Imperial
06-07-2008, 11:14 AM
RPR's working to oust chairman (http://www.idahopress.com/news/?id=10754)
BOISE — The bid to oust Idaho Republican Chairman Kirk Sullivan has taken another twist, as libertarian-leaning backers of presidential hopeful Ron Paul said Friday they’re aligning with the chief proponent of closing Idaho’s Republican primary elections.
Ryan Davidson, the force behind three successful marijuana legalization initiatives in Hailey, and other Paul supporters will be among 59 delegates from Ada County at next weekend’s GOP state convention in Sandpoint.
They’ve pledged to back the efforts of closed-primary advocate Rod Beck, who is challenging Sullivan for leadership of the party.
Beck hopes to use support from the Paul bloc to topple Sullivan, whom he accuses of blocking efforts by members of the state GOP Central Committee to restrict Idaho’s 36-year-old open primary to registered Republican voters.
“There is some dissatisfaction with the chairman,” Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Eagle, who supports deposing Sullivan, said of the Paul backers’ alliance with Beck. “And I think the dissatisfaction breeds some weird marriages.”
Labrador favors an alternative to Beck or Sullivan, should one emerge.
In all, there will be about 485 delegates in Sandpoint next Thursday through Saturday, from Idaho’s 44 counties.
BOISE — The bid to oust Idaho Republican Chairman Kirk Sullivan has taken another twist, as libertarian-leaning backers of presidential hopeful Ron Paul said Friday they’re aligning with the chief proponent of closing Idaho’s Republican primary elections.
Ryan Davidson, the force behind three successful marijuana legalization initiatives in Hailey, and other Paul supporters will be among 59 delegates from Ada County at next weekend’s GOP state convention in Sandpoint.
They’ve pledged to back the efforts of closed-primary advocate Rod Beck, who is challenging Sullivan for leadership of the party.
Beck hopes to use support from the Paul bloc to topple Sullivan, whom he accuses of blocking efforts by members of the state GOP Central Committee to restrict Idaho’s 36-year-old open primary to registered Republican voters.
“There is some dissatisfaction with the chairman,” Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Eagle, who supports deposing Sullivan, said of the Paul backers’ alliance with Beck. “And I think the dissatisfaction breeds some weird marriages.”
Labrador favors an alternative to Beck or Sullivan, should one emerge.
In all, there will be about 485 delegates in Sandpoint next Thursday through Saturday, from Idaho’s 44 counties.