Two weeks before the start of the 2007 Legislative session, there has been a major shakeup in the staff of the state Republican Party, but details are sketchy.
Whitney Cheshire, a party activist who runs the blog The Wednesday Morning Quarterback, reported last week that state Party Director Marta Kramer and Communications Director Jonah Cohen are leaving and that former Field Director Storm Field resigned weeks ago. She reported that Political Director Chris Atencio is rumored to be filling in until a replacement for Kramer is found.
I’ve been unable to reach any state party officials for comment, but House Minority Whip Dan Foley, R-Roswell, and Doña Ana County Republican Party Chair Sid Goddard both confirmed that something has happened.
Neither knew enough to relay most of the details. Foley did confirm that House Republicans have hired Field as their deputy chief of staff.
“My understanding is that there are changes that are going to be made at the state level,” Goddard said. “I have not been able to get confirmation of what those changes are or the time they’re going to be made. I am hopeful that whatever changes take place bode well for the communication that is necessary between the state and county parties.”
Foley said the timing of the shakeup is unfortunate, especially given that House Republicans are united behind their legislative agenda.
“To have such an important arm of what we’re doing having no staff and in disarray is disheartening as we’re heading into one of the most important sessions in history,” he said.
Foley said the session is important because of the huge surplus and the need for ethics and election reform. He also cited the possibility that Gov. Bill Richardson will announce that he’s running for president days before the start of the session.
The shakeup comes at a time when Democrats are extremely organized, well-funded and enjoying
Factions of the GOP in
At a central committee meeting in early December, party members discussed the November election, including the success of holding on to congressional seats in a year that Republicans lost many, and the failure of the party to capitalize on Democratic scandals at the state level.
But there was no indication that there would be a staff shakeup. Now many Republicans around the state can’t get an answer from the party about what’s happening. The breakdown in communication means House and Senate Republicans are largely on their own as they organize for the session.
“We have reached unprecedented levels of corruption and incompetence in state government, and I think this is the year we need to deal with that,” Foley said. “Not having a cohesive state party that can help deliver our message is a difficult, difficult, difficult thing heading into this session.”
The state party will elect new leaders in the spring, and Weh may or may not be voted out if he seeks to retain the chairmanship.