Donna Buck, wife of state Rep. Jim Buck, was elected Tuesday as chairman of the Clallam County Republican Party.
A 12-year county GOP member, Buck takes over for Dick Smithton, a Port Angeles businessman who resigned two weeks ago over a split with the then-vice chair, former county commissioner candidate Sue Forde.
A statement issued by the party late Tuesday night said Fred Norton, who ran unsuccessfully for Port Angeles City Council in 2002, is now the county GOP’s vice chair.
“My role is to restore unity to the party and to prepare to elect Republicans in the upcoming November elections,” Buck said.
“With the help of Fred Norton, vice chair, we will move forward to unite the party as a voice for good government in the state of Washington.”