Jan 23, 2013 2 min read

The Washington County Republican Party will host a rally at 7 p.m. Friday in the George Washington hotel to recruit candidates to run for local and countywide elected offices.

There are more than 240 local elections including 60 school board seats, 32 mayoral races, 147 council and supervisor seats and 5 countywide races.

“For our gathering on Friday we have invited all of our 140 county Republican officeholders and other Republicans who have helped shape the party as we gear up for a successful 2013,” said Bill Merrell, county Republican chairman, who began his term at the beginning of this year. U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-18th District, will address the gathering.

“The local Republican party is gaining significant strength at the voting booth, and Friday’s ‘meet and greet’ is our stake-in-the-ground moment,” Merrell said, citing both Murphy’s win over Democratic County Commission Chairman Larry Maggi by a 16 percent margin and Republican nominee Mitt Romney becoming the second consecutive Republican presidential candidate to carry Washington County, the first time that has happened since before the Great Depression.

Democrats hold a registration edge over Republicans in Washington County, but the margin has been tightening over the years. Anyone who needs more information is asked to call Merrell at 724-223-1001.