Next Maine GOP Chair

Beth O'Connor exciting possibility.

A charismatic woman from southern Maine as the face of the GOP? Go Beth!

Bruce Poliquin is the only choice.

You all just don't get it.

With few exceptions, the republican party is far too nice to be in politics.

I'd seriously look at Bruce Poliquin. He is an outsider, understands the issues, knows people who can help financially, and will work and communicate with Gov LePage, also Bruce will be respectful in disagreement, and all serious opinions and ideas will be considered, because we need new ideas and strategy
. Having another flamethrower, or someone who has been working within the legislature, or working tightly within the republican party, is not a good idea, if we want to bring in the new blood so desperately needed, and if we want to cure the public's lack of trust of integrity within the leadership of the party, which is no doubt there, it would be wise for the GOP members to seriously consider Bruce...

I am in living North Carolina now since by layoff but will throw in my 2 cents. I don't really know many that were mentioned but have met and spoken with Beth OConnor several time and am impressed. She is energetic, willing to stand up for liberty principles, strong enough to stand up to Dems and media, and makes great cookies.

She is energetic, willing to stand up for liberty principles, strong enough to stand up to Dems and media ...

So why wasn't she re-elected?

I think Ruth Summers should be considered. That gal is a force of nature...

Oh for goodness sake let us not ask such questions Mike !!!!!(sarcasm)
All that is true ,no denying,but does that equate to success ?
Right now the choice is technicians (those who have done it served in elected positions) or leaders who can organize and get people to be technicians !

That is not a inference against anyone!

Bruce P. has a advantage in that while working with the Gov. there is sufficient space between the two.
Let's face it the perception of how people see the relationship between the two is going to be a factor.

The last two years have been filled with some strong unwillingness to question and evaluate things !
Victory while celebrated and cherished also brought a lot of resistance to question and criticize.

The events of last Tuesday were not a surprise !

So why wasn't she re-elected?

Because the state party failed her and Lois Snowe-Mello. Lois and Beth were under constant attack with radio ads full of lies! The Maine GOP was NOT there for them! Also, a lot of Ron Paul fanatics decided to sit this one out because they could not get their way.

I think Ruth Summers should be considered.

IMHO, Ruth Summers is part of the problem. She is not part of the solution.

You know the why really isn't as important as the leadership to prevent it from happening again.

IMHO the next time the RP people probably will not do differently until they can get over the fraud.

The Maine GOP was NOT there for them!

My guess would be that is was a problem of funding. The Maine GOP does not have A) the labor unions B) Donald Sussman C) special interest groups on every corner.

Bruce, there are two kinds of Ron Paul supporters, so we shouldn't paint them all with a broad brush. There are the Ron Paul fanatics who want it their way and only their way. If they can't get it their way, they throw a tantrum and storm off. These people are childish without a clue. Then there are the common sense Ron Paul people who are very capable of working with others.

My guess would be that is was a problem of funding

Or, the funding available was not used where it would get the best bang for the buck. ;-)

"So why wasn't she re-elected?...

...Also, a lot of Ron Paul fanatics decided to sit this one out because they could not get their way."

Baloney. I'm not sure why she lost but don't blame this on Ron Paul supporters:

From DOLPAC:
Oct 23rd, 2012 by Eric Brakey
Ron Paul Endorses Five DOLPAC Candidates
Defense of Liberty PAC is proud to announce that Ron Paul has just endorsed five DOLPAC candidates running for the Maine Legislature. Congratulations to all five of these candidates! Five Maine Candidates Endorsed by Ron Paul: 1. Aaron Libby, Candidate for State House (Waterboro, Lyman) 2. Beth O’Connor, Candidate for State House (Berwick) ...
...The three incumbent legislators—Aaron Libby, Beth O’Connor, and Heather Sirocki—all endorsed and fought for Ron Paul during the 2012 Maine Caucuses.

If interested, Poliquin best choice. He knows how to raise cash.

Oh, and Ruth Summers is establishment so no-way. She is Webster handmaiden as well. He must be thoroughly purged.

How about Josh Tardy?

As I recall, Ruth Summers already declined to consider the position of Party Chair, during the straw poll vote situation, last year. She might reconsider now, but I just wanted to issue the reminder.

