The Central Committee of the Island County Republican Party (ICRP) elected all new leadership at its biannual Organization Meeting. The meeting was held virtually via Zoom on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, and streamed live via YouTube.
Tim Hazelo, a 2020 candidate for US Representative in the 2nd Congressional District from Oak Harbor, was elected Chair. Morgan Cooper of Clinton, was elected the Vice Chair. Both were elected without opposition. Allen McPheeters and Mary Jane Olson, the Chair and Vice Chair in the 2019-20 term, did not run for re-election.
Richard MacQuarrie of Camano Island defeated Gary Wray of Coupeville in the election of State Committeeman. Mr. MacQuarrie served as an appointed precinct captain in the 2019-20 term, and was elected as a precinct committee officer (PCO) in August. Mr. Wray was a candidate for Island County Commissioner in District 1 in both 2016 and 2020. Alex Pfeiffer, the State Committeeman in the previous term, did not run for re-election.
Newly-elected PCO Stina Wenzek of Clinton defeated incumbent Beth Munson of Camano for the role of State Committeewoman.
PCOs are elected for two-year terms in even-numbered years during the August primary. Each precinct may elect a Republican and a Democrat PCO to represent the precinct in their respective central committees. Their terms begin on December 1. State law requires each county central committee to hold an Organization Meeting to elect a chair and vice chair for the new term. The law also requires that these two leaders be of opposite sexes. Republican county central committees also elect a state committeeman and state committeewoman to represent the county in the Washington State Republican Party.
