After tonight, the county GOP will have its first new chairman since 2002.

The Republican Committee of Lancaster County meets at 7 p.m. to pick either Craig Ebersole or Frank Fryburg to replace Dave Dumeyer, who retired last month.

The 362-member county committee will also be endorsing three county row-office candidates for the upcoming primary election.

R.B. Campbell and Keith Greiner are both seeking endorsement for controller — the only contested office. Greiner, an accountant and former treasurer of the county GOP, came out of recent straw-poll meetings as the clear favorite over Campbell, a Lancaster County Convention Center Authority member and former city controller.

Bonnie Bowman is running for recorder of deeds and Diane Collier is seeking another term as jury commissioner.

But the key race is the selection of a successor for Dumeyer, a West Hempfield Township supervisor who won a fourth two-year term as GOP chairman in June 2008.

The new leader will be chosen by a simple majority vote of committee members.

Ebersole, 56, of Ephrata, is in the middle of his second term as Lancaster County's elected treasurer. Last year, he was county chairman of Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett's successful re-election campaign. He is also a former East Cocalico police chief and township supervisor.

Ebersole said that as chairman of the county GOP, his priorities would include revamping the way the party uses the Internet to connect with voters, as well as reaching out to minorities.

"I really do believe there are good times ahead for the Republican party," he said.

Ebersole has never been a GOP committee member, but he says that's because he's never wanted to challenge the longtime committee member in his precinct.

However, Ebersole has helped the party oversee precincts in the northeastern part of the county during elections. He's also a regular at party events.

Fryburg, 82, has been involved in local politics since 1962, when he began a 10-year stint as a Manheim Township commissioner, the last two as chairman.

Recently, the Manheim Township committee member was leader of the county GOP's senior coalition and helped coordinate the county campaigns in the fall.

Fryburg said the success of the senior coalition can be a model for new groups aimed at attracting more minorities to the county GOP.

Fryburg lives at Brethren Village and works about 25 to 30 hours a week as an office administrator for United Refrigeration. He says he has the experience and free time to help guide the local GOP, especially when it comes to fundraising, an effort he believes requires a personal touch.

"If I'm coming to you and looking for $1,000, you want to talk to the top man," Fryburg said.

The contest for county chairman has remained cordial and both Fryburg and Ebersole say tonight's winner can count on the loser's backing.

"We have assured our people that whichever one of us wins, the other is going to support him," Fryburg said.

Ebersole says: "Nobody is going to take their ball and go home."

The endorsement convention begins at 7 p.m at the Farm and Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road.


Staff writer Chad Umble can be reached at cumble@LNPnews.com or 481-6031.