RPV leadership mum on RNC Chairman’s race
By JR Hoeft | Monday, January 3rd, 2011 | PoliticsA rather significant debate for the chairman of the national conservative political party, known occasionally as the Republicans, was held today; so, you’d think the leadership in Virginia might have something to say about it, but they’re keeping their opinions closely-guarded.
Politico reported today that Steele is toast. He doesn’t have the 88 votes necessary to be re-elected…so you would think Pat Mullins, Kathy Terry, or Morton Blackwell (in Mr. Blackwell’s defense, I haven’t contacted him), the Republican Party of Virginia’s national representation to the national party, would have something to say.
Not so much.
Why?
Well, probably because the decision as already been made…and that is they likely support Maria Cino.
Who? Well, Lynn Mitchell, aka SWAC Girl and an Examiner columnist wrote an informative piece about her for the Examiner. Mitchell writes:
“Who exactly is Maria Cino?….She is not exactly a household word that many at the grassroots level would recognize but her work for the GOP has affected all in one way or another. As one of only two women running for chair, her background is impressive.”
Mitchell went on to say of Cino that she is “described as a workhorse rather than a showhorse, she has diligently toiled for years in the background away from the spotlight seeking results rather than headlines, and she has insight into the everyday aspects of the job thanks to her time spent as RNC Deputy Chairman from 2003-04.”
Mitchell wrote in passing on the other candidates: she chose Cino to focus the majority of her energy on. If that doesn’t telegraph what the RPV is thinking, I don’t know what will.
Couple that with the fact that Ed Gillespie, former RPV chair, has already publicly backed her and fundraisers have been held for her in Virginia, my spidey-sense tells me that RPV is looking to a woman to lead the RNC.
Update – Read this profile from the Daily Caller
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Conservative to the core; liberal with his opinion! J.R. has been involved in politics for over a decade and has worked on several campaigns in Hampton Roads. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Chesapeake and the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. He is also the director of “Blogs United” in Virginia. E-mail J.R.. Follow J.R. on Twitter.
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12 Responses to "RPV leadership mum on RNC Chairman’s race"
Cino is my choice. I worked with her when she was Deputy Secretary at the Department of Transportation in the last administration. She’s smart, a hard worker and has a lot of party experience having been Deputy RNC chair and Executive Director of the NRCC.
Morton Blackwell has endorsed Saul Anuzis
http://www.anuzisforchair.com/inner.asp?z=13
Also in this National Review Online article he eludes to Terry and Mullins leaning the same way. http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/255681/morton-blackwells-crystal-ball-brian-bolduc
I think Cino is the way to go. With her connections it will re-engergize the party financially. Having friends on the 501c4 committees counts for a lot these days if you ask me.
Good info, Will. Thanks for sharing it!
Weird.
Tim Kaine gets to keep his gig ans DNC Chair but the Democratic Party got its butt kicked in the last election. Meanwhile, the Republican Party devistates the Dems in the last election and the GOP throws its RNC Chair Michael Steele under the bus?
Am I the only one who thinks the most overrated Party position at any level is Chairman?
I don’t blame Tim Kaine for the fact that Democrats got slaughtered, and I don’t credit Steele for the GOP wins.
If they can raise money, I’m happy. Assigning anything more to them is an overreach.
Bingo, Brian. That’s why the “debate” yesterday was pointless. Asking these guys a bunch of policy questions is dumb. All I want to know is how much money they can raise. Cino has a lot of experience raising a lot of money.
Brian,
I agree with you on many points….but you don’t know what it’s like until you have been a local Party Unit “Chairman”. It all becomes personal at that point. Ask Bob McDonnell or any other statwide elected about the role the local unit chair and their support is worth.
The other part of that…and you can ask your sweetheart Ann…is all of the stuff we do unpaid.
I have never been paid a penny for any of my political activities. In fact, it costs me alot both monetary wise…and career wise. It is largely a thankless job. Just ask many others..and you will find out. The weight of responsibility and credibility is heavy.
Brian Sch…
Yes, the driving thing for the RNC Chair is raising money. However, if they cannot generate the respect of other Party leaders on all levels it will not work. The Chair of the RNC needs to be a lightningrod for enthusiasm and innovation of ideas.
Honestly, I am not an expert on the VA Party Plan, I depend on my Vice Chair for that, or other things..so I go find the expertise. What I am directly responsible for is motivating the Norfolk GOP, keeping the dream alive no matter what the odds (in Norfolk) and raising enough money to operate, publish calls, appoint Electoral Board members & District Chairs. Bottom line, I am the chief cheerleader for the Norfolk Republican Party. If there was not one, we would not exist.
I believe the RNC Chair needs to possess the ability to inspire local Party leaders..and the grassroots who are not local Party members but work the Polls each year. He or she needs to have the ability to inspire us to stretch ourselves in local Party recruitment and provide advanced IT tools to help us do that.
Those of you in the Beltway (Brian Sch) do not have a pulse on those of us leading local Party units. The RNC Chairman, who he or she is…and what they stand for, and the strategy to execute a winning Presidential campaign in 2012 is a very big deal to anyone wo has made the personal sacrifice to Chair a local Party.
Sincerely,
Pam Brown
Chairman, Republican Party of Norfolk
VFRW Board of Directors 2006-present
Past President, Norfolk Republican Women 2004-2005
Chair 87th District 2003-present
757-560-4945
Pam, why on earth would I need to ask my sweetheart about you working for free?
I mean, I can. I can easily say, “Hey Ann, did you realize Pam is an idiot and works for free Chairing the Republican Party in Norfolk where Democrats win 99.99999% of elections?” but I probably won’t.
Every time someone runs for Chairman of my City Committee, I ask them the same thing – “Why the heck do you want to do that?” It’s always, always, always a stupid move.
Most voters don’t know and don’t care who Chairmen are. Most elected officials want Chairmen who will do what the electeds want done – and that’s “stay out of policy” and “raise money and recruit volunteers.”
That’s it.
And, as you’ve said, you can be a nifty Chairman while being clueless about the Party Plan. That says more than I can say about it.
I don’t know why anyone would want the Chairman deal. You get no power, no reward and you give up everything. You bust your butt and get none of the benefits.
It’s way overrated.
Brian,
I have no regrets. I have given, and still do my best effort largely because I believe in the Party and what it represents. I have learned alot about myself, and made real and lasting friends that I can count on. I have also had experiences of a lifetime thanks to Republican Party involvement.
If all of us are idiots who decide to take on local Party leadership in the Commonwealth….then I am an idiot. What you could easily say, you just did.
Just remember, calling all local unit chairs idiots for volunteering to do so might cost you something one day down the road. You live in Va Beach, and several of those folks have run for or served as RPVB Chair. At least now–they all know what you think of them.
Pam, I think you do a great job. I’d never accept a chairmanship and would advise any close friend against accepting one. It’s a horrible job that treats the people who accept it horribly.
Besides, if you haven’t noticed, I’m never overly concerned about changing my opinion or keeping quiet based on “what it might cost me one day.”
That is no way to live.
I feel much better being right.
The funny thing is most people I know who have been a unit chair agree with me. Ever notice the chairman turnover in Virginia Beach?
Once somebody has this job, they run from it and never look back.
Brian,
I might just have to agree with you by this time next year….or if they chop up the 87th so I have nothing here,
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