CHAMPAIGN — Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels will be the headline speaker for the Champaign County Republican Party's Lincoln Day Dinner on April 19.

Tickets, which will be $90 apiece, will go on sale to the public on Feb. 23 at the party's website.

The event will begin with a special VIP reception for sponsors and premium ticket holders at 6 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Conference Center in Champaign, followed by the dinner at 7 p.m.

Daniels also is scheduled to give the Republican Party's response Tuesday night to President Obama's State of the Union address.

"I love the guy. I've heard him speak before and I think he's terrific," said Habeeb Habeeb, the local party treasurer who said he helped persuade Daniels to come to Champaign County. "He's not pompous. He's just a regular guy."

Habeeb also likely will deliver the "State of the Republican Party in Champaign County" address at the April 19 dinner.

So far he is the only announced candidate to be the new party chairman, a process that will culminate the night before with the election of new party officers.

The event is expected to draw an estimated 800 people from Champaign and throughout Illinois.