Chuck McIlhinney

A political battle between two powerful Bucks County women seems headed for resolution on Saturday, when a Republican Party reorganization meeting will yield a new vice chair for the first time in over three decades.

Keren McIlhinney Putnam, 65, has long been a force in Bucks County politics as the Republican Committee vice chair under longtime party leader Harry Fawkes. Rarely in her more than 30-year run as vice chair has McIlhinney Putnam, protected by Fawkes, ever been seriously challenged for reelection.

But last week she decided to cease her bid for reelection, paving the way for state party treasurer Pat Poprik to take her place, The Intelligencer reports.

"I realize now that even by winning the office of vice chairman, we would not have united leadership for the party," she wrote in a letter to committee members last week, according to The Intelligencer.

State Sen. Stewart Greenleaf is optimistic that a compromise on a statewide smoking ban can be reached: Getty Images PhotoOne of the General Assembly's biggest smoke-free advocates is cautiously optimistic Tuesday's conference committee meeting will finally resolve the state's frequently stalled smoking ban.

"But we'll see," said state Sen. Stewart Greenleaf (R-Montgomery County). "I'm zero for my last five."

Greenleaf was referring to previous attempts at compromise that sputtered. The last one, in May, ended before it began when members of the six-person committee did not even show for the scheduled meeting.