(Posted Jan. 5, 2016)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
Nicholas A. Adkins became a member of the Madison County Republican Central Committee and its chairman, all in the same night.
On Jan. 3, the committee appointed Adkins to the London Ward 4 seat vacated by longtime member Steve Saltsman on Dec. 1. Adkins will complete the unexpired term, which ends May 20, 2018. He must run for election to keep the seat beyond that date.
Saltsman also served as the central committee’s chairman. Adkins expressed interest in that position, as well, and got it. He was the only applicant.
The primary purpose of the Republican Central Committee is to seek out, support, and endorse Republican candidates at the local, state and national level. The committee also makes appointments to fill vacancies in elected positions at the city and county levels.
The central committee can have up to 27 elected members, representing 27 wards in Madison County. All elected committee members are part of the larger executive committee, which includes all Republican county elected officials (exclud-ing judges), the president of the Repub-lican Women’s Club, and non-elected individuals with a strong interest in sup-porting the party. Non-elected members of the executive committee can vote on endorsements and motions but cannot vote on filling elected position vacancies or appointments to the executive committee.
Adkins has been a non-elected member of the executive committee for three years. He is a Madison-Plains High School graduate and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Otterbein College and a law degree from Capital University Law School. He has practiced law in Madison County for the past eight years and is chief assistant prosecuting attorney for the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office.
As for his interest in filling Saltsman’s seat, Adkins said, “I really want to strengthen the party and expand the influence of the Republican Central Committee across the county.”
His goals as chairman include:
- revitalizing the party’s fundraising efforts;
- seeking out qualified candidates to fill current vacancies on the central committee;
- striving for the central committee to have more of a presence in the community and on social media;
- proactive growth and development of future Republican candidates for elected positions; and
- enhanced organization of the group’s subcommittees.
“I have a lot of respect for Steve Saltsman. He has been on the Republican Central Committee for many years. I am absolutely honored to fill his shoes,” Adkins said.
Saltsman was first elected to the Republican Central Committee in 1983 and won re-election in every subsequent election. He served as chairman for the past seven years. About his decision to step down, Saltsman said he “just got burned out” and it was time to move on. He still plans to stay active with the party.
In other business
Also on Jan. 3, Bob Edwards stepped down as vice chairman of the Republican Central Committee, stating the timing was right for new leadership all the way around. He said he will remain a member of the executive committee. He has been involved with the central committee since the 1960s.
As the new chairman, Adkins suggested that the committee put a call out for applications from candidates interested in filling the vice chair vacancy. The same steering committee that handled the chairman’s vacancy will lead this task.
Committee members re-appointed Teresa Ames to the Madison County Board of Elections. Her father, Saltsman, served on the board. When he stepped down a year ago, the committee appointed Ames to complete the remaining year on the unexpired term. She will now serve a full four-year term.
The Madison County Republican Central Committee meets at 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at the Madison County Engineer’s Office in London.
The next meeting of the Republican Women’s Club is at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 24 at Ann & Tony’s restaurant in West Jefferson. The meeting will include the installation of officers.
