioner.""He made me cry," McGovern said to the crowd."At every opportunity" Knowles said. "I have to tell you I didn't realize it was 20 years ago. Those 20 years have gone by so quickly. I've not seen anyone more dedicated than Jackie McGovern in terms of doing her job. As a county commissioner, we didn't always agree. But I always respected Jackie for the job that she did."Speakers at Sunday night's event included Commonwealth Court Judge Anne Covey, Doylestown, who is running for state Supreme Court.Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Northampton County, Emil A. Giordano, a candidate for the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, was also in attendance.Distributed by Tribune Content Agency LLC