Warren County Republicans may be close to resolving a three-month standoff over who will lead the party for the next two years.

        The executive board — composed of officers of the county's central and executive committees and several at-large members — met Tuesday night in Lebanon.

        “I'm hopeful that we'll come out of this meeting with an agreement that Les (Spaeth) and Tom (Grossmann) will be co-chairs,” Lori Viars, secretary of the central committee, said Tuesday afternoon.

        The outcome was not known late Tuesday, but the full central and executive committees would have to meet to sign off on any compromise.

        Ms. Viars is a leader of the local party's informal “conservative caucus” of younger, more outspoken members. They backed Mr. Grossmann, a Mason councilman, for executive committee chairman at the party's May organizational meeting, but the committee adjourned without a vote. The old guard wanted to keep longtime chairman Mr. Spaeth, and representatives of the two sides have had informal meetings since then attempting to resolve the impasse.

        There was no sign of strife at Sunday's Beef and Corn Roast, an annual fund-raiser for the Warren GOP that features, yes, a fair amount of beef and corn on the cob. More than 100 volunteers helped feed 962 people, Mr. Spaeth said — about the same number of hungry mouths the roast draws every year.

        “It just shows solidarity for the party; it shows support,” said Aaron Wright, a Wayne Township resident and veteran roast volunteer.

        Politicians in attendance ran the gamut from Ohio Attorney General Betty Montgomery (running for auditor) and Ohio Treasurer Joe Deters (seeking re-election) to Lebanon Mayor Amy Brewer and Deerfield Trustee Randy Kuvin.

        The roast raises about $5,000 to $6,000, Mr. Spaeth said.

        Sisters Birdiann Bullock of Turtlecreek Township and Rhetta McDaniel of Mason made their first trip to the roast this year, drawn not by the politicians but by the prospect of a tasty meal for $6.50, with their senior discount.

        But Ms. McDaniel, a precinct judge, shared her perspective on county politics: “The younger ones, they vote everything in. They have no money problems. The old people would vote for the Spaeths, no matter what they run for,” because of their longtime prominence in county politics.

        Another VIP heard from: Over in Butler County, meanwhile, Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell will be the keynote speaker at Thursday's annual county GOP picnic. Mr. Blackwell is running for re-election in November.

        There will be no admission fee for the event, to be held at LeSourdsville Lake Amusement Park on Ohio 4 in Monroe. Party members and their families also can receive special discount ride passes.

        The picnic shelter and park rides will be available noon-9 p.m. Picnic registration will begin 5:30 and the program will start at 6:30 p.m.

        Guests are asked to bring a covered dish for 12 to 14 people with a serving utensil. They also should bring dinnerware for their families and a table cover, if they wish.

        Meat, iced tea and lemonade will be provided.

        For information, contact Scott Lepsky at 237-1809 or Joe Statzer at 571-7214, or page Mr. Statzer at 249-0709.

— Steve Kemme

        Pass along tips on Butler and Warren politics to Cindi Andrews via e-mail: candrews@enquirer.com; fax, 755-4150; or phone, 755-4157.

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