BETHEL – Oxford County Republicans will gather on Tuesday, July 13, at State Committeeman Stan Howe’s house on Broad Street (directly across from the entrance to the Bethel Inn) for the annual picnic hosted by the Bethel Town Committee. The social hour will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the barbecue at 6:30 followed by a brief meeting.

The two state senate candidates from Oxford County, David Hastings of Fryeburg and Robert Cameron of Rumford, will be featured speakers. All Oxford County Republicans are invited to attend.

At the monthly meeting on June 15 in Stoneham, representatives of the Bush-Cheney campaign outlined the 72-hour strategy to mobilize the Republican vote in November. Reports were made about the 2004 state convention, where State Committeewoman Becky Kendall and State Committeeman Stan Howe were re-elected.

In addition, Oxford County gained another seat on the state committee, which was filled at the county caucus at the convention in Augusta by Diane Jackson. Becky Kendall served on the Platform Committee and Stan Howe was on the Rules Committee.

More than 100 delegates and alternates from Oxford County were seated in the front row of the convention due to the fact that the county was one of the leaders in fund-raising for the state party and in celebration of Olympia Snowe’s 25 years in national office.