WOODSTOCK – Nate Walton, a Bates College history major and chairman of the Maine College Republicans, was the speaker at the Oxford County Republican Committee meeting held Oct. 11 at Franklin Grange 124 in Bryant Pond.

Representing 23 chapters and more than 2,000 Maine college students, Walton outlined some of the group’s efforts in fighting for academic freedom at Maine colleges and high schools.

“The Maine College Republicans,” said Walton, “promote conservative values on Maine’s college campuses by bringing conservative speakers to campus and fight to ensure that students of all viewpoints receive the best higher education possible.”

“The college/university should,” he added, “be a marketplace of ideas where different viewpoints are discussed and students formulate their own opinions on the best conclusions, not a forum for certain ideologues’ indoctrination of young minds.”

Walton went on to pledge his organization’s commitment to work to ensure the election of a Republican governor and Legislature in 2006.

Oxford County Chairman Erlon Jones conducted a short business meeting after a Grange dinner. The booths at the Oxford County and Fryeburg fairs were effective, he said. He added that there were many compliments, and a number of passersby expressed pleasure that, unlike the Democrats, everything at the Republican booths was free.

Jones also announced that Oxford County Commissioner Albert “Jim” Carey would soon resign and there would be a county caucus to name a successor at the November monthly meeting in Norway. Gov. John Baldacci is empowered to appoint a successor and the person named must be a member of the party holding the seat.

Jones also announced that a committee is needed to make plans for the annual Lincoln Day Dinner in February and he would welcome volunteers to be named at the November meeting. He introduced members of the Executive Committee and officeholders present, including Oxford County Register of Probate Tom Winsor, Rep. Arlan Jodrey (R-Bethel) and Rep. Bruce Hanley (R-Paris).

The next meeting was announced for Tuesday, Nov. 15, at the Norway Congregational Church.