Posted on 12/12/2002 9:28:20 AM PST by B Knotts
Five weeks after losing a tight race for Oregon governor, Kevin Mannix resurfaced Wednesday as the sudden odds-on favorite to become chairman of a state Republican Party divided by a bitter leadership fight.
The party's current chairman, Perry Atkinson, and his chief rival, Lynn Snodgrass -- recruited for the post by Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore. -- both dropped out of the race and said they would support Mannix.
"My concern is reaching out to everybody in the party and pulling everybody together," said Mannix, who as Republican chairman would gain a platform to continue critiquing the work of the man -- Democrat Ted Kulongoski -- who defeated him in the governor's race.
Because national parties face a new federal ban on big-dollar fund raising, control of the state parties -- particularly in Oregon where the parties can accept contributions of any size -- has become more important than ever.
Partly as a result of the new law, Smith and Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., sought to push Atkinson aside in favor of Snodgrass, a former speaker of the House who planned to work closely with top Republican elected officials.
But Atkinson, a Christian broadcaster from Medford who charged that Smith was attempting a "hostile takeover" of the party from grass-roots activists, vowed to run for re-election amid a flurry of heated rhetoric from each side.
Snodgrass backers questioned how the party was handling its finances and said the White House was unhappy with the party leadership. Atkinson supporters denied the White House was involved and complained that Smith had tied up hundreds of thousands of dollars in voter-turnout money for the benefit of his re-election campaign -- and to the detriment of other Republican candidates.
By Wednesday, the angry rhetoric was largely replaced with expressions of support for Mannix from Snodgrass and Atkinson -- and from Smith as well.
Atkinson said he asked Mannix to run in his stead to heal the party's breach.
"With all the recent rumors about division in the party, I believe we need a fresh start with a party chairman who has my confidence, as well as the confidence of thousands throughout our state," Atkinson said in a letter to Republican Party officials.
Snodgrass said Mannix has the "opportunity and responsibility to make the many long overdue changes necessary to win Oregon for President Bush and to elect more Republicans" to other offices.
Snodgrass called on Mannix to conduct an outside audit of the party's finances and to replace the party's staff in Salem.
Smith was traveling in New Zealand, but his office issued a statement saying the senator thought Mannix "now has a unique opportunity to build" the party.
The state central committee, which has about 130 members, will elect the new chairman at a Jan. 11 meeting. Atkinson had planned to hold the meeting in early February but said he moved it up to seat a chairman before the Legislature begins its new session Jan. 13.
One other candidate At this point, Mannix faces one other candidate, Klamath County rancher Al King, the party's vice-chairman. Several central committee members said they didn't think King would win many votes, but King said he would continue his candidacy.
Mannix's candidacy "is the answer to a very sticky problem," said June Hartley, one of Oregon's two representatives on the Republican National Committee. "I always thought we had to have a neutral candidate."
One of King's backers, Lou Beres, who also heads the Oregon chapter of the Christian Coalition, has been one of Mannix's big political supporters. However, Beres said he didn't want Mannix to take over the party chairmanship.
"I'm in favor of (Mannix) so much, I don't want him to be stained and brought down to the party politics level," said Beres, explaining that he thought it could hurt Mannix's ability to run again for elected office.
Mannix said the party chairmanship could keep him from running for another office in 2004. He has said he is considering running for attorney general, secretary of state or for the congressional seat held by Rep. Darlene Hooley, D-Ore.
But other Republicans said the chairmanship would keep him in the public eye and help his political future.
Kulongoski spokesman Scott Ballo was surprised to learn about Mannix's candidacy.
"It's a decision for the Republican Party to make," he said. "We wish him the best of luck."
27", 7lb fish on the lake last week. Four other nice ones. Weather not cooperating anymore. Hope you rgetting some angling time in yourself.
Uh oh.... sounds like this guy is some kind of "moderate" scumbag. Is he a RINO?
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