I'm seeing an increase in hits from folks looking for word on what happened at today's State Central Committee Meeting.Credit where credit is due: first to report this news was Matt Dole at LincolnLogsBlog... Kevin DeWine has defeated Curt Braden and Dale Fellows for the position.
I'll get out the press release as soon as it hits my mailbox...as I have been informed, the announcement is being drafted as we speak.
UPDATE 1: Matt Naugle at RightAngleBlog has the numbers.
UPDATE 2: The official press release is here. And now...video...
UPDATE 3: Official expanded press release:
State Representative Kevin DeWine of Fairborn was elected today to serve as the new deputy chair of the Ohio Republican Party, a position created to groom a successor to Chairman Bob Bennett when he retires from his current term in January of 2009.
DeWine received 37 votes from the 66-member State Central and Executive Committee on the second ballot, winning the seat over Stark County Republican Party Chairman Curt Braden and Lake County Republican Party Chairman Dale Fellows.
“Kevin has all of the attributes of a successful party chairman,” said Bennett. “He’s an effective communicator, a strong fundraiser and a smart political strategist. I look forward to working with him on improving our Republican brand and making our party stronger in this critical election cycle.”
DeWine told the committee he would focus on renewing the party’s commitment to its core principles, and he vowed to work with Republicans at every level to build on the successful grassroots organization Chairman Bennett has established in the last two decades.
“The reason I got into politics and elected office was to advance Republican ideas, and the party is an important vehicle for the development and dissemination of those ideas,” DeWine said. “Through the party we can give every Ohioan a sense of hope and opportunity. That’s why I am running.”
Bennett asked the committee to create the deputy chair position as part of a transition process to a new chairman, who will be elected in January of 2009. Appointing a deputy chair will allow a potential successor to:
· Help establish and grow a strong, statewide donor network
· Learn the complexities of internal party operations, from campaign finance law to budgeting
· Develop a working relationship with party staff
· Assist in planning short and long term political strategy
· Establish relationships with party leadership from Washington, D.C., to all 88 counties
