WOODSTOCK – John Bradford of Brooklin, representing the Republican Leadership Council, was the speaker at the Oct. 9 meeting of the Oxford County Republican Committee at Franklin Grange 124.

Bradford spoke on the council, which was founded in 2005 by former New Jersey Gov. and EPA Administrator Christie Todd Whitman, former Missouri U.S. Sen. John Danforth and former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele.

Bradford said its purpose is to support fiscally conservative, socially tolerant candidates at all levels of government and to reclaim the word “Republican.” The council’s vision is a Republican Party unified by basic tenets of fiscal responsibility and personal freedom, while allowing diverse opinions on social issues by its members, he said.

During the business meeting that followed, State Committeewoman Becky Kendall of Bethel, who coordinated the booth at Fryeburg Fair, thanked everyone who helped: Dan Bolling, Dennis Doyen, Arlan and Ellie Jodrey, Erlon Jones, Paula Smith, Virginia Noble, Nancy Grove. Nancy Bell, Earl and Marylyn Bell, Paul Ramsey, Dorothy Bartlett, Ruth Feeney, Donald Marean, Joey Lyons, Mary M. Brown, H. Sawin Millett, Norm and Barbara Ferguson, Joan Putnam, Jarrod Crockett, Bruce Hanley, Neil Hanley, Rob and Louann Cameron, Paul Billings, Barbara Robinson and Stan Howe.

The committee will meet Tuesday, Nov. 13, at the Oxford Adventist Church with the Hannibal Hamlin Republican Women’s Club serving the dinner.

Trevor Bragdon of Augusta will speak on signature gathering for referendums to be considered in 2008.