TERRE HAUTE —
The Grand Old Party chose new leadership Saturday morning, as it voted a familiar name into the Vigo County chairman’s role.
Randy Gentry, longtime Republican Party activist, was unanimously chosen to replace outgoing chairman Bill Treadway as head of the Vigo County GOP. Saturday morning’s caucus in the Vigo County Public Library drew 30 of the nearly 90 precinct committeemen, a good turnout considering Gentry’s was the only name on the ballot.
Treadway said his term would have officially ended next spring, but he chose to step down early as his own campaign for a seat on the Vigo County Council heats up. Now in his seventh year as chairman, he added that when he first took the position, he had three children and worked at the Vigo County Courthouse. Now he has five children and commutes to Indianapolis where he teaches at Indiana Wesleyan University.
“And my wife’s really happy I’m not doing this anymore,” he chuckled, pointing out the position is unpaid but quite demanding.
He and Gentry have worked together on behalf of the Republican Party for the last eight years, he said, adding the uncontested, unanimous selection represents as smooth a transition as one could want.
“Randy’s going to do a good job, a really good job,” he said. “He’s probably the most experienced person to become GOP chairman in the history of Vigo County.”
Gentry, a Terre Haute resident, is presently employed by the State of Indiana as vice chairman of its parole board. A 1990 graduate of Indiana State University, he also serves as vice chairman of the 8th Congressional District Republican Party, and is one of 22 members on the state committee. Last month, he was among the state’s delegation to attend the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., where Gov. Mitt Romney claimed the GOP nomination on the presidential ballot.
“It’s going to be a really busy 60 days,” Gentry said, explaining his primary focus as the party chairman is to win races this November. “Our goal is going to be pretty well set in stone.”
By generating a “unified effort across the board,” Gentry said local Republicans hope to take several county council seats, perhaps two commissioner positions and the clerk position.
His wife, Pamela, and their three children attended Saturday’s caucus, adding they’re ready to help.
“I think it’s really exciting for him,” his wife said. “He’s worked really hard for it.”
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
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