The keynote speaker will be former Virginia Gov. and U.S. Sen. George Allen Jr., who is on the short list for selection as the Republican candidate for vice president.

He will attend as a surrogate campaign speaker for Republican Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain.

April is traditionally a time for political dinners in Maryland, and Washington County's GOP dinner is a week ahead of Frederick County's.

Philip Baker-Shenk, a member of the Washington County Republican Central Committee, said Frederick residents are invited to attend. The dinners are spaced out so people can go to dinners in neighboring counties as well, he said.

"We consider it a Western Maryland regional event, and especially Frederick County folk are warmly welcomed to head west," Baker-Shenk said.

The program begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Fountain Head Country Club, north of Hagerstown at 13316 Fountain Head Road.

According to the committee, Allen distinguished himself in the Senate as a hardworking defender of the sanctity of life, a balanced budget, the Second Amendment, tax cuts, liberty -- domestically and abroad, and a more efficient government.

Allen was a loyal ally of McCain's in working to constrain federal government spending and for a line-item veto, the committee said in a statement.

"Gov. Allen has a distinguished record in Richmond as well as on Capitol Hill," Baker-Shenk said. "His years of public service distinguish him as having core conservative values."

Allen is discussed as a potential running mate for McCain, but Baker-Shenk doubts a final decision will be made until just before the national convention in September.

Frederick County's Republican Central Committee will hold its annual Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner on April 23 at Dutch's Daughter Restaurant.

Retired Navy Capt. Mike Cronin, a friend of McCain, will speak.

A Frederick County Democratic Party Jefferson -Jackson Day Dinner will be held May 2.

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