Is the environment really a partisan issue?

That's the question raised by Michael Cadau's comments to the Pottsville Republican & Herald following his resignation from the Schuylkill County Republican Executive Committee. Cadau, who ran unsuccessfully against state Rep. Neal Goodman (D-123) in 2006, resigned recently along with fellow members Mary Lou Hannon and Peter Zuber:

Cadau made county environmental issues a top priority during his campaign, something he says party leaders frowned upon.

"I had people in the party telling me to stop the environmental stuff," Cadau said. "They basically said 'go away, Mike. We don't want you talking about this.' We (Cadau, Hannon and Zuber) don't want to play by their rules."

[Clyde C. "Champ" Holman, a legislative aide for State Sen. James J. Rhoades (R-29) and a member of the executive committee,] said he tried to help Cadau during his campaign and told him if he wanted to talk about environmental issues, he should give details on proposals rather than blanket statements.

"The status quo has failed miserably," Cadau said. "The 'I was born a Republican so I am a Republican' -- that philosophy has got to go."