Wayne Republicans ponder possible headquarters move
By Barbara Arntsen
Published in News on April 15, 2005 1:46 PM
The money Wayne County Republicans raised Thursday at their biggest annual fundraiser might be going to buy a new building.
"We're a little bit in limbo right now because of the Paramount," said Republican County Chairman Ed Wharton.
The party headquarters is located two doors down from the Paramount Theater that was destroyed by fire in February. The city is considering rebuilding the 123-year-old structure, and possibly expanding it.,
That means that Wayne County Republican may be soon looking for another location.
Wharton said that before the fire, the Republicans had planned to renovate the second floor of the headquarters building. Now, he said, they aren't sure whether the city will buy the Republican headquarters building.
"We're trying to get ready, just in case," Wharton said. "We have a committee together looking for another place, and we are also getting appraisals on the building."
Wharton said that the annual steak dinner fund-raiser usually brings in about $15,000. The dinner was held Thursday night at the Shrine Club.
"And we use some of that to keep up our buildings, and pay taxes and insurance," he said.
Any money the party can put aside will go to local Republican candidates for the next election.
"Most of the money goes to local races," Wharton said.
He said that the Republicans were already starting to recruit candidates for the next election of the Board of Education.
"We've got some House and Senate seats we're looking at too," he added.
The party will also be concentrating this year on increasing diversity among its members.
"We're starting to make headway with more African-Americans coming into the Republican party, and we are working to bring Hispanics into the party," he said. "That's a priority this year."