By KRWG News
New Mexico – Former Hobbs Mayor Monty Newman will serve as chairman of the state Republican Party for the next two years.
Newman was elected chairman on Saturday by the state central committee. He defeated Nina Martinez, who has served as the GOP's first vice chairman for the past two years.
Newman succeeds Harvey Yates Jr., who has led the GOP since 2009.
In the party leadership race, Newman had the backing of Gov.-elect Susana Martinez, Congressman-elect Steve Pearce, Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry, Secretary of State-elect Dianna Duran and top GOP legislative leaders.
Newman runs a real estate business in Hobbs. He ran unsuccessfully in 2008 for the GOP nomination in the 2nd Congressional District of southern New Mexico.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.