A small group of conservative women from Park City and surrounding Summit County espousing the core values of the Republican Party has formed an organization that will promote the GOP agenda locally.

The group is called the Summit County Republican Women and will operate under the umbrella of a statewide group with a similar mission. Jennifer Castelli, who lives in Ranch Place and is the president of the local group, said approximately 15 women had joined the group by the middle of the week. Most of the members through the middle of the week were from the West Side of Summit County, she said, a part of the county that is seen as more likely to lean Democratic than the East Side.

The group has held one meeting, Castelli, a 38-year-old who has lived in the Park City area for four years, said. The members thus far represent a wide range of the Republican Party, she said. Castelli said she would like the group to have upward of 100 active members eventually.

“We’re all women (who), for whatever reason, lean more conservatively,” Castelli said.

She said the group anticipates focusing on local and state politics rather than federal-level government. She said ideals important to Summit County Republican Women include low taxes, limited government and family values. The ideals align closely with the national Republican platform.

“I’m a Republican, first and foremost, because I believe in limited government,” Castelli said.

The group appeared during a year when there are not partisan elections. This year’s ballot will include municipal elections in which candidates do not have to declare themselves members of a political party. But the Statehouse and congressional politicking leading toward Election Day in 2012 will likely begin in earnest early in the winter. The 2012 elections are partisan in nature.

Castelli said the group plans to hold monthly meetings during the school year. Community leaders will be invited to address the group, she said. Castelli said she hopes group members volunteer during elections and help Republicans with their campaigning. She also anticipates assisting the Summit County Republican Party.

She wants to introduce members to candidates. Castelli said the group does not plan to endorse Republicans competing against one another for a party nomination. Once a GOP candidate emerges, Castelli said, the group will endorse that person.

The chairman of the Summit County Republican Party, Henry Glasheen, said he welcomes the new group to the political arena in the county. He said their presence could influence more local Republicans to vote over time.

“We’ve seen participation, since I’ve been chair, it’s starting to pick up,” Glasheen said.

Glasheen said the Republican Party has become more attractive to women recently, arguing President Obama does not have an impressive record on education and mentioning the partisan dispute about the nation’s debt as something that could pull women to the Republican Party.

“They’re looking to advocate their interests,” he said about the new group. “They want to get involved.”