The new head of the Republican Party in DuPage County is hoping 2012 is nothing like the last presidential election.

Darlene Ruscitti is the regional superintendent of schools for DuPage County and last week was unanimously elected chair of the county GOP. The first woman to hold the post, she said the distinction will be good for perception.

“It will serve the party well and the candidates well for me to be out there kind of pounding the pavement and talking about the party, talking about our candidates,” Ruscetti said.

In the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama carried the traditionally Republican DuPage by 45,072 votes.

“I absolutely hope [Mr. Obama doesn’t win the county again],” Ruscetti said, laughing. “And I am absolutely committed … at least in my county, to make sure that that does not happen.”

Ruscitti replaced state Representative Randy Ramey as county chair, who opted not to run again. Ramey lost his bid for the state Senate in the March 20th primary.

Last fall, Ruscitti had planned to campaign for the 8th U.S. House District, but was persuaded to leave the race, That cleared the Republican field for Congressman Joe Walsh, who had originally said he would run in the neighboring 14th District.