An energetic and engaged audience filled the Community Center to hear Dr. Kelli Ward, chair of the Arizona Republican Party.

Ward presented her plans for leading the party to success in 2020 at the April 20 meeting of Fountain Hills Republican Club. She shared that one of her team’s first goals was to bring unity to the state Republican Party. Ward added she was pleased with her staff’s progress.

She expressed the importance of Republicans becoming actively involved as precinct committee members or as members of the Trump Committee. There is a need for volunteers to network and funnel information to the entire electorate.

Ward said no corner of the state will be neglected, and the party will challenge for every elected office. She added that Republicans will continue to expose false statements by the radical left.

Along with this strategy, Ward said disillusioned Democrats will be recruited. The chair shared that the party has been reaching out to all quarters, and she said use of social media has increased by 7,000 percent since January. Classes on effective use of social media are planned.

The chair has demonstrated the importance of working together and building relationships to create a cohesive team. Ward said the coffers are filling, there being more donors in February and March than in any quarter in 2018 and twice as many donors in April as in any month in 2018.

She continued explaining that funding is important and offered the audience different ways they could help.

Ward not only answered questions from the floor but stayed afterward for 40 minutes to meet attendees and address additional questions.

Other elected officials were in attendance and had the opportunity to speak. A new face on the scene was Austin Smith, chair of the Maricopa County Young Republicans. Smith spoke to the group on his 24th birthday. He will actively register voters and said he will spread the Republican message far and wide, especially among the millennial generation.

Fountain Hills Republican Club board member Chris Brant said he will be happy to speak to area Republicans who want to become more involved in the precinct or in the Trump Committee. He can be reached at 480-837-9725.

For more information on the club, visit fountainhillsrepublicanclub.org or follow the organization on Facebook at facebook.com/FountainHillsRepublicanClub.