Longtime GOP activist Linda Ackerman, wife of Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman, has thrown her hat into the ring to be California’s next Republican National Committeewoman. This is outstanding news for Republican donors and activists around the state as Linda has a strong track record, going back decades, of working hard for conservative candidates and causes.
The affairs of the Republican National Committee are governed by a small exclusive groups made up of three representatives from each of the 50 states as well as each of the U.S. territories — each being represented by its State Chairman, a Committeeman and a Committeewoman. Since 1996, these positions have been elected by the members of the California Republican Party State Central Committee. That year, Tim Morgan of Santa Cruz and Barbara Alby of Folsom ran for those posts, and have each been re-elected twice (terms are four years in duration). This coming February, when the State GOP meets in San Francisco, these positions will be up for election.
ALBY’S DIFFICULT DECISION
I’ve known our current National Committeewoman, Barbara Alby, since 1988, when we were both cutting our teeth as activists in the California Republican Assembly. Barbara has been a conservative voice on the National Committee for eleven years now. Lest anyone try to tell this story differently, it is extremely important that you understand that Alby and Ackerman are very close, not just as ideological compadres, but as good friends. Barbara made a heart-felt personal (and difficult) decision that the conservative cause would be best served if she "passed the baton" of leadership — and it was Barbara who first reached out to Linda and asked her to consider running for this seat. All California Republicans owe Barbara a debt of gratitude for her service and personal sacrifice in this position.
With Linda’s decision to seek the office, Barbara has announced her retirement, and has given her blessing and endorsement to Linda in her campaign to follow her into this important position. While Alby’s reelection was no certainty, before making this decision, she had been running hard and had amassed a very impressive list of legislative and grassroots endorsements. Alby has been reaching out to those supporters, urging them to join with her in support of Ackerman.
ACKERMAN CLEARS THE FIELD
As the incumbent, Alby’s support for Linda sends a pretty strong statement. That said, there were two other Republicans looking at a challenge to Alby. The first was Karen King, the well-regarded Chairman of the San Mateo County Republican Party. The other was Jo Ellen Allen, a longtime GOP activist who has, for many years now, been a public affairs manager with Southern California Edison. In the last day or so, both Karen and Jo Ellen have bowed out and endorsed Ackerman. I know from speaking to Linda that she is very appreciative of the support from King and Allen’s support — and she is humbled to have the support of Barbara Alby, whom she holds in high regard.
LINDA’S STRONG SUPPORT
Since making her decision to run, Linda has been making phone calls non-stop, working to pull together what has become a very impressive list of endorsements, starting with the support of her own husband, Senator Ackerman. With the shoe now being on the other foot, undoubtedly the Senator is looking forward to campaigning for his wife as the pursues this important post. We’ll save a list of her endorsements for a future column (it’s pretty substantial), but I will say that CRP Vice Chairman Tom Del Becarro, in talking with me about his support for Ackerman, was absolutely thrilled that she is in the race. Our Treasurer, Keith Carlson, showed even more enthusiasm, calling Linda an important voice for conservatism within our party.
TWO RACES, NOT ONE
While this column has been devoted to the latest events in the race for Committeewoman, we’ll be looking as well at the race for National Committeeman. The incumbent, Tim Morgan (currently serving as Treasurer of the Republican National Committee) has announced that he will seek re-election in February. His opponent, former CRP Chairman Shawn Steel, husband of State Board of Equalization Member Michelle Steel. Steel’s campaign has been very visible for several months now and his list of supporters is quite impressive. Morgan’s re-election efforts are just now gearing up.
We’ll be following both the Committeeman and the Committeewoman races as we approach the February CRP elections for these important posts.
Let me close my encouraging you, if you are a CRP member, to join with me in endorsing and supporting Linda Ackerman. You can write to Linda (with your support, or any questions) via the FR here.
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