AUGUSTA — The Republican State Committee will gather in Augusta on Saturday to choose new leaders after the recent resignations of its chairman and vice chairman.

At least three people are interested in the positions, including former Senate President Rick Bennett of Oxford, former Rep. Jonathan McKane of Newcastle and former Maine House candidate Sam Canders of Bangor.

The vacancies in party leadership were created in the past few weeks with the resignations of GOP Chairman Rich Cebra and Vice Chairwoman Beth O’Connor. Both spent fewer than eight months in their positions.

Bennett, who holds degrees from Harvard University and the University of Southern Maine and is CEO of research firm GMI Ratings, has been well-known in Republican circles for decades. His involvement began with volunteering for GOP campaigns after graduating from college, according to a website associated with his unsuccessful primary run for U.S. Senate in 2012.

Before being elected to his first term in the Maine House of Representatives, Bennett served as Republican Party secretary and later as its vice chairman. Bennett was also a candidate for Congress in 1994 and later served a four-year term as one of Maine’s delegates to the Republican National Committee.

Maine’s Republican Liberty Caucus, which embraces strong fiscal conservatism, has endorsed Bennett unanimously, according to a news release.

“Rick Bennett isn’t going to agree with us 100 percent of the time, but we have found him equitable and willing to listen to our views and give them fair consideration,” said Vic Berardelli, chairman of the caucus. “At this time, the Republican Party desperately needs a leader who will bring all factions together and grant each an equal seat at the table.”

McKane, who served four terms in the Maine House, holds a degree from New England College in New Hampshire and is an electrical contractor. He was known as one of the more outspoken House Republicans during his service there. He said Friday that he was recruited for the party chairmanship by several people, though he declined to identify whom. He said whatever his views are on various issues, his strength is his willingness to collaborate and his ability to communicate.

“I’m friends with all sides of the party and we are split up right now,”  McKane said. “That will be my biggest job, trying to unite the factions.”

McKane said he hopes to help reignite enthusiasm within the party that peaked in 2010 when Republicans won majorities in the House and Senate and Paul LePage was elected governor.

“We’re just brokenhearted,” McKane said. “A year and a half after we lost those majorities, we’ve got a party with no chair or vice chair. Last May, we had the biggest state convention ever with lots of young, new faces and a lot of energy. Somehow, we let that opportunity slip by us, but I think that energy is still out there.”

Canders, who could not be reached Friday morning, ran unsuccessfully for a Bangor-area House seat in 2012. According to his campaign website — which also promotes him for the party chairmanship — Canders holds a degree in aeronautical science with a minor in meteorology. He has served for many years in the Army and Air National Guard, including four tours in Afghanistan. In addition to his continued role in the military, Canders is an airline pilot and owner of a rental management agency.

The Republican State Committee is scheduled to convene at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Augusta Civic Center.

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