Scott Thomas, who founded the group in February 2005 and served as chairman since, said the decision involved a desire to help organize a statewide teenage Republican group and to give his replacement an opportunity to experience the work involved in the May primary.

Thomas said 16-year-old Hayden Muncy, a Pottsville area sophomore who co-founded the Schuylkill Teen-Age Republicans with Thomas, has succeeded him since the group’s “emergency election” on April 4.

Muncy said Tuesday he would be sworn into office at a special meeting of the group Thursday. He said his goal would be “just to help make teenagers more aware of their civic background.”

Thomas said he would be aiding his father, Bob Thomas, a Republican seeking a seat on the Pottsville City Council this year.

Scott Thomas said he is also proud of his effort to “liberalize” opportunities for public comment at Pottsville City Council meetings. The council voted unanimously Monday to revise the policy and allow council members to be addressed by and respond to the public.

Both Thomas and Republican controller candidate Jason Gherghel said Thomas’ decision to resign was not linked to a Gherghel campaign tactic brought to light last month which drew the ire of his opponent.

Gherghel, 33, said he takes responsibility for a plan to buy up Internet domain name combinations which included Democratic opponent Melinda Kantner’s name, apparently in an effort to make it difficult for her to establish a campaign Web site.

On Tuesday, Thomas said he was present at the meeting where the plan was hatched, though he and Gherghel refused to divulge whose idea it was. Gherghel said Tuesday he felt divulging the originator of the idea would be “weasely.” He said many people approved of the idea and blamed a naiveté of the political process for his decision to go along.

Kantner has filed a complaint claiming violation of the Pennsylvania Election Code and Gherghel said an investigation will need to be conducted.

Ghergel said county solicitor Paul J. Datte would need to recuse himself from any such investigation because of his connection to the county Republican Party.