Chief
04-22-2008, 04:59 AM
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/04/04222008_Hazel-Dell-man-elected-chairman-of-Clark-County-Republican-Party.cfm
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
By JEFFREY MIZE, Columbian staff writer
A 37-year-old Hazel Dell resident who was a delegate to the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York has been elected chairman of the Clark County GOP.
Ryan Hart was unopposed for the position during last Saturday’s county convention at Prairie High School.
County Democrats held their convention on the same day at Hudson’s Bay High School.
Hart, the county’s GOP vice chairman for the past two years, had been serving as the party’s interim chairman following Anna Miller’s resignation last month. He works as an instructional designer for Genesis Performance Systems in Portland and writes training programs for corporations, along with overseeing video and multimedia productions.
Gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi spoke at Saturday’s GOP convention. Local Republican leaders believe a Rossi victory in his expected rematch with Gov. Chris Gregoire could provide momentum for other candidates.
“Things are looking positive for us, particularly here in the state of Washington because Dino Rossi is such a dynamic candidate,” Hart said in a phone interview Monday. “This may be a situation where (John) McCain ends up riding Dino Rossi’s coattails.”
If McCain carries Washington, it will break a 24-year presidential drought for state Republicans. The last time a GOP presidential candidate prevailed here was in 1984, when Ronald Reagan won.
County Republicans elected 86 delegates and 86 alternates to the May 30 state convention in Spokane.
Three other Republicans will be part of the 175-member delegation: Hart, state committeeman Brent Boger; and state committeewoman Margie Ferris.
Some of those delegates likely will head to the Republican National Convention, Sept. 1-4 in St. Paul, Minn.
Hart said he believes Saturday’s county convention attracted between 850 and 900 people.
“The biggest thing was just the number of people who were there,” he said. “I have never seen a crowd like this.”
Deana Horton, Clark County Democratic chairwoman, said about 2,000 Democrats turned out for Saturday’s convention to hear U.S. Rep. Brian Baird, D-Vancouver, and other candidates.
“Congressman Baird spoke in the morning and really fired up the crowd, which set the tone for the whole day,” Horton wrote in an e-mail to The Columbian.
Volunteers from Barack Obama’s presidential campaign collected about 1,000 pounds of food for a local food bank, she said.
Local Democrats still have several steps toward selecting delegates to the Democratic National Convention, Aug. 25-28 in Denver, including the May 17 3rd Congressional District caucus and the June 14 state convention in Spokane.
“I guess I’d rather be busy than bored,” Horton wrote.
Glory Hallelujah!! Let's hope Ryan Hart is a lot more dynamic than the Blonde Bombshell was. He's definitely the right age group that I want to see stepping up to the plate.
Hell, I may have to go join the local Party...
mrgrn
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
By JEFFREY MIZE, Columbian staff writer
A 37-year-old Hazel Dell resident who was a delegate to the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York has been elected chairman of the Clark County GOP.
Ryan Hart was unopposed for the position during last Saturday’s county convention at Prairie High School.
County Democrats held their convention on the same day at Hudson’s Bay High School.
Hart, the county’s GOP vice chairman for the past two years, had been serving as the party’s interim chairman following Anna Miller’s resignation last month. He works as an instructional designer for Genesis Performance Systems in Portland and writes training programs for corporations, along with overseeing video and multimedia productions.
Gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi spoke at Saturday’s GOP convention. Local Republican leaders believe a Rossi victory in his expected rematch with Gov. Chris Gregoire could provide momentum for other candidates.
“Things are looking positive for us, particularly here in the state of Washington because Dino Rossi is such a dynamic candidate,” Hart said in a phone interview Monday. “This may be a situation where (John) McCain ends up riding Dino Rossi’s coattails.”
If McCain carries Washington, it will break a 24-year presidential drought for state Republicans. The last time a GOP presidential candidate prevailed here was in 1984, when Ronald Reagan won.
County Republicans elected 86 delegates and 86 alternates to the May 30 state convention in Spokane.
Three other Republicans will be part of the 175-member delegation: Hart, state committeeman Brent Boger; and state committeewoman Margie Ferris.
Some of those delegates likely will head to the Republican National Convention, Sept. 1-4 in St. Paul, Minn.
Hart said he believes Saturday’s county convention attracted between 850 and 900 people.
“The biggest thing was just the number of people who were there,” he said. “I have never seen a crowd like this.”
Deana Horton, Clark County Democratic chairwoman, said about 2,000 Democrats turned out for Saturday’s convention to hear U.S. Rep. Brian Baird, D-Vancouver, and other candidates.
“Congressman Baird spoke in the morning and really fired up the crowd, which set the tone for the whole day,” Horton wrote in an e-mail to The Columbian.
Volunteers from Barack Obama’s presidential campaign collected about 1,000 pounds of food for a local food bank, she said.
Local Democrats still have several steps toward selecting delegates to the Democratic National Convention, Aug. 25-28 in Denver, including the May 17 3rd Congressional District caucus and the June 14 state convention in Spokane.
“I guess I’d rather be busy than bored,” Horton wrote.
Glory Hallelujah!! Let's hope Ryan Hart is a lot more dynamic than the Blonde Bombshell was. He's definitely the right age group that I want to see stepping up to the plate.
Hell, I may have to go join the local Party...
mrgrn