New Geauga GOP Chair Plans for Continuity, Engagement

October 3, 2024 by Amy Patterson

Joan Windnagel is the new chair of the Geauga County Republican Party after an election Sept. 23 at Celebration Lutheran Church in Chardon.

Windnagel won 33 votes from the GOP Central Committee, while competitors Rich Piraino and Janice Sugarman received 18 and 10 votes, respectively.

Also elected were Vice Chair of the Executive Committee Kathy Johnson and Secretary James Midyette. Vice Chair Kevin O’Reilly — who served as interim chair after the Sept. 6 resignation of previous GOP Chair Nancy McArthur — and Treasurer Joe DeBoth both retained their positions.

In an email to the Geauga County Maple Leaf, Windnagel expressed her gratitude to her fellow party members.

“I would like to thank the central committee members who took the time to make phone calls and encouraged me to not let the Republican party fall apart,” she said.

Windnagel said her goals as chair are to help Republican candidates get elected, open meetings to the public, reach out to Republicans and mend relationships.

She also plans to work on a yearly meeting and event calendar, which she hopes will be ready by January. Windnagel said she’d like to give members and guests an opportunity to speak at meetings, which can be held in the same location for continuity.

Additionally, Windnagel intends for meeting notices, agendas and financial reports to be made available more than one day before, or on the day of, a central committee meeting.

Any committee appointments should also be done at a meeting, she said.

In a Facebook post Sept. 24, Carolyn Brakey, a candidate for Geauga County commissioner and current member of the Geauga County Board of Health, said she looks forward to working with the new board.

“I also want to acknowledge and express gratitude for the other candidates who were not selected,” she said. “I hope they will collaborate with our new leadership and find alternative ways to advance the party.”