Montgomery, AL – Alabama Republicans are meeting to select a leader who they hope will secure their newfound position as the state's most powerful political party.
The State Republican Executive Committee is meeting at a Montgomery hotel Saturday to elect a chairman to lead the party for at least the next two years. The candidates are two veterans of state politics, 42-year-old state Rep. Jay Love of Montgomery and 66-year-old former state Sen. Bill Armistead of Columbiana.
Both Love and Armistead say their number one goal will be to increase the number of GOP officeholders in county offices.
The new chairman will take over from state Rep. Mike Hubbard of Auburn, who's the new speaker of the Alabama House.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)