CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Who’s running the show?
That was the question today as state Republicans gathered at the Charleston Civic Center for their winter meeting.
Gaining widespread social media attention is the contest for state party chair. The last elected chair, Melody Potter, resigned due to personal reasons. She was replaced on an interim basis by former Vice Chair Roman Stauffer. It was unclear if that is the line of succession that should have been followed since the party executive committee eliminated vice chair positions with a bylaw change under Potter.
Nevertheless, Stauffer announced he was a candidate to complete Potter’s term. Other announced candidates are former Chair Conrad Lucas, Wood County GOP Chair Rob Cornelius and Raleigh Republican Chair Mark Harris.
Campaigning for the unpaid position became personal and vicious as the election approached.
An anonymous mailer to the executive committee members who will elect the Chair savagely attacked Lucas. None of the “facts” in the attack mailer have been verified.
Cornelius has lodged a vigorous campaign, aimed mostly at Potter, Governor Jim Justice and Harris, who he links together.
Apparently confirming Cornelius’ suspicions, Potter and Justice have shunned Stauffer, who has long been their ally. The pair now support Harris.
This led to Stauffer withdrawing as a candidate.
I have been approached by GOP members of the legislature who say they were approached by Justice Chief of Staff Brian Abraham to support Harris.
Apparently they have also spoken with Cornelius, who quotes them in his latest social media post. Cornelius said the Republican legislator fear funding for their districts and support for their legislation will be curtailed if they do not do as Abraham instructed.
Although the current GOP regime attempts to operate in secrecy, we will have the election results later today.
In the meantime, members of the GOP committee and voters should consider that it appears who becomes state GOP Chair is more important to the Governor’s office than the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ron Gregory is a political columnist and covers politics for lootpress.com. Contact him at 304-533-5185 or ronjgregory@gmail.com.