![\"GOP\"](\"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/GOP.JPG\" "\\"GOP\\"")
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Sergio Garcia also says state party leaders didn\u2019t understand how to reach Hispanics; Yates disputes Garcia<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s claims This article has been updated.<\/span><\/p>\n Sergio Garcia, who quit his job as deputy executive director of the state Republican Party<\/a> earlier this week, says his abrupt resignation came largely because of widely differing views about where the GOP should be headed.<\/p>\n In an interview, he said he was frustrated with ideologues running the party.<\/p>\n \u201cI am not an ideologue. I never wanted to be one. I have always been one who thought it\u2019s about winning elections,\u201d Garcia said.<\/p>\n Garcia also cited as a frustration a lack of understanding among party leaders about how to reach Hispanics, which he said is critical to making the GOP relevant in New Mexico.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat bothers me is that most of our party leadership at a state level does not understand what Hispanic outreach means… It does not mean pandering to Hispanics. It does not mean trying to buy their votes,\u201d He said. \u201cIt\u2019s about messaging to Hispanics. It\u2019s about trying to bring Hispanics home because this is where Hispanics started, in the Republican Party.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey didn\u2019t get it,\u201d he said, adding that the resulting disconnect created a climate of suspicion about him.<\/p>\n Garcia resigned abruptly earlier this week in a strongly worded letter<\/a> to Party Chairman Harvey Yates.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the last three months, I have seen the destructive forces that have plagued the Republican Party of New Mexico for years. In particular, I heard the use of fallacious arguments regarding \u2018trust\u2019, \u2018confidence\u2019 and \u2018loyalty\u2019 used upon me as if I were unable to understand these concepts,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Republican Party of New Mexico supposedly hired me as a symbol of a new day for a Party that has been plagued with deep divisions that led to historic political loses on 2008,\u201d he wrote. \u201cI was looking forward to re-building a stronger, broader Party but due to unforeseen circumstances, this will not be the case.\u201d<\/p>\n GOP spokeswoman: Garcia didn\u2019t voice concerns<\/span><\/p>\n In an e-mail, state GOP spokeswoman Janel Causey said, \u201cUnfortunately, the position didn\u2019t work out\u2026 a fact realized (Tuesday) night when the current executive director happened to stop by the party office –only to find Sergio with a packed U-haul dropping off keys and a letter of resignation.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe regret that Sergio did not feel comfortable expressing his concerns to the chairman directly before leaving so abruptly. We wish him the best in his future endeavors,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
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