Craig Daily Press

Craig — The Moffat County Repub­lican Central Committee is hosting its longtime fundraiser, the Lincoln Day Dinner, on Saturday at the Holiday Inn of Craig.

Cocktail hour begins at 6 p.m., with dinner at 7.

Tickets cost $50 for the roasted pork loin and garlic mashed potatoes dinner. All fundraising is done through ticket sales.

Dick Wadhams, Colorado Republican State chairman, is scheduled to be the guest speaker. Wadhams is expected to discuss the Feb. 5 caucus procedures and the "straw pole" presidential election that will happen during the caucus proceedings.

“So, we actually will have a voice on Super Tuesday, and our count will actually be heard,” said Nikki McLeslie, Moffat County Republican Party vice-chair.

In addition to Wadhams, the dinner is meant “to support the Republican party,” McLeslie said.

She added, “We need to get people involved, especially the younger people. We’re trying to get people my age and younger involved. We think it is important, and we can make a difference. I think if enough of us get involved, our vote really does count.”

McLeslie said the committee is hoping to raise $3,000 to $4,000 at the event, an amount similar to past dinners.

“That (money) will go toward helping Republican candidates on the local and state level,” she said.

The dinner, which McLeslie estimated has gone on for 20 years, is traditionally when local candidates announce that they are running for the upcoming election.

“The only local seats that are up for re-election would be commissioners, Saed Tayyara and Tom Gray,” she said. “As far as I understand, both are running unopposed by any Republicans.”

Sen. Jack Taylor and Rep. Al White both have said they will attend.

“So, if you have any issues or questions for the people in local office right now, it’s a great place to catch them,” McLeslie said.

Tickets can be purchas­ed by calling McLeslie at 824-8566. Tickets also will be available at the door.

Jerry Raehal can be reached at 824-7031, ext. 204, or jraehal@craigdailypress.com