Republican caucus set for Saturday afternoon

Meeting to elect delegates

COLUMBIA BASIN - The Grant County Republican Party announced citizens can vote for delegates to represent the next presidential candidate Saturday at 1 p.m.

Party Chair Tom Dent said the purpose of the meeting is to choose a presidential candidate and elect delegates and alternates who will attend the county convention March 29.

The nominated delegates will help develop the county platform, he said.

Eligibility to participate in the caucus includes being a registered voter in the correct precinct and by signing a declaration stating party affiliation.

"The Republican Party begins at the grassroots," stated Dent. "In even-numbered election years Precinct Committee Officers are elected in each precinct."

The officers create the Central Committee who re-organize the political party after the general election, he noted. By-laws are adopted and people are elected to certain positions including chairman, vice chairman, state committeeman and state committeewoman.

The elected positions represent Grant County on the Washington State Republican State Committee, Dent advised. Once the party is reorganized it is also reorganized at a state level by the new officers. Delegates continue to move on and assist with refining the party at a national level.

"So you can see what happens in your local precinct caucus meeting can very well have a large impact on what we stand for," he stated. "It allows all of us a chance to participate."

The results of the state presidential primary Feb. 19 determines how 51 percent of the national delegates vote, Dent noted. The remaining 49 percent of state delegate votes are determined by the presidential choice of local caucus delegates.

"We encourage parents to bring their teenagers to observe and learn about the political process," he added. "The election of 2008 promises to have an incredible impact on the future of America and the lives of your children and grandchildren."

The party meets at different precinct locations throughout the Columbia Basin. To find the location of your precinct visit www.columbiabasinherald.com/caucuses.html or contact the Grant County Auditor's Office at 509-754-2011.

Republican caucus meetings:

Saturday, Feb. 9, starting at 1 p.m.

• Airport 01, Airport 02, 506 Castle Dr., Moses Lake, Laure Grammer, 509-762-5248

• Block 71, 7170 Road 7 N.E., Ephrata, Shirley Morris, 509-787-2696

• Cascade Fairgrounds, McConihe 01, McConihe 02, Gloyd, Longview, 3953 Airway Dr., Moses Lake, Jim Turner, 509-762-6000

• Cascade Valley, 4926 Shorecrest Dr. N.E., Moses Lake, Jeanette Wright, 509-762-1237

• Coulee City, Coulee City, Coulee City Rural East, Coulee City Rural West, Hartline, Hartline Rural, 410 W. Locust, Coulee City, Jennifer Goetz, 509-632-5930

• Coulee Dam, Grand Coulee, Electric City, North Banks Lake, (no address given) Robert Stanley, 509-633-2488

• Beverly, East Wahluke, Mattawa, Mattawa Rural, 400 N. Boundary Rd., Mattawa, Peter Dufault, 509-932-4090

• Ephrata 01, Ephrata 02, Ephrata 03, Ephrata 04, Ephrata 05, Ephrata 07, Ephrata 09, Ephrata Rural, Ephrata, Greenfield, (no address given) "behind Grant County Courthouse," Mike Shay, 509-754-4815

• George, George Rural,, George, 207 E. Montgomery Blvd., George, Chris Gehring, 509-785-2033

• Lakeview Park, Soap Lake 1, Soap Lake 2, Soap Lake Rural, 527 2nd Ave., Soap Lake, Bill Riley, 509-246-1772

• Mae, 3963 Hiawatha Rd. N.E., Moses Lake, Beth Yarbro, 509-766-5781

• Marlin/Marlin Rural, Ruff, 179 High St., Marlin, Stratford, Wilson Creek, Wilson Creek Rural, Pat Friend, 509-345-2452

• Moses Lake 03, Moses Lake 04, Moses Lake 05, Moses Lake 06, Moses Lake 07, Moses Lake 08, Moses Lake 11, Moses Lake 12, 454 W. Ridge Rd., Kyle Lynch, 360-561-8556

• O'Sullivan Dam, 12174 N. Frontage Rd., Moses Lake, Rich Childress, 509-765-0539

• Quincy 01, Quincy 04, Quincy 06, Quincy Rural North, Quincy Rural South, 224 J S.W., Quincy, Phil Anderson, 509-787-4276

• Royal Camp, Royal City, Smyrna 1, Smyrna 2, Westslope 1, Westslope 2, 911 Ahlers Rd., Royal City, Dorothy Alice Parker, 509-346-9383

• Warden, 509 E. 4th Ave., Warden, Larry Rosenberg, 509-349-2416

• Warden Rural, 6500 Road X S.E., Warden, John Bates, 509-349-8046

• Wheeler, 11905 Road 4 N.E. #3, Moses Lake, Dayna Dent, 509-765-8973