By RYAN LANCASTER
Staff Reporter
Former Airway Heights Mayor and current City Councilman Matthew Pederson was chosen Saturday to chair the Spokane County Republican Party, ousting incumbent Cindy Zapatocky.
Pederson was on the narrow winning end of a 91-85 vote by precinct committee officers during the Dec. 11 reorganizational meeting, where the vice chair, state committee members and new legislative district leaders were also elected.
The new vice chairwoman for county Republicans is Laurie Roth, who hosts a conservative talk show based in Elk, Wash. and has backing from some tea party supporters. Former Spokane County Commission candidate Jeff Holy was chosen as legislative district leader for most West Plains precincts, with party member Julian Hale presiding over Airway Heights and other northern
West Plains precincts.
Pederson said he's looking forward to “rebuilding” a base that has been at odds over the past three years or so under the direction of Zapatocky, a leader some saw as divisive but who had the support of many in the tea party and other conservative grassroots groups. Meanwhile, many well-known GOP leaders in the region, including Spokane City Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin, threw their support behind Pederson in the run-up to election.
During his two-year term, Pederson will lead a delegation to Olympia several times a year to work with state Republican Party leaders and current Legislators on issues central to Spokane County Republican interests.
“This is an opportunity to reach out further to grow the party and to bring the base together, to focus on our common principals,” Pederson said.
Ryan Lancaster can be reached at [email protected].
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