The Lawrence County Republican Central Committee will meet next month to determine who will represent the party on the county board of elections. The committee must nominate a successor to Harriett Scragg, who is not seeking a second term on the board, according to Ray Dutey, GOP party chief.

The four-member board is made up of two Democrats and two Republicans. Their terms are staggered and a board member from each party is nominated every two years. The Ohio Secretary of State makes the actual appointment.

Scragg, of Proctorville, was appointed to the board in January 2012 on her second attempt.

Right now there are two Republicans interested in the post, Dutey said.

Matt Ward, director of development at Ohio University Southern, is in his fifth year as member of the Fairland Board of Education.

“I have been a central committeeman for nearly 10 years and have always helped our party and am looking to expand that role,” Ward said.

Dutey said he has also received a phone call expressing interest from Carl Bowen Sr., a Tri-State banker. Calls made to Bowen were not returned by press time.

The GOP committee will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 10, in the courtroom of Common Pleas Judge Charles Cooper.

On the Democratic side Mark McCown was re-appointed by that central committee on Jan. 9. This is the second term for McCown, an Ironton attorney.

“It is an enjoyable experience where the law is everchanging,” McCown said. “We have to abide first by the Ohio Revised Code but also we work for the secretary of state. We have to abide by all of his directives and interpretations. In an election year there can be 30, 40 or in excess of 100 directives changing procedures. There is a constant influx of information that we have to contend with.”

The board of elections will have its re-organizational meeting on March 6 to elect new officers.