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YANKEE LAKE -- The Trumbull County Republican Party's central committee elected the Newton Falls mayor, who also is a pastor, as its new chairman.
Mayor Kenneth Kline, the pastor of First Christian Church of Newton Falls, was elected by acclamation from the 41 members of the central committee who were present Saturday morning at Yankee Lake Ballroom. There was no ballot, but members raised their hands in favor of Kline, and the vote was uncontested.
Former chairman Kevin Wyndham, whose resignation took effect Feb. 1, nominated Kline to take his place.
"It was a symbol of party unity in passing the baton. I was glad to do it after I was asked to," Wyndham said.
No other Republican was nominated.
Kline will now fill the rest of Wyndham's term, which expires in June 2022.
"I am fortunate to follow in Kevin's footsteps. He has left things in good shape," Kline said.
Not one to "micro manage" the local Republicans, Kline said he will try to encourage and energize those on committees.
"As a parent, a neighbor and a citizen, I get out in the community, and it doesn't matter the party you belong to. If you are a solid individual, I'll work with you," Kline said.
Kline said he has heard before that "the best sermon is one you don't preach."
"People are looking at your actions," he said.
Kline was elected mayor of the village in the 2019 election, 580 to 512, beating Richard Monteville. He said he doesn't expect the party job to affect his mayoral duties, which is a part-time job.
"I am a Christian man first and foremost, which means you are a servant," Kline said. "I want to be fair and do what's right and that's the same thing in this (party) job."
Wyndham, who was elected party chairman in 2018 following a power struggle, said he still is on the party's bylaws committee and is a precinct committeeman out of Howland. He said he expects to stay active in party politics.
"I'm sure they will drag me into something," he said with a laugh.
In his resignation letter, Wyndham said he worked toward a goal of establishing a viable two-party system in Trumbull County. He said it was to be accomplished by cleaning out "the drama and nonproductive members" and "grow our active membership."
When he took office, the party had $62 in its bank account. "We now have over $20,000 in the bank," he said.
Also in the 2020 election, Republicans won a county commissioner, state House and state Senate seat.
"My only agenda was to make it as good as I could while I was here and leave it better than when I arrived," Wyndham said.
Kline said he definitely will pick Wyndham's brain on a few party issues.