Kirwin: Gary Byler for Second District Chairman
By Brian Kirwin | Tuesday, April 27th, 2010 | PoliticsIn 2006, the George Allen vs. James Webb race deteriorated into anything but a discussion of issues, with the media leading the way. That led to a seriously bad 2007, where Republicans worst enemies were Republicans. No Republican lost in 2006 or 2007 because of any Democrat. Each and every one lost because conservatives split with moderates and the natural conservative majority dwindled to a Party minority. There’s no reason we should’ve lost two delegate races in Virginia Beach. It was as frustrating as watching your favorite football team play a prevent defense as the other side marches down the field to beat you.
Fair or unfair, those who were running the party apparatus shouldered some of the blame. Suffice to say that those on the ground really didn’t make the decisions, craft the message, or spend the money. Disconnect grande!
This is a long way of saying that in 2008, I supported Gary Byler to replace Bruce Meyer as Chairman of the Second District. Bruce is a good guy and works hard for the Party. I’ve never had so much as a cross word with him, and for me, that’s saying something.
But I believed change was needed in more than a few areas.
Drake’s loss was on Gary’s watch, but on the same November ballot, we also won every local race in the Second District. The pieces were in place for a grassroots resurgence.
2009 was a banner year for Gary Byler. He was always accessible, always helpful, with money, time, volunteers, staff, advice and shoe leather. In the Second, we won the races we needed to win, erased some bitter losses, and challenged Democrats in districts that they never thought we would, and not with underdog campaigns, but with funded, staffed, professional ones. That was pure brilliance, and it made the difference in the close races that Democrat time and money had to be spent elsewhere.
So, going into November 2010, whom would be a better steward of the Second District? Let’s not kid ourselves. Glenn Nye is no easy opponent. The fractured conservative coalition of 2006-07 is just not going to get the job done.
Gary has been a good friend and honest straight-shooter, and in the end we all have the same goal: Republicans winning elections. I’ve seen both Byler and Meyer perform as Second District Chairman, and you can’t argue results. Byler has helped turn the tide, and that is more important than any other issue being discussed in this chairman’s campaign.
Gary Byler has shown that he possesses the better skills, the better experience, and the better talents to get that job done. I have full confidence in his leadership in both the 2010 and the critical 2011 elections. I endorse his re-election as Chairman.
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The right wants to jeer him. The left wants to censor him. Moderates usually want both. Brian Kirwin is a political consultant and public relations strategist in Virginia Beach with a lightning-rod flair. Brian also serves on the VB Arts & Humanities Commission and frequently appears on Hampton Roads theatrical stages, if only to prove that all actors aren’t liberals. Kirwin’s columns stir up debate and hit the political scene with no punches pulled.
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10 Responses to "Kirwin: Gary Byler for Second District Chairman"
Thank you Brian, I could not have said it better myself. Gary has done a phenomenal job. I know Bruce and his wife Connie are very nice people. No doubt about it. Gary gets the job done and that’s what I care about. This race against Nye will be a tough one for sure and Gary is the man we need to lead us in this race.
Fair & Balanced? You decide.
Unbiased and Fair Primary? Nope.
Uniting behind a candidate before the people choose their nominee? Looks that way.
Tolerating unethical behind the scenes activity favoring one candidate over another PRIOR TO AND DURING A PRIMARY? So it appears.
Effective youth outreach? Puhleez.
Open to all right of center republicans whether moderates or conservatives from across the republican spectrum? You decide.
Embracing modern technology to reach more constituents? Too slow to adapt.
turbo, you literally have no idea what you’re talking about
and you’ve been involved for…what, two months now? speaking from experience on behalf of the Golden camp?
Gary Byler has done some good things for his party. Although I am a bit concerned with how the 2nd primary is being handled and all the “annointing” through out the GOP in general, that doesn’t take away from Byler’s past record of success here in the 2nd.
I’m a Libertarian, but Byler does seem to be effective.
Daniel, I just fell off the turnip truck not long ago.. Still smarting.
May 8th is right around the corner friends.
Speaking of the 2nd District, why haven’t there been any recent posts concerning the election? Didn’t Taylor just challenge Rigell to a debate? And he accepted?
I’m out of district, but I enjoy ready updates about the race on this blog. Please update us!
Gary likes to think of himself as a king maker. He bitterly opposed Barry Knight for Delegate and supported Paul Lanteigne and the other guy, the retired Captain whose name escapes me now. Party leaders get too much credit when candidates win and too much blame when they lose. No one was responsible for Doc Welch losing or Chris Stolle losing in 2007 expcet each candidate and their own campaign.
