CROWN POINT | Lake County Republican Chairman John Curley said Tuesday afternoon he will run for re-election, hoping to continue to expand and strengthen the party.

Curley said he would like to have fewer precincts and larger voting centers for elections and would like to see early voting 10 to 15 days before elections. He said reducing the number of precincts would save the county money.

Curley also said under his leadership, Gov. Mitch Daniels received more votes in 2008 than in 2004, despite the excitement concerning the election of President Barack Obama. The Republican Party retained all of the seats it had previously held, he said.

He plans to release more ideas before the March 7 caucus, he said.

As of now, Curley will face fellow GOP veteran Peter Thayer for the county party's top seat.

"He has a right to run, and I look forward to the race," Thayer said after hearing of Curley's intentions.

Thayer challenged Curley to a debate to discuss the issues facing the party.

Earlier this month, Thayer said he asked the Indiana Republican state committee to rule that any precinct committeemen Curley appoints this year be barred from voting in the caucus, alleging that Curley is trying to stack the committeemen with his own supporters. However, Curley has dismissed those attacks, saying he didn't have that kind of organization to find people.

Lake County Councilman Larry Blanchard, R-Crown Point, said Curley is a hard worker in a "thankless job I wouldn't want to do," but said he would wait and see who all is running before choosing who to support.