Dr. Wordsmith, Eric is a good guy in my opinion. I do not lump him in with the RP fanatic wing. What some people say and what they do are two different things.

Beth is a great option. Bruce would be good at raising money.

Beth was left hanging, for whatever reason, funding or otherwise, it is disappointing either way. But again, let's move on from the past and look towards how we are going to be successful moving forward.

I swear, Republicans live in the past more than any group I know. So much, that is to our fault.

So far, the options I hear from people...

Beth O'Connor
Rich Cebra
Bruce Poliquin

You could not ask for a better pool of candidates. Imagine this for a moment.

Rich Cebra- Chairman
Beth O'Connor - Vice Chair
Bruce Poliquin - Fundraising Director
Scott K Fish or Martin Sheehan - Communications Director
Jan Love - Executive Director
?? - Technology Director
?? - 1st District Field Director
?? - 2nd District Field Director

The possibilities are endless when you look at this team. Fill it in with some motivated Field Directors and a new Technology Director and you have an All-Star lineup. Let's fill in the rest.....

Also, if Beth were to take the Vice Chair position, she could continue her work at the top of the Maine Tax Payers United Org.

Tardy?
Same problem get along budgets etc. etc..

Ryan M. like your thinking.

Bob S. I understand that point, ideas w/ out the source or attachment to the name would be great. For those who are fanantic it seems to do not good things.

Same problem get along budgets etc., etc.

I'd be looking for someone who could raise money and recruit candidates. Tardy may not have passed the conservative purity test during his tenure, but he served three out of four terms in leadership. So obviously he was respected within his own party.

But on the other hand, he probably wouldn't want the job.

Lance Dutson is another GREAT option for chair. You could also ask Matt Gagnon to redesign and run the website and social networking from afar. Two additional resources.

Let's make a decision based on who will be the best person, not the person "who's turn it is" or who is the most popular. It hasn't been working, Sorry but I wouldn't want any one who has been involved with the Party Establishment. We need to bring the party together and having the "same old same old" just won't do it. The majority of Republicans will stay away and no one will be the better for it. It is time for a new plan, new ideas.

Regardless of who runs, all candidates for State Party Chair should write up and publish their plan for the next 2-4 years. These should include recruitment, fund raising, publicity, strategy to win elections specifically in Democrat strongholds, get out the vote programs, volunteer recruitment and involvement, on and on.
Any serious candidate for the position should want to do this. Publish it in a public forum such as AMGs. State Committee members should then get out to their town and county committees and ask them what they think and vote accordingly.

You've already lost everything why waste any more time with any of this foolishness.

Snowalker

We didn't lose anything it is just the same as it was before.

here are the Ron Paul fanatics who want it their way and only their way. If they can't get it their way, they throw a tantrum and storm off.

Bob S

I'd disagree from those that I knew at the state convention, many including myself had a long family history of being GOP and or being independent minded, many went to the convention to vote for the only principled POTUS candidate that they had seen in many decades, anti-war, anti-welfare and anti-big government control. By a slim vote and through exuberance we won the day and were later served with the typical pro-war, pro-welfare and big-government pie.

They had been served that before and it left a bad taste in our mouths then, It is not our way or the highway it is the GOP'S way or the highway.

PS you people work on that and get back to us or NOT

I'm surprised that no one has endorsed Apollo's favorite person for the job. Brent Tweed!! Totally shocked!!

nah we're doomed.bend over and grab the ankles

I've decided to pull up stakes and move out of the state, but the national party and the Maine GOP need to take a long, hard look at what they are, and what they represent. I don't know what the final breakdown of the GOP vote will be, but I'm certain it will not include the majority of the Libertarian vote. It seems to me that that the GOP is convinced if they can just move closer to the Dem-Socialists they will remain competitive. Nothing could be further from the truth. The GOP needs to open up to a more Conservative perspective. I'm not sure at this point in time that it is even possible to undo what has been done, and that is why I am leaving.

For those who chose to remain I suggest some "out of the box" thinking and an embracing of all things "Conservative." I would welcome Beth as a fresh approach to trying to clean up quite a mess!