2007 Organizational Update: A "Wireside Chat" from Chairman Adam Puharic 01/08/2007
On June 13, 2006, the Monmouth County Republican Committee honored me with the great responsibilities to serve as County Chairman. I campaigned on a platform to unify the party based on three guiding principles: (1) professionalize the organization; (2) raise campaign funds ethically; and (3) concentrate our energies on defeating Democrats—not each other.
With the new year upon us and the dawn of another election cycle, we take the next step in this process through the development of new policies for candidate selection and conventions. As the Asbury Park Press quoted me upon becoming your chairman on June 14, 2006: “Puharic pledged not to abolish the practice of holding county conventions to pick the Republican candidates. He proposed creating... a screening committee for candidates before they are put to a vote of the committeemen and women.”
A Chairman will be measured by his record of wins and losses. I take the loss of Andrew Lucas’ seat personally, and the buck stops here. With this tough experience behind us, I am even more convinced about the need to reform the candidate selection process.
We must make sure no future Republican candidate ever faces a divided base of powerbrokers and convention fanatics – angry that their candidate did not win. Many of the loud convention voices fell silent during the campaign trail, not raising money, not putting up signs, not interested in anything other than their own self-aggrandizement.
This weekend, therefore, I have briefed Republican elected officials throughout the county of my intention to implement a screening committee prior to any county convention. Based on their input, I will modify my original plan design to accommodate their concerns. I have briefed my executive committee, and explained my intentions to the council of chairs during our December meeting.
In the coming days, I will explain the process, including:
The structure of the screening committee and the procedures for dealing with vacancies and incumbents;
The deadlines for interested parties submitting letters of intent;
The process for thoroughly vetting all candidates and forwarding the most qualified;
The schedule for screening potential candidates; and
The schedule for the next convention.
You will also undoubtedly hear from voices of disunion, intent on smearing any plans for reform. Critics will charge that we intend to limit the democratic process. This is not true. I intend to restore a representational Republican form of leadership to this county party that will help ensure victory in future elections.
My fellow Republicans, you know my values. I told you the current convention system was a cancer. My opponents thought they would defeat us by attacking this position. We defeated them, overwhelmingly. This was a clear mandate. Now is the time to stick together and reform this process. I am counting on your support for victory in 2007.
Adam Puharic, ChairmanMonmouth County Republican Party www.MonmouthRepublican.org
info@MonmouthRepublican.org
732.431.6664
On June 13, 2006, the Monmouth County Republican Committee honored me with the great responsibilities to serve as County Chairman. I campaigned on a platform to unify the party based on three guiding principles: (1) professionalize the organization; (2) raise campaign funds ethically; and (3) concentrate our energies on defeating Democrats—not each other.
With the new year upon us and the dawn of another election cycle, we take the next step in this process through the development of new policies for candidate selection and conventions. As the Asbury Park Press quoted me upon becoming your chairman on June 14, 2006: “Puharic pledged not to abolish the practice of holding county conventions to pick the Republican candidates. He proposed creating... a screening committee for candidates before they are put to a vote of the committeemen and women.”
A Chairman will be measured by his record of wins and losses. I take the loss of Andrew Lucas’ seat personally, and the buck stops here. With this tough experience behind us, I am even more convinced about the need to reform the candidate selection process.
We must make sure no future Republican candidate ever faces a divided base of powerbrokers and convention fanatics – angry that their candidate did not win. Many of the loud convention voices fell silent during the campaign trail, not raising money, not putting up signs, not interested in anything other than their own self-aggrandizement.
This weekend, therefore, I have briefed Republican elected officials throughout the county of my intention to implement a screening committee prior to any county convention. Based on their input, I will modify my original plan design to accommodate their concerns. I have briefed my executive committee, and explained my intentions to the council of chairs during our December meeting.
In the coming days, I will explain the process, including:
The structure of the screening committee and the procedures for dealing with vacancies and incumbents;
The deadlines for interested parties submitting letters of intent;
The process for thoroughly vetting all candidates and forwarding the most qualified;
The schedule for screening potential candidates; and
The schedule for the next convention.
You will also undoubtedly hear from voices of disunion, intent on smearing any plans for reform. Critics will charge that we intend to limit the democratic process. This is not true. I intend to restore a representational Republican form of leadership to this county party that will help ensure victory in future elections.
