SALEM - The Salem Republican Party will meet at 7 p.m. Monday "for the purpose of selecting" a replacement for former Councilman Joe Radin, according to Dave Johnson, Columbiana County Republican Party chairman.
Radin (R-at large) resigned his city council seat effective July 1.
Johnson, a Salem precinct committee person, said the appointment had to be made within 45 days.
There are 13 precinct committee seats and currently nine are unoccupied in the Republican Party.
Johnson said the four seated members will make the appointment at the party's downtown headquarters.
He said there are four or five highly qualified candidates who expressed an interest in the seat and they are "still talking with them."
He said they expect to "narrow it down to make a decision on Monday."
Johnson declined to name anyone but said they are highly qualified. He said the candidates include a retired businessman, a young self-employed business person who does work for the military, an registered nurse who is "well known in the community" and a financial analyst who works outside the city.
Whoever is appointed will be sworn in Monday night or the next day and Johnson said the others are still interested in running if they don't secure the appointment.
City council is expected to meet Tuesday night in regular session.
Radin was elected in November of 2009. His four-year term expires Dec. 31, 2013.
Adam Booth of the Columbiana County Board of Elections said if the city Republican Party central committee doesn't appoint a replacement, then city council has 30 days to do it and after that the appointment falls to mayor.
Larry Shields can be reached at lshields@salemnews.net
