Bruce Meyer running for 2nd District Chairman
By Georgie Gale | Sunday, February 28th, 2010 | PoliticsBruce Meyer announced Thursday his intention to run for Chairman of the 2nd Congressional District Republican Party. This race will be a rematch between Meyer and the current Chairman, Gary Byler.
Meyer has shared what he thinks the big issues are in this upcoming race – party building, making use of technology, and of course, getting Republicans elected.
Regarding party building, Meyer wants to reinstitute grassroots training and workshops for party activists. He wishes to take advantage of broader opportunities for growth, decrying missed opportunities such as the Sarah Palin rally at the Virginia Beach Convention Center in 2008.
“We had over 15,000 Republicans in attendance. Yet, not one person from the Second District Republican Party was out front inviting these excited Republicans to join the party. What an opportunity blown.”
Meyer also wishes to reach out to other organizations in the area that are galvanized and growing. The Tea Party movement has been gaining strength in Hampton Roads, having completed a conference this weekend with over 270 in attendance. Meyer hasn’t seen any Republican Party outreach to the Tea Party groups and sees it as a great opportunity for engaging a new and excited group of volunteers.
Technology is an area that Meyer says needs to be pursued to reach out to a new generation of voters.
“The Obama campaign and the Democrats crushed the Republican Party in 2008 mainly due to the fact that they were way ahead of us in technology. The Democrats with MoveOn.org focused on Facebook, Websites, Twitter, You Tube, Meet Up Groups and other state of the art but accessible forms of Internet technology.”
Meyer proposes to beat the Democrats at their own game. With the current 2nd District Party not having a website or even a Facebook page, Meyer says this is “totally unacceptable.”
Meyer is enthusiastic about the field of candidates the Republicans have running for Congress, anyone of whom he says would make an excellent Congressman. He is ready to run and excited about the opportunity coming up for the 2nd District.
“We need to to better! We can do better! We need to reach out to the Grass Roots and not be afraid of them. The Tea Party movement is a prime example. As Chairman, I will bring us up to speed in Technology! As Chairman, I will interact with the Tea Party Groups! As Chairman, I will Grow this party and Win Back our Congressional Seat and Kick Glenn Nye out.”
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15 Responses to "Bruce Meyer running for 2nd District Chairman"
I hope it will be a positive race and not what I have seen so far and during the last race. Nasty innuendos that are backstabbing turn people off. It gives credence to the phrase, “eating your own”. Stay with the issues of what you are going to do, not what you perceive the other hasn’t done.
“Meyer has shared what he thinks the big issues are in this upcoming race – party building, making use of technology, and of course, getting Republicans elected.”
No clue.
Capitalization much?
this race should be a non starter. gary byler has done a phenomenal job as chairman, raising money, 65%+ in 2009 elections in the second district. end results mean everything. every house of delegates seat in beach held by republicans after 2009.
grassroots training and workshops? zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Byler ’10
“reinstitute grassroots training and workshops for party activists. ”
Probably a good idea.
“We had over 15,000 Republicans in attendance. Yet, not one person from the Second District Republican Party was out front inviting these excited Republicans to join the party. What an opportunity blown.”
A decent enough observation.
“Meyer hasn’t seen any Republican Party outreach to the Tea Party groups and sees it as a great opportunity for engaging a new and excited group of volunteers.”
What? Like some kind of Ron Paul activists rerun where you totally disrespect them, treat them like “volunteers” (mindless labor)to be seen and not heard, and then call them Paultards? Gonna call tea partiers “Tea baggers” like the Democrats do? Will Tea Partiers also find out they really don’t have a seat at the table? We’ll see if anyone learns from history or not.
“The Obama campaign and the Democrats crushed the Republican Party in 2008 mainly due to the fact that they were way ahead of us in technology.”
Is that what he believes? “Mainly” technology? Ok, I encourage the use of current tech, but if this guy thinks Tech is the reason the GOP got it’s butt kicked, you had better stick with Gary Byler.
