Republican activists are set to pick a new chairman Saturday to replace Tony Sutton, who resigned earlier this month as the party's debt problems came to light. The three candidates pitched their plans for restoring the party's financial stability and public credibility at a forum on Thursday night.

Pat Shortridge won the Minnesota GOP party chair election on the first ballot. He was up against Terry McCall and Todd McIntyre. He takes over for former chair Tony Sutton who recently resigned.

Just hours after Republican officials declared the party $2 million in debt, former party leader Tony Sutton released a statement on his Facebook page saying the numbers reflect a hard fought election and campaign cycle, but that Minnesota is better off because of it.

The Minnesota Campaign Finance Board Friday imposed fines on the Minnesota Republican Party, former chairman Tony Sutton and a separate corporation over the financing of the recount in the 2010 governor's race between Republican Tom Emmer and Democrat Mark Dayton. The state GOP was fined $26,900, while Sutton and Count Them All Properly Inc. were fined $3,000 each.

Republican activists will meet Saturday to pick a state party leader to replace Tony Sutton, who resigned earlier this month. Limmer's announcement that he'll withdraw leaves three others in the race: GOP operative Pat Shortridge, Second Congressional District GOP chair Terry McCall and Todd McIntyre.

Interim Republican chair Kelly Fenton is gaining support from party activists who want her to remain the GOP leader into 2012. Fenton replaced former chairman Tony Sutton after his resignation in December. Party officials will convene at the end of the month to name a permanent party leader.