My fellow Republicans, you know my values. I told you the current convention system was a cancer. My opponents thought they would defeat us by attacking this position. We defeated them, overwhelmingly. This was a clear mandate. Now is the time to stick together and reform this process. I am counting on your support for victory in 2007.
Adam Puharic, ChairmanMonmouth County Republican Party www.MonmouthRepublican.org
info@MonmouthRepublican.org
732.431.6664
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9 comments:
The process does need to be reformed. Three conventions in '06 and three sets of rules - one set for each convention.
That doesn't fly.
We can't be making up the rules as we go along. Candidates as well as committeemen and women must know ahead of time what the process will be, including who actually has a vote.
I look forward to Adam's proposal.
the problem as i see it is it is too easy to run in a convetion format. Either the chairman should choose after consulting with others or we should just have primarys.
Honest Abe said...
The process does need to be reformed. Three conventions in '06 and three sets of rules - one set for each convention.
That doesn't fly.
We can't be making up the rules as we go along. Candidates as well as committeemen and women must know ahead of time what the process will be, including who actually has a vote.
I look forward to Adam's proposal.
I agree. Some elements of Adam's letter are very encouraging, i.e. he's willingness to modify his original plan to accommodate the concerns of those briefed on his plan. I consider his letter to be a reaching out to others in the party, and I hope he listens to their concerns too.
Adam said: "I intend to restore a representational Republican form of leadership to this county party that will help ensure victory in future elections."
I read this, in the context of the rest of his letter, to mean that the screening committee would be the representatives. I don't understand how that can work if the screening committee members are not themselves elected.
While the last 3 nominating conventions were not pretty,(is democracy ever pretty?) I don't agree that they were "a cancer" or that they in and of themselves were damaging to the party. This disunity was already present in fighting factions. The convention process didn't create that. The lack of post convention leadership, followed by a contentious Chairman's race, allowed the disunity to fester.
Adam won the Chairmanship, in large part, because he was not an active participant in the infighting, which increased the likelihood of his being able to deliver on his promises of unity.
At the June convention after Adam was elected, he promised to reach out to Jim Giannell and consult with him on how to make these coventions work. I hope he keeps that promise.
If Adam and Jim can get on the same page, given what they each stand for, there is little doubt in my mind that the party will start to unify. If that doesn't happen, I fear we are in for more of the same.
We really do need By-laws to make this work long term. I don't see how we can professionalize the organization or concentrate our energies on defeating Democrats—not each other without them.
I would favor a candidate selection process that increases county committee members participation. I think that would foster unity and increase volunteerism. Petitions signed by county committee members to get on a convention ballot would better reflect a candidates viability than the approval of a hand picked screening committee. This process would avoid the appearance of backroom deals that lead to the demise of the Dowd era.
the problem as i see it is it is too easy to run in a convetion format. Either the chairman should choose after consulting with others or we should just have primarys.
Or, we can have candidates jump the same hurdle to get on a convention ballot that they would have to do to get on a primary ballot, i.e. get petitions signed.
This would be great for Republican Clubs all throughout the county, and keep participation open for
great candidates like Andrew Lucas, while avoiding the expense of a primary.
It is unlikely that Andrew would have made the cut of a screening committee last year.
William H Seward addressed...
"The lack of post convention leadership, followed by a contentious Chairman's race, allowed the disunity to fester."
Not to mention a Chairman (Fred Niemann) and Executive Director (Dan Gallic) who actually exploited said disunity.
Not to mention a Chairman (Fred Niemann) and Executive Director (Dan Gallic) who actually exploited said disunity.
...and announced to the press that the results of the March convention were not valid, before they finally relented and Joe DiBella conceded.
I say less disunity and more disrobibg.
"I say less disunity and more disrobibg."
that sounds tantalizing
WHS said "While the last 3 nominating conventions were not pretty,(is democracy ever pretty?) I don't agree that they were "a cancer" or that they in and of themselves were damaging to the party." I agree completly. I have a great deal of respect for Adam butb I disagree with him completly. I predict that if he does away with the convention process or if he limits who can seek the nomination he will cause a firestorm that will engulf this party. The convention system works just fine if it has set rules that are written and followed consistently.
With regard to reaching out to Jim Giannel. I hope Adam tries butif he does do not expect a sincere response from Jim. Jim has a great deal of potential but he has gotten carried away by his own PR
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