CRANSTON, R.I. -- Barring any last minutes surprises, the Republican Party's next state chairman is likely to be either businessman Mark Smiley, who heads the GOP Town Committee in Warren, or psychiatrist Daniel Harrop, who was the Republican candidate for Providence mayor in 2006 and 2010.
Outgoing GOP chairman Mark Zaccaria said Smiley and Harrop were the only ones so far to submit their names before Thursday night's Central Committee meeting. Other candidates still have until Feb. 3 to throw their hats in the ring, however. The election of party officers takes place March 21.
Smiley is also president of the GOP City/Town Chairmen's Caucus. Harrop, a former Ron Paul delegate at the 2012 Republican National Convention, chairs the party's Finance Committee.
By Richard C. Dujardin