Kathy, in an election, a candidate must point out what he/she feels the incumbent has not done or not done well; it is the basis for setting off a “why I will be different” campaign. Of course Meyer will have to discuss what he will do, and it appears from this article that he is doing that.
Grassroots training and workshops are essential to a well-oiled local GOP, something this district lacks, from my nascent observation. We have amazing training just up the road in Arlington at a conservative institute, and in Charlottesville, and I wonder if anyone in the current congressional race has taken advantage of it? Are our young people going to leadership schools? Do we know how to maintain ballot integrity at the polls? All of these things could come together to make the local GOP much more “grand.” If we were more grand, perhaps those Tea Party types might tuck in under the tent. After all, it’s supposed to be a big tent.
Lastly, if you ask anyone who brings home the (serious) bacon from working on campaigns, they will tell you that what Meyer says is true- the Democrats do tech like nobody’s business, and tech GETS MONEY, GETS VOLUNTEERS, AND GETS VOTES. The guy who did Obama’s texting campaign? He went to McCain first- he wanted to work for the GOP. He was rejected. (Yeah- who needs texting? Hey- who doesn’t still remember “Text the word HOPE to 62262 (OBAMA)?” Any idea the database that created?)
I’m not sure who’s the best candidate for the position here, but I’m sure the next two months will inform us, and we can act accordingly. It’s not really democracy if we don’t have a choice.
~Vocal Chicken
Who should be blamed for losing the 2nd District to Nye, Thelma, Byler or the Dems?
Our young people have internships,the Byler Institute, enthusiastic support from leadership and yes, we could and should have more and we are working on it, (the meeting this past Saturday).
GOBOB Bob McDonnell used the tech for his campaign and it was very effective. We need to use it from now on. We need to stay on top of technology and use every avenue for all elections. We should be the leader and not the follower of the latest in technology.
I don’t see the Tea Party as a separate entity from the foundational principal of the Republican Party. I see them as a firm standing principled Party of fiscal conservatism. I know I am going to get flak on that one from Tea Party and Republican activists alike, so tell me where I am wrong.
Super Chicken, you missed my point. I have been to the meetings in person. I know how it comes across, not just to me, but to the rest of the ears in the room. It’s a turn off.
When it’s a big turn off, there is only one other choice.
Bruce criticizes the current Party leadership for not having a Facebook page – but Bruce himself is not on Facebook.
I met Bruce Meyer Saturday morning at Hampton Roads Tea Party training session. I was very impressed by him and think he would make an outstanding chairman. The Libertarian sitting next to me had all sorts of nice things to say about him.
Ben Loyola, Kenny Golden, Scott Rigell, and Scott Taylor spoke to us Friday night at the First Anniversary Indoor Tea Party. I think that any of those fine gentlemen would make an outstanding Congressman and I was very impressed by all four.
see http://hamptonroads.com/2010/02/local-tea-party-plans-boost-its-activities
Party like its 1773
“Don’t vote until you see the whites of their eyes.”
Gary Byler has done a faboulous job as Chairman of the Second District Republican Party. Gary has always been there to help rather it be with outreach or with Raising money. Gary Byler is the person we need to help grow the party in the Second District of Virginia.
First, a oouple things in reply to what has already been said:
1. Grassroots training is important, but not as important as it used to be. I myself was trained by both the RPV and GOPAC. The thing today is that for some functions that used to be done by volunteers, a well-financed campaign can now cover through vendors or automation at relatively little additional cost.
2. While Obama did make good use of tech, IMO Barry won by enlarging the voter pool. Most Presidential elections have around 50% turnout, maybe 55%. It was higher in 2008 due to liberal voter registration efforts, and Obama flanked McCain with new voters. (In turn, Dem hopes in the 2010 midterms hinge on being able to get them back to the polls.)
