(Toledo, OH) Tomorrow's May primary has big implications for the future of the Lucas County Republican party.
Lucas County GOP chairman Jon Stainbrook is a survivor, facing challenges from party rivals before trying to oust him. But he's never faced as organized and well-funded an effort as this year-- by a group known as Republicans for a New Lucas County.
The PAC is funding yard signs and postcard mailers for dozens of central committee candidates, who will vote later this spring on a new party chairman-- and their candidate is a former Ohio Statehouse official, prominent Toledo attorney Mark Wagoner.
The challenger claims Stainbrook has failed to help any local Republican win local office in his ten-year tenure as GOP chairman and spent thousands in party funds to save his seat on the board of elections.
He was removed by Ohio's top elections officials for being too divisive. Stainbrook also has been at odds with suburban Republican clubs for years.