When West Virginia Republican Party Chair Doug McKinney first took the job, some folks in the party must have wondered why he or anyone else would want it. Kris Warner had to resign after 2004 and Robin Capehart had little time to make substantial changes before heading off to Romania.McKinney faced a harrowing task. A six figure debt, flagging donations and confidence in the party, mounting bills, and questions about how to challenge a Democratic Party with 2/3 of the registered voters in the state.
Now in 2009 the party has turned the corner. After two disastrous GOP campaign seasons across the nation and during the most severe economic downturn since Jimmy Carter, the party retired its debt and started putting money into the bank. Fundraising outpaced state Democrats by almost three to one. The Party left its South Charleston location and moved into more charming quarters within shouting distance of the State Capitol. This increases party visibility in the eyes of voters, the press, and potential donors. Moving to this new locale to some involves a lot of risk. Good capitalists remember that no reward comes without risk.
Finally the party settled on an Executive Director. Gary Abernathy was not able to remain at the post, but the Party located and hired veteran political operative Troy Berman. He has worked for different Republican organizations and candidates in a variety of capacities. Getting him at the advertised $40,000 per year looks like a steal.
The test comes in 2010. Can the new measures propel Republicans to pose stronger challenges while attracting more registered voters? Not all have agreed with the changes, but neither have they proposed a significantly different alternative vision. The West Virginia Republican Party has put itself in a position to make major moves in the next year.
No comments:
Post a Comment