Should I run for an officer position in my county GOP?

[Uriah]

Update #2: I have been elected co-chair of my county GOP!

Update:

I am running for Co-Chair. Chair is not winnable at this point. Election is on the 17th. One third of vote locked up thus far.


Should I run for an officer position in my county GOP?

Every way I look at it I'll be short votes or at best tie. The only way I'd win is if they don't show up or I'm extremely persuasive. I'm certain they will turn out. The last time a liberty person could have won a position they postponed the election and brought in absent committee members. This was a decade ago and based more on a community divide rather than a political one.

However, my local GOP is deeply divided and I don't want to cause more resentment by running and losing. I also don't want to fracture the activist base in my small town of 9,500 even if I win. Unity is more important to me right now. We are non-verbally agreeing to disagree. But there are many harsh feelings. We DOMINATED our precinct caucuses in 2012 and won all delegate positions at our county convention leading to district and state conventions. Emotions are still raw for some.

No liberty person has stepped forward to run for any position; chair, co-chair, treasurer, or secretary. I am only interested in co-chair.

There is much strength in my local liberty group but no engaged leadership. I've stepped up on occasion to fill voids and feel I must do so again. I guess I need help weighing pros and cons. Election is in 11 days. Do I just put this off and organize for our 2014 caucus and sweep committee member positions then?

Thoughts, comments, suggestions? I'm mulling it over. Off to bed, I'll check back in the morning.

[sailingaway]

Why not? Win or be a player, either way, we're rooting for you!

[Origanalist]

Why not? Win or be a player, either way, we're rooting for you!

I'm in agreement^^^^, but I am not able to judge as well as you not being involved there. Can you not run positively enough to not cause resentments?

[Darguth]

I would say you should run. Be decent and respectful, that's what the Good Doctor always wanted from us anyway. At worst you put a good showing and maybe exemplify that liberty-minded Republicans aren't the barn burning heathens the Establishment likes to think we are.

[Uriah]

Personally, I can only run a positive campaign. It's the only thing I know how to do. The guy I would replace gets the most visibly angry and upset. He also holds the biggest grudges. Even if I called him up and said I'm running because I'm interested. It has nothing to do with your job as co-chair(he works hard) and I'm just really interested in doing more for my party, I think he'd say something to the effect " You're a liar blah blah blah, you Ron Paul people." Then he'd continue on his angry diatribe and hangup on me.

Thanks for the support.

[Matt Collins]

The only way we're going to change the GOP from within is if good liberty people run and get elected.

[Aeroneous]

I say run, and as others have said just be positive and tactful about it. If he starts making angry retorts while you stay calm then it will just make him look bad.

[KingRobbStark]

The answer to that kind of question is always "yes". Even if you had no chance, you should still make the effort. You never know what impact you might make.

[Koz]

Run

[erowe1]

Are other members of your "liberty group" precinct chairs? If so, you should talk to them about it and agree on a plan ahead of time.

[Uriah]

Are other members of your "liberty group" precinct chairs? If so, you should talk to them about it and agree on a plan ahead of time.

Yes. I expressed my interest at our meeting yesterday. Everyone is on board to do it but no one else has stepped up to run.

[thoughtomator]

If you run, run to win. Otherwise hold your peace, because you'd need others to put in some significant resources that should not be taken from other good causes.

[sailingaway]

Yes. I expressed my interest at our meeting yesterday. Everyone is on board to do it but no one else has stepped up to run.

Sounds like it's you then!

[FSP-Rebel]

I say run, and as others have said just be positive and tactful about it. If he starts making angry retorts while you stay calm then it will just make him look bad.
This. Let him dig his own grave and be a nice reflection on the establishment folk.

[EBounding]

Personally, I can only run a positive campaign. It's the only thing I know how to do. The guy I would replace gets the most visibly angry and upset. He also holds the biggest grudges. Even if I called him up and said I'm running because I'm interested. It has nothing to do with your job as co-chair(he works hard) and I'm just really interested in doing more for my party, I think he'd say something to the effect " You're a liar blah blah blah, you Ron Paul people." Then he'd continue on his angry diatribe and hangup on me.

Thanks for the support.

That sounds good to me. Let him get angry. Keeping it positive won't hurt you or the movement. Even if you get blown out, I'm sure you'll gain valuable experience.

[Rocco]

If you were in a place right now where what we are trying to do isn't obvious, I would say hold off, but I don't think any Iowa republican worth his salt cannot see what we are trying to do there. I say run, and run to win!

[eleganz]

I don't know if you have trust but treasurer is usually a good position and in some cases have state appointments.

In either case do it, run your campaign As a concerned American rather than a Ron Paul supporter. Someone that wants to win future elections.

[Keith and stuff]

If you don't, at least volunteer to run 1 of the committees. Do a good job at that and maybe you will have more supporters next time? I'm on the State Committee but I'm not going to bother running for a county position. I already have enough extra volunteer work being on the State Committee. I don't need an additional 5 hours of volunteer work a week by having a county officer position.

[Uriah]

Update:

I am running for Co-Chair. Chair is not winnable at this point. Election is on the 17th. One third of vote locked up thus far.

[erowe1]

Update:

I am running for Co-Chair. Chair is not winnable at this point. Election is on the 17th. One third of vote locked up thus far.

Be careful how much you say on here.

[Uriah]

I was just elected Co-Chair of my county GOP. Pretty happy right now. I've got work to do but I'm so excited to do it. :D

[sailingaway]

I was just elected Co-Chair of my county GOP. Pretty happy right now. I've got work to do but I'm so excited to do it. :D

Woot!!

[muzzled dogg]

Good work man

[TrueConservative2012]

One thing is for sure: you can't win if you don't run!

The more liberty-advocates in office, the better. That's how things change!

[devil21]

Congrats! These off year conventions and party elections are so important. I wish everyone would get involved instead of going inactive in off years. With our numbers we could own these conventions and offices.

[ronpaulhawaii]

Cant plus rep via phone... Thanks Uriah, and congrats

[Bastiat's The Law]

We need more of this because this is how we win.