BETHEL – More than 50 Republicans gathered at the home of Stan Howe, Broad Street, for the annual Oxford County Republican Committee picnic hosted by the Bethel Town Republican Committee.

Following a barbecue, Maine College Republican Chairman Alexander Willette of Farmington, a UMF student, addressed the group, stressing the growth of the Maine College Republicans on many of the state’s campuses and predicting that the committed political activists would make a difference in the outcome of the 2008 races in Maine.

Among the candidates attending were incumbents Rep. Sawin Millett, R-Waterford, and State Sen. David Hastings, R-Fryeburg, County Commissioner Steve Merrill of Norway and Register of Probate Tom Winsor, also of Norway. House candidates attending were Jarrod Crockett of Bethel and Rob Cameron of Rumford.

During the business meeting, it was announced that Vice Chairs Neil Hanley of Hartford and Paula Smith of Andover would take on more responsibility in the operations of the committee to help Chairman Dan Bolling of Oxford.

Plans for the fall campaign were discussed and there was a discussion of what stand the Maine Republican Party should take in light of the spike in oil and gas prices.

The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 12, at the Fryeburg Fairgrounds Craft Building with a 5:30 social hour and 6:30 dinner sponsored by the Fryeburg Town Republican Committee. A brief business meeting and program will follow when speaker will be a representative from the Sen. Susan Collins’ campaign.