Conservative John Rabenberg Elected MT State GOP Chairman

Human Events ^ | 07-11-03 | Gizzi, John

[Theodore R.]

SIGNS OF THE TIMES IN MONTANA

In one of the hardest-fought party convention battles in Montana history, John Rabenberg was elected Republican state chairman last week. Rabenberg, a veteran party volunteer and Fort Peck farmer, won 102 to 74 over former State Rep. Gilda Clancy. He succeeds outgoing Chairman Ken Miller (who is relinquishing the party helm to ponder a bid for governor amidst growing rumors that Republican incumbent Judy Martz will not seek re-election).

Although numerous publications tried to portray the fight between Rabenberg and Clancy, a lobbyist for the Montana Eagle Forum, as an ideological battle, party sources insisted to me that just wasn’t so. The 66-year-old Rabenberg had as much backing on the right as Clancy, and like her is a supporter of retention of the strong pro-life plank in both the state and national party platforms. Evidence that Clancy was not the unanimous choice of the party’s cultural conservatives came in the endorsement for Rabenberg by Betty Babcock, also an Eagle, and wife of revered former Gov. (1961-68) and present Republican National Committeeman Tim Babcock. (Betty Babcock had been key, party sources confirmed, in securing Eagle Forum founder Phyllis Schlafly as a Lincoln Day speaker for the party earlier in the year.

In part, Rabenberg’s triumph was due to his reputation as the "sign king" of Montana Republicanism. Every two years, the small silk-screen operation on his farm is deployed in favor of Republican candidates, and thousands of large wooden signs are made. In 2000, when Republicans swept the state for George W. Bush and won most statewide contests, Rabenberg turned out more than 12,000 signs that would have cost $40 apiece if he and his people had not silk-screeened them for less.

As a show of party unity, the new chairman asked erstwhile rival Clancy to join his executive board. She refused to commit right away, however, because, as she told reporters, "I always discuss everything with my husband before I make important decisions."

[HOYA97]

I was just in Montana and it has to be the most beautiful state in the Union. I have visited nearly every state with the exception of HI, OR, WA, and Maine.

[Support Free Republic]

Free Republic. More Bang For The Buck!
	Donate Here By Secure Server Or mail checks to FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794 or you can use PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD- It is in the breaking news sidebar!

[xsmommy]

ping.