Back to the 2nd District, my first thought when I heard the news was “What?!?” In 2008 Byler defeated Meyer 68%-32%. Does Bruce think he can tacticly overcome such a margin now?
That said, back in my days as a RPVB backbencher, Bruce was one of those in a leadership position who was very good to me. If he wants to run again, I’ll be there as a Meyer delegate.
Bruce Meyer has been a friend and mentor to me for 11 years. He has the energy and passion to accomplish anything he puts his mind to. He leads the committee that puts on the Advance every single year which is greatly attended and provides a wide array of topics so we can help elect Republicans to public office. He has an insight and institutional memory for the party that is unparalleled. Because of this I will be supporting Bruce Meyer for 2nd District Chairman.
Oh yeah…It wasn’t Bruce who lost the 2nd Congressional seat to the Democrats either, which also cost us a seat and influence on the State Central Committee.
Keep it clean.
Vote for who you believe best represents the GOP to the business community, to those in the Tea Party looking to get involved and who can best work with the local elected and our candidates fo rhigher office
Oh Yeah, Keep it clean.
“Meyer has shared what he thinks the big issues are in this upcoming race – party building, making use of technology, and of course, getting Republicans elected.”
At the last 2nd District meeting, in January, they approved setting up a website. Maybe Meyer didn’t attend that meeting? The most important outcome when the polls close is “getting Republicans elected”. So let’s take a look at the outcome of the most recent elections:
Governor, Bob McDonnell – Republican
Lt. Governor, Bill Bolling – Republican
Attorney General, Ken Cuccinelli – Republican
21st District House of Delegates, Ron Villaneuva – Republican
81st District House of Delegates, Barry Knight – Republican
82nd District House of Delegates, Bob Purkey – Republican
83rd District House of Delegates, Chris Stolle – Republican
84th District House of Delegates, Sal Iaquinto – Republican
85th District House of Delegates, Bob Tata – Republican
VB Prosecutor, Harvey Bryant – Republican
Sheriff, Ken Stolle, Republican
Meyer wants outreach? Byler helped send college Republicans to the National convention in 2008. He opened the first ever Eastern Shore campaign headquarters. In addition to helping efforts in Hampton, Norfolk and Virginia Beach he’s revitlized the Eastern Shore Republican Party.
The proof is at the poll. Under the watch and leadership of Gary Byler we’ve gained far more ground then Meyer ever attempted. No doubt Bouchard and Mathieson would have preferred if Meyer had been chair this last election.
Byler’s meetings are open to the public, something that used to be hard to come by in this district. The web has certainly been around for longer than two years and I don’t remember the 2nd District having a website or a Facebook presence under Meyers watch. While Byler hasn’t had those either; he sure did accomplish more without them then Meyer ever dreamed about.
There is no question that one of the most important things we need to do is get Republican’s elected. We also need to keep the leadership for the 2nd District truly conservative. There is no question that Byler is a true conservative. If every district had a Chairman as good as Byler there would not have been a need for the Tea Party. The Tea Party Patriots know that Byler is their friend. He is one of the only Chairman that will go out of his way to ‘expand the tent’ by giving Libertarians a true seat at the table and a chair on committees.
Byler has done an outstanding job as Chairman. He has earned the right to be supported for Chairman by Republicans, Libertarians and Tea Party Patriots.
The proof is at the polls. Re-elect Gary Byler for Chairman of VA-02 Congressional District.
Gary Byler has always foucused on outreach. Time and Time again Gary has been there recruting new people to join the party and reaching out to Young Republicans, Republican Womens Clubs, and minorites, and another thing is Gary Byler knows about Grassroots in the Party. Just look at the 2009 Election, Gary was out everyday recruiting Volunteers and Raising Money for the Candidates. As a Student I am actively involved in the Republican Party because Gary Byler got me invovled when I first started looking to get involved in my community. Lets Re – Elect Gary Byler Chairman of the Second District Republican Party.
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