Mahoning Republicans set ribbon-cutting, open house for new HQ

BOARDMAN

When you walk into the new Mahoning County Republican Party headquarters, it’s impossible to miss the wood-carved elephant furniture and large decorative elephant-head wall hanging.

On top of the elephant head is a cap worn by former county Republican Chairman Clarence Smith, who donated the head and furniture from his world travels. Elephants have been the symbol of the Republican Party since the 1870s.

“One of the first things we did was put the elephant head on the wall,” said Mahoning Republican Chairman Mark Munroe.

The party has spent the past three-plus months turning a former fitness center – at other times it was a Christian book store and a tanning salon – into its headquarters at 8381 Market St. in Boardman’s Adamas Square Plaza.

“There were mirrors all around the location,” Munroe said.

The party kept three large mirrors on one wall.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new location will be at 5 p.m. Friday. A public open house will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Read more about the new digs in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.