NORWICH – Tickets are on sale now for the Chenango County Republican Committee’s annual Lobsterfest fundraiser, organizers announced this week.

The event will be held from noon to 4 p.m., on Sunday, July 20 at the Canasawacta Country Club in Norwich. Tickets are $60.

With the oval office and the Republican’s one-seat majority in the state senate up for grabs, expect the 2008 elections to be the topic of Lobsterfest conversations in what will be a pivotal year for the GOP, county Republican Chairman Tom Morrone said.

“It is important, especially this year, for the voters to get out and vote for their senate candidates,” said Morrone, referring to the state race.

Lobsterfest guests will include state Senators James Seward (R-Oneonta) and Tom Libous (R-Binghamton), along with Assemblymen Cliff Crouch (R-Guilford), Gary Finch (R-Auburn) and Peter Lopez (R-Schoharie). All are up for re-election.

Currently, only Seward’s 51st District seat – which covers the northern swath of Chenango County – is being contested. His challenger: Don Barber, a Democrat and supervisor for the Town of Caroline in Tompkins County.

“We need people like Senator Libous and Senator Seward to support Upstate New York ... It’s essential,” said Morrone. “We need to maintain that leadership. Our people will be working to see that that happens.”