Re-elected to a second term as chairman of the Lake County Republican Party on Wednesday, Dan Venturi made no bones about the biggest local race on the November ballot.

"It's important for us to get back the coroner's office," said Venturi, referring to a post held by a Democrat for the past four years after decades of GOP control. That's a key race."

Republican Michael Oster, a physician, is challenging first-term incumbent Richard Keller, also a physician, for the coroner's job. The office is one of several countywide posts Democrats have seized in recent years as they've slowly eroded the Republican Party's power base in Lake County.

Venturi, who's in his second term Lake Villa Township supervisor, was re-elected local party chairman during a biennial convention of precinct committee representatives at the Midlane Golf Resort in Waukegan. He ran unopposed.

Although most political observers have their eyes on the presidential campaigns, Venturi said he's focused on Lake County. In addition to the coroner's race, Venturi said he wants to make sure the GOP retains the 26th District seat in the state Senate, which is up for grabs with William Peterson's pending retirement.

Republican Dan Duffy and Democrat Bill Gentes are facing off for the post. Most of the district is in Lake County but it also includes precincts in Cook and McHenry counties.

Maintaining the Republican majority on the Lake County Board is another priority for Venturi.

Republicans hold all but six seats on the 23-member panel, but Democrats are challenging in many of the districts holding elections this year.

"We're going to hang onto that board," he said.

Republican Steve Greenberg's challenge of Democratic U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean in the 8th Congressional� District is another critical contest, Venturi said.