The Hamilton County Republican Party held its biennial Reorganization Convention to elect new precinct delegates and executive officers. Approximately 350 people attended the Convention in Hixson on Feb. 18. The following candidates were nominated by a committee of past Party chairs, and were elected unanimously by the precinct delegates: Joe DeGaetano - chair, Marsha Yessick - vice chair, Gary Green, II - secretary, David Queen - treasurer, and Sharon Moody - vice treasurer. The new officers will serve two-year terms and will lead the HCGOP's efforts to engage citizens of Hamilton County in the promotion of good government at every level, officials said.
Chair DeGaetano is a Chattanooga attorney who has served as the Party's legal counsel for the past two years and as a director of the Hamilton County Pachyderm Club since 2014. "I am honored to lead the GOP in Hamilton County for the next two years," said Chair DeGaetano. "The Party has made tremendous gains at the ballot box in recent years, but we cannot rest on our past success. As chair, I will work to ensure that our Party continues to recruit and elect leaders who are honest and ethical, and who believe in the principles of free enterprise, efficient government, and the protection of individual freedoms."
Chair DeGaetano said he will encourage the HCGOP to "rededicate itself to being the party of the 'Big Tent' by welcoming the input and participation of people from diverse backgrounds."
Immediate Past Chair Tony Sanders stated that "Joe DeGaetano has done an excellent job serving the Party in leadership positions, and he will do an outstanding job as chair."
Retired Representative Bobby Wood, a past HCGOP chair who served for 28 years in the Tennessee General Assembly, said that "the Party picked a real leader in Joe DeGaetano, and I believe our future is in good hands."
"I'm excited to get to work with this dedicated and talented group of officers," said Chair DeGaetano. "I also personally invite all Hamilton County residents to learn more about the HCGOP and join us in our continuing work to build a more efficient and effective government."