Ohio GOP chairman seeks new term as party chief

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- The chairman of the Ohio Republican Party, who came out of retirement to end an intraparty feud, says he'll seek a new term as GOP chief to aid in the re-election of Gov. John Kasich.

GOP Chairman Bob Bennett was the longest-serving chairman in Ohio GOP history when he retired in 2009, then returned in April to replace Chairman Kevin DeWine, ousted by Kasich supporters.

The Columbus Dispatch reported Friday that Bennett will seek a new term in January, though he can't say for sure he'll serve the term's entire two years.

The 73-year-old Bennett says his chief goal is the re-election of Kasich and Ohio's four other Republican state officeholders in 2014.

Bennett made the announcement before the party's 66-member state central committee at a Columbus meeting.