National Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele will visit Utah on Friday for a fundraiser and a town-hall meeting.

Steele is scheduled to speak at an 11:30 luncheon at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Salt Lake City, 220 S. State St., for Republican donors and local officials. Tickets are $200 apiece or $1,500 per table.

Steele and Gov. Gary Herbert are scheduled to participate in a 2 p.m. town-hall meeting at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center, 1355 W. 3100 South, West Valley City, where they will offer comments and answer questions.

The former lieutenant governor of Maryland, Steele was elected as the GOP national chairman after Republicans took a beating in the 2008 elections and has become a leading voice of the party.

"He's been somewhat controversial, but I think he's been a good chairman," said Utah Republican Party Chairman Dave Hansen. "He's been willing to speak out and fight for the cause."

Robert Gehrke