News release:

Arlington Republicans elect
Mark Kelly chairman

Nearly 300 Arlington Republicans voted in Tuesday's canvass to elect Mark Kelly as their new Chairman. Kelly, the 2007 Republican nominee for Clerk of the Circuit Court, won election over Landey Patton, the 2004 Republican nominee for County Board.

"I am humbled by the strong level of support I received in this race, and I am ready to go to work on behalf of Republicans to build a stronger party here in Arlington," Kelly said. "We're already off to a good start as participation in this canvass is up over twenty percent from two years ago. It represents a strong commitment from Arlington Republicans to work hard this fall and contribute to a victory for Senator John McCain, our nominee for U.S. Senate, and our challenger to Jim Moran."

Kelly spent 10 years on Capitol Hill and brings experience as a winning congressional campaign manager to the post.

"On the campaign trail last fall, I knocked on thousands of doors and talked with many Independents and Democrats who were receptive to Republican ideas when it comes to improving county government," Kelly continued. "We must offer a real alternative to the Democrats single party monopoly rule so that Arlingtonians have a choice, rather than being forced to accept the nominees of Democrat party activists."

"We welcome all Arlingtonians to join us as we stand up for common-sense solutions to the issues facing our community," said Kelly.

NOTE: For more on the Arlington canvass election, see our 2008 Reorganization page and the Mark Kelly for Chairman site.

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The Arlington County Republican Committee (ACRC) is the official local organization of the Republican Party of Virginia (RPV) for Arlington County. ACRC nominates Republican candidates for local office and supports Republican candidates for office at all levels of government.

For more information on Arlington Republicans, visit ACRC on the web at www.ArlingtonGOP.org