Palatine’s Del Mar appointed deputy chairman of Cook County GOP

Less than a week after Palatine Township Republican Committeeman Aaron Del Mar stepped down from a three-way race to lead the Cook County GOP, he’s been appointed its second-in-command.

Del Mar, a 33-year-old Palatine councilman, will serve as deputy chairman for the party behind Republican Chairman Sig Vaznelis, the Lemont Township highway commissioner chosen last week to replace Lee Roupas.

“I am pleased to have such a young, diverse and energetic deputy chairman in Aaron Del Mar,” Vaznelis said in a statement. “Aaron will not only provide the Northern Suburbs with strong representation and leadership in our organization but all throughout Cook County.”

Del Mar said he’ll be responsible for coordinating committees, media and social networking efforts and will help find new candidates and develop GOP groups at the township level.

He believes he was chosen largely due to work being done by Palatine Township Republicans, who he said made more than 100,000 calls and contacts in the last election.

“I understand the morals and values and platform of the Republican Party and believe I represent a new generation of members,” Del Mar said.

At a gathering last week by Cook County GOP officials, Del Mar supported Vaznelis over Ruth O’Connell of Arlington Heights in a vote for the party’s chairmanship.