Harmsen to Run for State Chairman
While several names have been tossed around as possible candidates for Republican State Chair, to be decided at the GOP convention next month, the first to actually file for the job is former Salt Lake County Councilman Steve Harmsen.
Harmsen is filing today with the party as a candidate for chairman. The party has been in a bit of disarray of late with former Chairman Joe Cannon abruptly resigning shortly after the 2006 election to become editor of the Deseret Morning News. Cannon's Vice Chair Enid Greene became acting chair, then the chair, but she announced she would not seek a new term in June. Then, Greene fired the party's executive director Jeff Hartley and plans to do both jobs until a new chair takes the helm in June.
Harmsen could bring an interesting perspective to the chairman's race, decided by delegates. He has been actively involved in the Republican Party for several decades and was the GOP candidate for the 2nd Congressional District in 1974. He had served in the non-partisan post of Salt Lake City Commissioner prior to that.
But he is also seen as a maverick, often bucking his own party members on the County Council over issues of taxes and perks for office holders. He was a critic of the Utah Taxpayers Association, one of the foundation rocks of the Republican Party, because he felt its priority was to get tax breaks for big businesses at the expense of home-owners and middle-class taxpayers. He has developed a reputation as a populist conservative, much in the tradition of former GOP Congressman Merrill Cook.
Cheers,
Paul Rolly
Harmsen is filing today with the party as a candidate for chairman. The party has been in a bit of disarray of late with former Chairman Joe Cannon abruptly resigning shortly after the 2006 election to become editor of the Deseret Morning News. Cannon's Vice Chair Enid Greene became acting chair, then the chair, but she announced she would not seek a new term in June. Then, Greene fired the party's executive director Jeff Hartley and plans to do both jobs until a new chair takes the helm in June.
Harmsen could bring an interesting perspective to the chairman's race, decided by delegates. He has been actively involved in the Republican Party for several decades and was the GOP candidate for the 2nd Congressional District in 1974. He had served in the non-partisan post of Salt Lake City Commissioner prior to that.
But he is also seen as a maverick, often bucking his own party members on the County Council over issues of taxes and perks for office holders. He was a critic of the Utah Taxpayers Association, one of the foundation rocks of the Republican Party, because he felt its priority was to get tax breaks for big businesses at the expense of home-owners and middle-class taxpayers. He has developed a reputation as a populist conservative, much in the tradition of former GOP Congressman Merrill Cook.
Cheers,
Paul Rolly
12:56 PM
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