New county GOP leader lists unity as top goal
The new chairman of the Fayette County Republican Party says that unity is his top goal and that he hopes to achieve it before November’s election. Dr. Richard Grimaldi, a Connellsville dentist, ascended to the party’s top spot after serving 1.5 years as vice chairman. He succeeds Christopher D.L. Sepesy, who resigned the post Tuesday after 3.5 years at the local GOP helm.
“It’s not in bad shape, it really isn’t,” said Grimaldi of the party’s status.
“I think our main goal is to try to get everybody unified. With cooperation and working together, I think we could have a pretty strong party in Fayette County.”
Addressing the fractionalization that led to an Aug. 31 meeting of approximately two dozen GOP committee members, who deadlocked 12-12 on asking for Sepesy’s resignation, which some knew was coming anyway.
“It’s like every other organization … we have the same problems everywhere. There’s different groups that kind of want things done their way. We just have to try to reach a happy medium,” said Grimaldi.
The new chairman said that Sepesy simply didn’t have the time to devote to running the county Republican Party, that he recognized this fact and voluntarily stepped down.
“Chris didn’t have the time – and he admits it – to dedicate to the organization to run it effectively. He has his own (political consulting) business and he was working on (that),” said Grimaldi.
“Chris is very knowledgeable in the political field. If he would have had the time to dedicate to it, I think things would have been a little more smooth than what they are now.”
Grimaldi said he will fill out the rest of Sepesy’s term as chairman, which he believes runs through 2006.
In the short term, Grimaldi said the Fayette GOP will hold a meeting the third week of September to elect a new vice chairman, and is looking forward to a strong showing in the November election.
“This is going to be a great election for us. Our main goal right now is to get our Fayette County Republican Committee unified again, for the main purpose of getting George Bush re-elected as president. We’re going to work awful hard at it, believe me,” said Grimaldi.
“We (also) have a great chance this election to put some of our Republican candidates in office, there’s no doubt about it. We’ll be definitely working to get Harry (Albert) elected (as state representative in the 51st Legislative District), and all of our Republican candidates. They’re all very important to us. The more Republican candidates we can get elected, the stronger we’re going to be.”