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I was disappointed the other day when I saw this post over at Right Angle Blog predicting the ascendancy of Stark County GOP Chairman Curt Braden to the newly-created Deputy Chairmanship of the state’s Republicans.

Here’s a few reasons why Curt Braden is a bad choice for the deputy chair:

• He was barley able to retain his own seat in a recent Stark County GOP election
• Stark County was the only county out of 72 in the state where George Bush enjoyed an electoral majority in 2000, but did NOT renew that same majority in 2004.
• In 2000 when Braden became Stark County chair, Republicans held 4 county offices, since that time:
• In 2000, the Republican Recorder vacated his seat to run for Commissioner. The Recorder’s seat was subsequently lost to the Democrats.
• In 2004, the Republican Auditor lost an appointed seat to the Democrats.
• Also in 2004, the Republicans lost control of the county Board of Commissioners when Richard Regula lost his commissioner’s seat.
  

In summary, since Curt Braden’s been in charge of the Stark County GOP, Republicans have gone from a position of power (controlling the Board of Commissioners) to a minimal minority. Under his watch - they have lost 3 seats, failed to field candidates in numerous races, and been unable to win any of 5 Democrat-held seats vacated due to retirement or death.

Of the three candidates in the mix, I think that Lake County GOP Chairman Dale Fellows is the best choice based on a very simple litmus test - he can raise money and win elections.