The Forsyth County Republican Party has a new leader.

On Wednesday, Patrick Bell was selected as the new chairman of the Forsyth County Republican Party by other members of the group.

“I’m honored and humbled to be selected,” Bell said. “There’s so many good Republicans in this county, and for me to be selected to lead the party is a great honor.”

Bell said there were also elections for some precinct chairs at the meeting.

As chairman, Bell said he hopes to maximize the strengths of members.

“I want to first and foremost get into the organizational structure and find out where all the officers are and where their strengths are and fine-tune that,” he said. 

Bell said he also wants to make sure more people in the county are aware of the local Republican Party. 

“The second (thing) … we need to build membership,” Bell said. “There’s a lot of conservatives in this county and Republicans in this county that for some reason or another are either not aware that we’re here or have chosen not to participate, but we are going to be reaching out to them.”

Previously, Bell, a small business owner and licensed real estate agent, was the District 4 Forsyth County Commissioner from 2009 to 2012.

Bell has lived in the county for 20 years and has two grown children and four grandchildren. He has served three terms as chairman of the church council at Bethelview United Methodist Church.

Justin Hawkins, who was chairman before Bell, announced in February he would be stepping down from the seat. 

The party holds meetings on the second Thursday of each month at their headquarters at 541 Lake Center Parkway.