PICKENS COUNTY — The State’s GOP chairman will speak Thursday night in Liberty.

SCGOP Chairman Chad Connelly will speak at the Pickens GOP meeting Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Rosewood Center in Liberty. Precinct organization is also on the agenda for the gathering.

Pickens GOP Chairman Phillip Bowers said precinct organization is critical to the future of the Republican Party, and achieving real reform at all levels of government.

“We have critical elections coming up next year,” Bowers said. “You have an opportunity to help ensure that politicians claiming to represent the Republican Party actually do represent our values.”

Bowers said current Republican representatives may not have the party’s core values in mind.

“We currently have individuals who claim to represent us proposing legislation that is in direct conflict with our party platform, or supporting legislation that grows government and infringes on party rights of free association and operation,” Bowers said. “We even have some who claim to be Republicans proposing legislation to raise taxes while allowing state agencies to waste millions. Our trademark is being tarnished by these politicians.”

Bowers said precinct organization is the GOP’s chance to get involved and help steer the party and those who represent it in the right direction.