Republican party to keep chair

CLOVIS — The Curry County Republican Party kept R.L. “Rube” Render as party chairman at its biennial organizational convention, held Saturday at the Ingram Room of the Clovis-Carver Public Library.

Render said in October he was likely going to step down as chairman, citing time commitments as a Clovis city commissioner and a desire to bring fresh blood into leadership after 16 years in the position.

The most recent general election, which saw Democrats capture the majority of statewide offices, gave Render and others second thoughts.

“With the last election, we need all of the experience we have across the state in county politics,” Render said. “The party in general decided it was not the time for a very experienced party chair to step down.”

The party also selected Brett Johnson as first vice chair, Greg Southard as second vice chair and Marge Render as secretary/treasurer.

All terms are for two years.