Nelson Republicans elect new leadership, precinct officers at convention

STAFF REPORT

March 10, 2012, 11:30 p.m. (UPDATED March 11, 2012 4 p.m) – Nelson County Republicans gathered Saturday morning at Bardstown High School to elect party leadership at what was the party’s first true County Mass Convention.

From left, Robert Augustine, chair; Harold Sneed, co-chair; Danielle Chladek, secretary; Angela Gambrel, treasurer; Jessica Mudd, youth chair (click to enlarge).

The new leadership team for the county’s GOP include Robert Augustine as party chairman; Harold Sneed as vice-chairman; Angela Gambrel, treasurer, Danielle Chladek, secretary and Jessica Mudd, youth chair.

“I’m honored to be selected as chair by my fellow Nelson County Republicans. I feel that a strong slate has been elected to the various committee positions and as precinct officials,” Robert Augustine told the Gazette via Facebook.

“I’d like to thank Jan Ballard, Barbara Floyd, and the rest of leadership for their hard work in creating a strong foundation that we can build upon. I look forward to listening to and working with all Republicans in expanding a large tent of ideas while working to support our candidates and elected officials at all levels of government.”

“I am confident that our diversity will be our strength and welcome the idea of growing the conservative base in Nelson County in the years to come,” he added.

The convention’s goal was to elect precinct officers, select delegates to represent the county at the Second Congressional District convention, and select party leadership for the next four years.

While Republicans have gathered in past years to select party leadership — often in members homes in the past when the party members was much smaller — Saturday’s meeting was the first county convention of its size in Nelson County, and one that for the first time focused on electing Republican precinct officers for each of Nelson County 27 voting precincts.

Party members line up to vote Saturday at the county's Republican Mass Convention to vote for delegates to attend the Second Congressional District convention May 19, 2012 in Elizabethtown (click to enlarge).

Precinct officers include a precinct captain, co-captain and a youth captain. While not every precinct filled all three positions at Saturday’s meeting, nearly every precinct had at least one officer position filled. Only individuals who live in a precinct could be an officer or vote for an officer for that precinct.

The precinct officers’ role include communicating with voters in the precinct and encouraging them to to vote. Outgoing party chairwoman Jan Ballard said Saturday the precinct officers serve as the party’s grassroots support and said she hoped the new precinct officers can help the party field more candidates in local elections.

Thirteen delegates were elected to present the county at the Second District Congressional convention in Elizabethtown. Delegates will be chosen at that convention to attend the state convention.

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