NEWPORT-Cocke County Republican Party's executive board has elected Vella Calfee as party chair. Calfee is completing the unfinished term of Jeremy Faison, who resigned from the chairmanship position to seek the Republican nomination for state representative.

Calfee said she was honored to accept the position of party chair.  She has served three two-year terms as president and three two-year terms as vice-president of Cocke County Republican Women. Although she has served as women's vice co-chair of the county party in the past, this is her first time serving as the county party's chair.

"I hope that I can unify the party," Calfee said. "I am looking forward to a successful year for the party and I hope to see Republicans take all the offices during the upcoming elections."

Calfee will preside over her first monthly party meeting on Tuesday evening, March 9. Republican candidates for county mayor and trustee will have the opportunity to speak at the meeting. The meeting was initially scheduled for tonight but was postponed due to weather. At the April 6 meeting, Republican candidates for sheriff and the other county offices will speak. Candidates will be given two minutes each to speak.

She said the party meets the first Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the courthouse on the third floor in the Circuit Courtroom. Calfee said she hopes all Republicans will come out to attend the meetings and join in the Cocke County Republican Party efforts.

"We have our work cut out for us," said Calfee. "We need to get busy and work hard."