PARTY CHANGES — Eddie Abdalla, chairman of the central committee, and Maureen Howard, secretary, discuss changes made by the Jefferson County Democratic Party while standing in front of party headquarters, 182 N. Fourth St. Steubenville. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — The Jefferson County Democratic Party has made a change in the way the organization is run.

Members voted on May 25 on a change to the party’s bylaws which moves governing control from the executive committee to the central committee. The changes, which were approved by 85 percent of the party members, were made because the party believes that the members of the central committee, who are directly elected by the voters, should have the authority to determine the direction of the local party, a party spokesperson explained.

The change means that Eddie Abdalla, chairman of the central committee, will now lead the local party. “I look forward to moving the party forward in a positive direction and highlighting the differences between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party and how each party’s policies directly affect the lives of the people of Jefferson County,” Abdalla said after the meeting. The change in leadership takes effect immediately.

The party’s headquarters are located at 182 N. Fourth St., said Maureen Howard, party secretary. She added the location will be the site of a bake sale during this week’s installment of First Fridays on Fourth.