The Summit County Republican Party has elected a new leadership team committed to restoring conservative strength and unity across the county, said new Chair Ari Ioannides.
The entire slate of candidates was elected during the County GOP Organizing Convention on Tuesday at Ecker Hill Middle School.
“Our message was simple: If we want to win, we must stand together with a common voice,” said Ioannides. “We know there are Republicans in Summit County who’ve felt disillusioned or disconnected in recent years. Our goal is to bring them back by focusing on the core values we share and setting aside purity tests or division. We’re inviting every conservative who wants to make a difference to join us in the big tent as we build a stronger, more unified GOP in Summit County.”
The newly elected leadership team:
Chair — Ari Ioannides (Wanship)
Vice Chair — Tory Welch (Hoytsville)
Secretary — Pat O’Connell (Park City)
Treasurer — Patty Brewer (Silver Springs)
Snyderville Regional Chair — Jay Deuser (Snyderville)
Park City Regional Chair — Marjorie Ellis Manning (Park City)
South Summit Regional Chair — Philip D’Agostini (Woodland)
North Summit Regional Chair — Louise Willoughby (Coalville)
State Central Committee Representative — Tal Adair
Also joining the team as an appointed member managing data and analytics is Jimmy May from Park City.
The new team has pledged to focus on expanding the GOP’s influence through stronger organization, candidate development, improved fundraising, and public engagement.
Among their key priorities:
- Expanding participation by returning to a “Big Tent” engagement strategy.
- Support and mentorship of Republican candidates for local office.
- Strengthened relationships with GOP officials in towns and cities across the county.
- Development of an Engagement Playbook to streamline election operations and outreach.
- Tools and resources to empower precinct chairs and grassroots volunteers.
- Strategic messaging to better represent conservative values to the public and media.
“Fortifying the voice, image, and organization of our conservative community has been a principal objective of mine since joining the Summit County GOP executive team two years ago,” said Welch. “I like to think that this team is a direct reflection of that goal, thanks to my and to a much greater extent, the prior team’s dedication to forwarding the conservative cause. I am honored and thrilled to work with each of these great Americans to bolster the voice and values of Republicans across the county and beyond.”