Does Gary deserve credit for Villanueva winning? That’s a crazy questions. He won by 13 votes. Everyone deserves credit.
The ability to raise money – considerable money – and keeping the party’s wings flying together are the chairman’s job. Gary is not doing well on the first and does a decent job on the second.
He deserves to be re-elected only because Bruce had his chance and re-electing him does not move us forward – more like sideways. I like Bruce a ton, but he needs to show an ability to raise money. Go raise Rigell $20,000 from sources that haven’t given to a Republican candidate for Congress before. Surprise us. Show us something new.
Gary should cast a much wider net and bring in many more people to help run the party. Give people small jobs and hold them accountable for delivering. Then go raise $50,000 for the GOP nominee. Then we’ll put him in the Hall of Fame.
Gary Byler – it’s easy to argue he is one of the most, if not THE most, influential Republican’s in our area.
He has helped elect more Republican’s than anyone I know. That’s why I’m bummed with what happened regarding the ballot order of the GOP congressional primary.
First of all I understand it’s not that big of a deal who is first or last on the ballot. Maybe one or two percentage points at the most but it was a big enough deal for Ben to show up at 3:00 AM and for Rigell’s folks to be there by 8:00 ish. It would seem that the rest of the candidates read the VBE guidelines (some actually read the Code of Virginia) and showed up 30 or so minutes before noon. I believe Jessica was third but I may be wrong.
The official State filing by Gary listed Ben @ Noon, Rigell @ 12:01, Bert @ 12:02 and Jessica @ 12:03. Had they filed “simultaneously” the VBE would have determine the ballot order by “lot”. Instead Gary determined the ballot order himself by changing rules while not making this clear to all the candidates.
Not a big deal? If the race is a blow out, then no it’s not a big deal. If the race is close, then yes it’s a big deal and possibly a deciding factor which is why Ben was there so early. What bothers me most about this the perception of bias and the “Byler” process being inherently unfair due to most candidates following the Virginia Code vice “Byler” law.
If I hadn’t contacted Gary the week prior and asked what the process was going to be it would be a little different. However I did call and I did ask and Jessica’s campaign wasn’t given the opportunity to participate as Ben and Rigell did.
Is this a big deal? At first glance not really. But if you read the SBE candidate instructions and the Code of Virginia you realize something isn’t right. Brian, Gary is your man and “Your” man Ben camped out at 3:00 AM to ensure he was first. I thought Ben was nuts but turns out it was Ben beating Gary at his own game. BZ to Ben!
Gary, shame on you and SHAME on me for blindly believing Republicans will stand up for what is right.
PS In an interview last month with Melody Scalley Jessica was asked if she supported off shore drilling. Melody gave Jessica the third degree when she said she wasn’t and wanted to research the matter more. I have to admit, I too chanted drill baby drill but after doing research I concluded Alaska YES, California YES (due to natural seepage) but not off the East Coast quite yet. Turns out that Jessica was the ONLY candidate willing to take a different position on this and guess what boys? She just might be right. One of the many reasons we need to STOP sending the same folks to DC and expect a different result!
Being in the fifth district instead of the second, I am not as familiar with the two candidates for chairman of this district as I am in my own.
Several remarks in Brian’s article however, struck a particular chord with me of great concern namely why is it thta “the Republicans worst enemy has always been other republicans?” Worded another way, why is it that there even a “conservative/moderate” division within the party rank and fileor a separate libertarian faction that should vote with a “natural conservative majority” but frequently will not?
The old Reagan coalition was once described to me by Ken Taylor of Tertium Quid as a coalition of four groups: economic capitalist, traditional values voters, Libertairans and fiscal conservatives. The question today is whether these particular subgroups and others within and outside the party will be able to put aside certain differences to work together to prepare and elect those best able to serve our Party, the Commonwealth and nation as well as write the actual legislation we in some cases desperately need now on each issue to best address our current situation and protectany future posterity? Or will intraparty and personal rivalries and anomisty keep us divided and easier to conquer? I say let’s bury the hatchetts, shake hands, let the best man or woman win, and work with all our might to defeat the Democrats and not each other over the next 185 days.
Gary B,
Shame on me for missing this post. You’re wrong. Sorry. Shame on Gary for nothing. You’re getting worked up over a complete non-issue.
If every campaign had their way, it would have been Rigell first on the ballot. Rigell’s team had already planned to have a staffer camped out for days to submit their ballots ahead of everyone else. Gary told him that was an unnecessary step.
And as of right now, the primary is shaping up to a be a blowout. So you’re right, not a big deal.
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