When I attend the CRP conventions, I am here (and I am here, at the Hyatt Hotel looking out from my room at the dome of the State Capitol) as a very active participant in the process. While I am not running for party office (after two terms as the elected Vice Chairman, South, of the party, I am prevented due to term-limits from running again, and am not seeking higher party office), I am very involved in a lot of the goings-on here.
CRP Conventions are a prime networking opportunity for Republican leaders from all over our large state to get together and network — and is also the time when we consider important decisions about the future of the California GOP.
This weekend is the party’s biennial organizational convention, which means that we will be electing all of our party officers.
Running uncontested for the office of Chairman is Tom Del Beccaro who hails from Contra Costa County. Currently the CRP’s Vice Chairman, Tom has been actively engaged in the leadership of the CRP for many years now. He has his own website on politics, worth a visit, called Political Vanguard.
The only candidate for CRP Vice Chairman is my close friend (and neighbor) Steve Baric. Steve is currently wrapping up a successful tenure as President of the California Republican Lawyers Association. Currently in private practice, Baric served the public for many years as a gang prosecutor with the Orange County District Attorney’s office. Steve has become the proverbial cavalry, called to all parts of the state when the services of a smart election law attorney are required. Steve was just elected to our local city council in Rancho Santa Margarita – in a nail biter. His actual margin of victory at this convention with 1500 delegates should be almost 10x that of his Council win.
Patricia Welch and I have known each other for nearly twenty years, so when she told me that she wanted to me Secretary of the State GOP, I suggested that she seek counseling. Alright, I’m just kidding. Actually, Patricia and I met when we was a GOP leader in my home county of Orange. But she for many years has lived on the state’s northern coast, and has represented that area as Chairman of her local county party, and on the CRP Board a Regional Vice Chairman. She’ll do an outstanding job as a statewide officer of the party. Her campaign strategy is sound — have no opponent!
The fourth statewide officer of the California Republican Party is Treasurer. Former State Senator and Assemblyman — and conservative activist for over two decades Ray Haynes shines as the best choice for this office. An attorney by profession (as is our current Treasurer, Keith Carlson, who has endorsed Haybes), Ray would be an outstanding Treasurer for the party. I have written more about his candidacy here. Ray’s opponent is Mike Osborn.
There are also eight Regional Vice Chairmanships up for grabs at the convention. So far as I can tell, five seats are uncontested, and three are being fought for by multiple candidate. In the interest of brevity, I am not going to run down all of these races. However feel free to find me at convention or drop me an email if you want info on them. I do have a favorite in each contest, and am happy to share. I will take the time to thank those people who have endorsed Tony Kvaric to succeed me as Vice Chairman, South. Tony is the Chairman of the San Diego County Republican Party, and a fine conservative leader. He will do an outstanding job!
For the past four years Ron Nehring has served as Chairman of the State Committee. He will now shift to the Immediate Past Chairman’s seat where he will continue to offer sage wisdom on the Board of Directors. Exiting the board (stage left) is former Chairman Duf Sundheim.
Also departing elected positions on the CRP Board of Directors after years of service: Northern Regional Vice Chairman Tom Hudson, Central Vice Chairman Laura Gadke, Los Angeles County Vice Chairman Doug Boyd, CRP Treasurer Keith Carlson (who is now gearing up a run for the State Assembly for 2012) and yours truly. I also want to give a shout out to my friend Paul Bruno, who has served on the Board for many years, both as Central Vice Chairman and currently as Chairman of the Budget Committee. A couple of my colleagues may or may not be retiring, depending on the outcomes of contested races this weekend — Central Coast Vice Chairman Mike Osborn, and Inland Empire Vice Chairman Larry McCallon.
Much will be looked at this weekend in terms of party rules. The most significant issue will be the direction that the party takes to adopt to life in a Prop. 14 world. One proposal (advanced by Congressman Kevin McCarthy) would be to allow the new "jungle primary" (which puts all candidates on one ballot, and allows all voters to select any candidate) to pick the GOP nominee. This will produce more moderate nominees in open seats. The other proposal, which is actually just a minor modification of our current rules, provides caucus for local GOP leaders to come together before the new general election in June and put the party’s support behind a candidate. This latter proposal will help mitigate the negative effects of 14, the passage of which deprived political parties of using the ballot to survey just their own party members for selecting a party nominee.
Two senior statesmen of the party — Former RNC Chairman now Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton will address the convention.
I have to sign off and get over to the nearby Sheraton hotel where the FlashReport is co-sponsoring with Americans for Prosperity a RightOnline conference to help people become better online activists and bloggers! FR friend Andrew Breitbart will speak there, as well as Guy Benson, Political Editor of Townhall.com!
I typically do NOT blog much during conventions — too busy. But I tend to use twitter as often as possible. So follow my tweets here.