GOP Grumbling Focuses On Daxon, April Convention; Reneau Being Urged To Seek Post?
UPDATE: Republican sources said late today that Labor Commissioner Brenda Reneau, defeated in her reelection bid, is being urged by supporters to seek the post of Republican State Party chair.
However, her spokesman Trey Davis told TMRO, "Tom Daxon is a good friend of Brenda's and she's not out to unseat him as chair. Frankly, the fact that her name is being bandied about caught her by surprise and she hasn't had time, yet, to think about it. She's not actively seeking the position but of course she'll give it serious consideration if that's what a majority of state Republicans want." With the dust from the 2006 elections barely settled, there's talk among some Republicans that the GOP convention in April will see an effort to replace Chairman Tom Daxon if he decides to seek reelection; a source close to Daxon said a final decision hasn't been made.The unrest, and the grumbling, is coming from some of those involved in this year's campaigns as candidates and consultants. They argue that the state party, under Daxon, was ineffective and offered little help to candidates for statewide office and the Legislature, a view contested by others.
Some unrest was evident earlier this year, when critics said the party's "Victory" effort existed on paper only and was being used only to support party staff members and not candidates. When word of unrest about Daxon's leadership first surfaced, his supporters were quick to note that when he ran for chairman, he made clear his first priority would be to take control of the State Senate and insiders say he worked with Senate Minority Leader Glenn Coffee to make that happen. While the party did not win control, it did pick up two seats to tie Democrats.
Overall, the party's losses in the statewide races were offset by a 2-seat pickup in the State Senate, giving Republicans their historic tie with Democrats. But those pickups, insiders say, had more to do with Senate Minority Leader Glenn Coffee and his efforts than they did with the state party. And House candidates say Speaker-designate Lance Cargill was of more help than the party organization.
"Tom just wasn't very effective," a supporter of Daxon's said. "The party just wasn't a player this time around. You didn't see or hear much out of Tom." Daxon's defenders say he spent his time helping raise money to help candidates and saw that as a better use of his time than making speeches. Daxon's lack of visibility apparently bothered others. He declined repeated invitations to appear weekly opposite Democratic Party Vice-chairman Ben Odom on radio station KTOK's "Mullins In The Morning" show and State Rep. Doug Miller became the party's voice, leading some to wonder why Daxon would bypass such an opportunity to represent the party. His predecessor, Gary Jones, was a regular on the show. The 2007 GOP convention will be held April 13-14 at the Clarion Hotel in Oklahoma City.
Some unrest was evident earlier this year, when critics said the party's "Victory" effort existed on paper only and was being used only to support party staff members and not candidates. When word of unrest about Daxon's leadership first surfaced, his supporters were quick to note that when he ran for chairman, he made clear his first priority would be to take control of the State Senate and insiders say he worked with Senate Minority Leader Glenn Coffee to make that happen. While the party did not win control, it did pick up two seats to tie Democrats.
Overall, the party's losses in the statewide races were offset by a 2-seat pickup in the State Senate, giving Republicans their historic tie with Democrats. But those pickups, insiders say, had more to do with Senate Minority Leader Glenn Coffee and his efforts than they did with the state party. And House candidates say Speaker-designate Lance Cargill was of more help than the party organization.
"Tom just wasn't very effective," a supporter of Daxon's said. "The party just wasn't a player this time around. You didn't see or hear much out of Tom." Daxon's defenders say he spent his time helping raise money to help candidates and saw that as a better use of his time than making speeches. Daxon's lack of visibility apparently bothered others. He declined repeated invitations to appear weekly opposite Democratic Party Vice-chairman Ben Odom on radio station KTOK's "Mullins In The Morning" show and State Rep. Doug Miller became the party's voice, leading some to wonder why Daxon would bypass such an opportunity to represent the party. His predecessor, Gary Jones, was a regular on the show. The 2007 GOP convention will be held April 13-14 at the Clarion Hotel in Oklahoma City.
Labels: Party Politics
posted by Mike McCarville @ 4:33 PM
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