Gary Byler, longtime GOP activist in Virginia Beach and husband to the late RPV National Committeewoman Jennifer Byler, is seeking to become the chairman of RPV’s Second Congressional Committee. Byler has decided to challenge current committee chair, Bruce Meyer, who has the backing of, well, just about everyone, including, and perhaps most importantly, Rep. Thelma Drake.
Under Meyer, the congressional seat has stayed Republican, despite some serious adversity, which included the unplanned resignation of former Rep. Ed Shrock and a serious challenge last election from Virginia Beach Commissioner of Revenue Phil Kellam. Meyer has done his job well; maintaining the congressional seat “Republican” is the party’s district chairman’s first and foremost responsibility.
To this point, Meyer has performed brilliantly, even growing the party and starting an aggressive outreach strategy. So, the move by Byler really is a perplexing one. And the question has to be, why now?