New Stark County Republican Party Chairman discusses goals for party

Paige Bennett, The Repository
·2 min read
Janet Weir Creighton
Janet Weir Creighton

Janet Weir Creighton said her goal for the Republican Party in Stark County is to get people involved.

She said she plans to recruit candidates and others who support the party by hosting events, getting out in the community and seeing that people are at the party's office at 2729 Fulton Dr. NW in Plain Township to answer questions and help anyone looking to get involved with the party.

"It's important that headquarters is open every day," she said.

Creighton took over as chairman of the Stark County Republican Party in June. She succeeded Jeff Matthews, who had led the party since 2008. Matthews is the director of the Stark County Board of Elections.

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She is a Stark County commissioner and has been elected to the board since 2010.

The Republican Party chairman role is a volunteer position. Creighton's primary job will continue to be as county commissioner.

Creighton has been involved in numerous areas of Stark County government. She has previously served as recorder, auditor and mayor of Canton. She also was director of intergovernmental affairs for President George W. Bush in 2008 and 2009.

She has served on many boards and commissions, including ArtsinStark, the Exchange Club of Canton-Stark County and the Stark Housing Network.

Creighton said the Stark Republican Party hasn't been able to hold many events over the last three years because of the pandemic. She said she intends for the party to have more activities.

Ryan Stenger is chief operating officer of McKinley Strategies, a firm that provides business and political consulting. He has been active in the Republican Party for years and previously served as chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs.

"I think that Janet is bringing a lot of energy to the Republican Party," he said. "If you drive past headquarters pretty much any day of the week right now, you'll see a lot of cars in the parking lot and a lot of people in the building."

Stenger said he believes Creighton has been able to bring a lot of people within the party together.

Reach Paige at 330-580-8577 or pmbennett@gannett.com, or on Twitter at @paigembenn.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Janet Weir Creighton serving as chairman of Stark Republican Party