The (Hopefully) New Republican Headquarters

I saw the new (hopefully) state party headquarters on Monday this week and I was impressed.

For those who could not make it to the receptions on Monday, the possible new facility is a gracious white house on the corner of Greenbrier Street and Kanawha Boulevard across the street from the Capitol Complex and across the Kanawha River from the University of Charleston. For those not familiar with Charleston, this places the West Virginia Republican Party square at the geographic center of state politics (as much as possible without actually occupying the Governor's Mansion.) Extending down the Boulevard are law firms and lobbyists, some of whom might be more likely to attend fundraisers or chats at the party headquarters.

Greenbrier Street and Kanawha Boulevard are two of the more heavily traveled streets in the city, giving the party an enhanced visibilty it did not have on MacCorkle Avenue in South Charleston.

The interior presents a much more professional image than the old headquarters building. Instead of frayed carpeting and discolored ceilings, the party can now host donors, the press, and others in much more congenial surroundings. Legislators can now easily hold conferences without fear that an errant Governor might wander in. GOP Delegates can also meet constituents in spaces larger than the back seat of a Yugo. The property has a spacious front lawn upon which can be held good sized outdoor functions. Impressions make a difference and this new facility should start the party moving forward.

Delegate Craig Blair emphasized that although taking on the responsibility for the building represented some risk, the party needs to take chances to achieve its goals.

The Party leadership has been accused of expressing no vision and no plan in the past. The possible acquisition of this facility combined with the potential hiring of an experienced executive director represent the fact that actions speak much more loudly than words. These actions demonstrate that the West Virginia Republican Party is ready to challenge its true opposition, the entrenched Ruling Party.