Republican Party Chairman Thomas Judge Sr., who has run the organization since 1975, is expected to be re-elected to another four-year term - with no serious opposition - at tonight's reorganization meeting.

After months of intermittent speculation that Middletown GOP boss Andrew Reilly was eyeing Judge's seat, Reilly said yesterday that he would back the longtime leader in the interest of party unity.

"Our national brand as a party is not doing well," he said, "and I don't think an internal partisan fight would strengthen our party."

In fact, Reilly, former chairman of the Delaware County Council, will lead tonight's meeting at the Springfield Country Club, where the executive committee will vote for party chairman, vice chairman and treasurer.

"I'd like to stay here and continue the work that I started many, many years ago," said Judge, who also heads the Darby Township GOP. "As long as my health holds up, I certainly will continue to work for the Republican Party."

Judge, 79, was elected chairman in 1975 after the so-called Delaware County War Board - a 15-member panel of party leaders that ran the county's once-unstoppable political machine - was disbanded in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the loss of the 7th Congressional District seat to Democrat Bob Edgar.

He came to power as the party implemented a new set of bylaws that distributed power from the War Board - "You mean the alleged War Board," Judge quipped - to hundreds of Republican committee people.

The panel had developed a reputation as a "sinister group of cigar-smoking characters" with too much political power, and had become a liability for the GOP, said Upper Darby Republican Chairman John McNichol Sr.

Judge, who also serves as the county's recorder of deeds, has been easily re-elected to the chairman's post every four years. But there had been speculation in party circles that his time might be up.

Reilly, 45, a Media lawyer who oversaw last year's successful election of three County Council candidates, said yesterday that he didn't want to trigger a Republican rift similar to that in Montgomery County. He also said he wants to concentrate on building up his law practice and sending his oldest daughter off to college.

"If it ain't broke, why fix it?" Springfield GOP leader Michael Puppio said. "Fighting only benefits one side - the D's."

Puppio said he and other up-and-coming political leaders, like Reilly, haven't been frozen out by party elders and, therefore, see no need to challenge Judge. Party insiders say Judge and Reilly resolved some of their differences while working on last year's County Council race.

"I do want to see some changes occur, but I am content to work from the inside to accomplish them," Reilly said.

Republican Vice Chairwoman Carol Miller and Treasurer John McBlain are also expected to be re-elected tonight. *