Panel favors Ottawa Hills vice mayor for GOP post

5/9/2006

Lucas County Republicans may have found a new permanent chairman.

A party screening committee voted unanimously last night to recommend giving the job, after 10 months of searching, to Ottawa Hills Vice Mayor Rob Reichert.

The party's executive committee will consider the recommendation this month and is expected to forward it to the central committee for approval.

Mr. Reichert was one of four applicants to interview yesterday for the chairmanship. The others were former congressional candidate Luis Leal, party activist Jon Stainbrook, and former Toledo mayoral candidate Nick Wichowski.

The screening committee's chairman, Sandra Brasington, called Mr. Reichert the "hands down" best choice in a field where every contender had "great qualities."

"Bob's strengths really stood out," Ms. Brasington said. "He has the ability to bring people together and do what needs to be done."