Placer County GOP chairman becomes an issue

Sacramento Bee ^ | 12/28/9 | Ed Fletcher

[SmithL]

In GOP-rich Placer County, the Placer County Republican Central Committee chairman views himself as a brand manager of sorts.

"We need to protect our brand," said Tom Hudson. "We need to stand for something."

Hudson, 42, takes pride in unmasking and ousting people he says are liberals posing as Republicans.

With the elected committee's backing, Hudson has drafted candidates to run against sitting GOP officeholders he views as not conservative enough, orchestrated a controversial endorsement during the primary for the 4th Congressional District seat, and played a role in the decision by two Placer County officeholders to drop their Republican Party membership.

"When you have Republicans that are supporting higher taxes and more fees and more salary for themselves … you have to say, 'What issues do they agree with us on?' " said Hudson.

In recent weeks, a quiet skirmish became much more visible in the county with the second-highest percentage of card-carrying Republicans in the state when two elected leaders – county Supervisor Jim Holmes and Rocklin City Councilman Peter Hill – left the party and reregistered as "decline to state."

Both men said the questioning of their party credentials contributed to their decisions.

[SmithL]

Tom Hudson has been involved in Republican Party politics since he was a UC Berkeley student.

[MplsSteve]

Interesting post.

I’ve tried over the years to be one of those people who believed in a big tent theory. The more people who identify with the GOP, I see it as the better.

But when we have elected officials (at any level) who won’t stand up for our party’s principles and instead suddenl;y decide they’re not Republicans anymore, then they likely weren’t Republicans to begin with.

And they should be shown the door. Definitely.

[UAConservative]

In recent weeks, a quiet skirmish became much more visible in the county with the second-highest percentage of card-carrying Republicans in the state when two elected leaders – county Supervisor Jim Holmes and Rocklin City Councilman Peter Hill – left the party and reregistered as "decline to state."

Good for Mr. Hudson. I'm glad at least one GOP chairman is taking matters into his own hands.

Time for a RINO extinction.

[VR-21]

I had an aunt who lived in Shingle Springs. I loved the place, and wish all conservatives there the best.

[excopconservative]

Placer County is one of, if not, the most Republican County in CA. RINOs try to dilute the most conservative areas and deprive the conservatives of leadership. If the most conservative voters are represented by milk toast Republicans, the conservative message is muffled and defeated before it’s even expressed. When they are exposed, they try to make it look like the ones exposing them are to blame (reminiscent of HUAC). Hudson is doing his job. Keep up the good work.

[bruinbirdman]

Tea Party Conservatives = victory.

It is good to see them penetrating local politics.

We just had a big shakeup in the Clark County (Nevada) Republican Party.

yitbos

[Parley Baer]

Good for Tom Hudson in exposing these individuals. No RINO’s.

[Randy Larsen]

I’m with you Tom 100%!

[Retired COB]

Hudson, 42, takes pride in unmasking and ousting people he says are liberals posing as Republicans.

Mr Hudson, Please do something about our head RINO....Michael Steele.

[rstrahan]

We need someone like him in one of our counties. One of the Republican candidates for office here, decided to run as a Democrat when the only Dem candidate dropped out. Shows where he actually stood. Yet not one had challenged his standings before his change of parties.