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WHEELING -- The Ohio County Republican Party has a new chairman who will oversee a 12-member board that currently has just five members.
Michael Borsuk, a recent graduate of Marshall University, is the new chairman. He will begin graduate studies at Marshall in the fall. Borsuk also will serve as acting treasurer of the committee until one is appointed.
Bob Luchetti will serve as vice chair. Beth Hinebaugh, the current House of Delegates District 4 nominee, was selected as secretary. Other current members of the Ohio County GOP Executive Committee are Dolph Santorine and Mark Slater.
Borsuk explained members of the committee help organize local Republican efforts, support Republican candidates, participate in county party meetings, assist with voter outreach and help strengthen Republican representation throughout Ohio County.
"We have the midterm election coming up in November, but we are thinking about 2028," he said.
Much of the focus this year and next will be on finding candidates for county offices, according to Borsuk.
"Instead of ranting and complaining online, people have an opportunity to actually get out and do something," he continued.
Borsuk termed it "sad" that more people did not run for seats on the Ohio County GOP Executive Committee in the primary election, where many races went uncontested.
"This is a chance to get involved with a political party before doing anything else (politically)," he said.
The committee currently has seven vacant seats available for appointment across Ohio County’s three magisterial districts. Under the bylaws, two women and two men represent each magisterial district, making up the 12-member board.
Qualified applicants must be registered Republicans residing in the magisterial district for which they are seeking appointment.
-- District 1: The district is represented by Luchetti and Slater, and the board needs two female members who live in District 1. The district includes voting precincts 5, 4, 4D, 10, 11, 12, 13, 13A, 143, 146, 158 and 161. It encompasses Valley Grove, Triadelphia, Clearview, Warwood and much of rural Ohio County.
-- District 2: Current members living in District 2 are Borsuk and Santorine, and the board needs two female members from the district. Those eligible to represent District 2 must reside in one of the following precincts: 60, 69, 24, 36, 28, 31, 20, 20D, 113, 115, 116, 120, 120D, 124 and 125. The district includes downtown Wheeling, Wheeling Island, Woodsdale, parts of Oglebay, Dimmeydale and portions of the National Road area.
-- District 3: Hinebaugh is the only member representing District 3 on the board, and one female member and two male members are needed. Those eligible to serve must live in one of the following precincts within District 3: 77, 104, 104A, 103, 127, 129, 130, 141, 135, 137, 148 and 107. The district includes South Wheeling, Bethlehem, portions of the Claytor/Washington Avenue area and much of the Elm Grove neighborhood.
Applicants should submit their name, address, phone number, email address and a brief statement of interest to ohiocountyrepublicans@gmail.com.
Applications will be reviewed by the Ohio County Republican Executive Committee. For more information, contact the Ohio County Republican Executive Committee at ohiocountyrepublicans@gmail.com.
Borsuk has already spoken with his counterpart, new Ohio County Democratic Party Chairman Tony Edmund, and hopes to have more discussions with members of the Ohio County Democratic Executive Committee.
"We just happen to disagree on the issues," Borsuk said. "But if someone is willing to step up and serve on either committee, that is commendable. It doesn't matter if you have an 'R' or 'D' after your names. You just need to have an 'A,' and that is for American."