GOP governors group elects board

MIAMI, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford was elected Republican Governors Board chairman Friday during the Republican Governors Association meeting in Miami.

Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi was selected vice-chairman while Texas Gov. Rick Perry was chosen as finance chairman, the RGA said in a release.

"I am honored and excited to become chairman of the Republican Governors Association as we work together to win a majority of governors by 2010," Sanford said. "Republican governors are natural leaders who will find solutions to our nation's challenges and bring back the party."

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist will lead the association's annual gala and Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue will be recruitment chairman. Serving on the RGA Executive Committee will be Govs. Linda Lingle of Hawaii, Jim Douglas of Vermont and Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota.