MONTPELIER – Steve Larrabee has an ambitious plan for Vermont Republicans in 2010.

The new chairman of the Vermont Republican Party said in addition to holding onto the offices of governor, lieutenant governor and state auditor, he will focus on increasing the minority party's numbers in the House and the Senate.

And he feels a little wind at his back.

"Next year will be a good year for Republicans," Larrabee said on Monday, two days after a gathering of state party officials elected him as the new chairman, replacing Rob Roper, who served two years in that position. "Just look at the elections this month in Virginia and New Jersey."

The Nov. 3 elections of Republican governors in those two states have been cited as evidence by party officials and members of an upcoming resurgence and backlash to the year-old Democratic administration of President Obama.

Whether that sentiment carries forward to an election that is more than 11 months away – and if what happened in Virginia or New Jersey carries forward to Vermont – remains to be seen.

But Larrabee, a former Danville state representative and a long-time activist within the Vermont Republican Party, feels optimistic.

"Many Vermonters are independents," he said. "They vote for the candidate, not the party. So, what we need to do is continue appealing to the independent voters of Vermont who are concerned with the direction of the state."

A Vermont native, Larrabee served 14 years in the House representing Danville, a rural community west of St. Johnsbury in the Northeast Kingdom. The former owner of Larrabee's Building Supply in West Danville (he sold the business to a relative several years ago), he now serves on the Danville Selectboard.

"I'm definitely going to serve out my term on the selectboard, which ends in March," Larrabee said. "I'll decide then if I'll run for the seat again."

Larrabee's only opponent for the position of chairman was Dan Riley of Bennington, a newcomer to Vermont politics. Riley, who worked on Republican John McCain's 2000 presidential bid while in New York State, runs a political consulting business.

The two candidates mostly agreed on policy issues, but the main difference would have been organizational. Larrabee said he will refuse to take a salary for the position; Riley would have taken a salary and made the position a full-time job.

There are no hard feelings on Riley's part for losing the chairmanship race.

"I'm very happy that there is so much support for Steve," Riley said Monday. "I've always said that Republicans are going into a good year so long as we can stay united."

Republicans may have their hands full defending seats next year – but so will the Democrats. With Republican Gov. James Douglas stepping down after four terms, state Democrats have their best chance of getting that seat since former Gov. Howard Dean left.

Meanwhile, with Republican Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie eyeing Douglas' old seat, Republicans also need to defend that post. The party's other statewide office holder, State Auditor Tom Salmon Jr., was arrested for drunk driving late last week, drawing considerable media coverage.

Larrabee said he is confident that Republicans will hold onto those three seats and challenge Democrats for others, including running candidates against U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch.

"My goal is to challenge every open seat," he said. "If there is a Progressive running for a seat, we want to have a Republican in that race."

The man Larabee replaced, Roper, may be considering a run for political office in the state. He will remain on as secretary of the Republican Party.

Also on Saturday, Democrats reelected Judy Bevans as their chairwoman and Progressives reelected Martha Abbot as their chairwoman. Bevans and Abbot did not face any opponents for their positions.

daniel.barlow@rutlandherald.com.