Putting out the RFC
In my consulting career I’ve been asked to put together a goodly amount of RFPs (Requests For Proposals) on behalf of my clients. Usually they’ve got some kind of problem that needs to be resolved and they look to the best and brightest in a particular field to tell them how the problem can be solved and how much it will cost to implement the solution. It’s with this approach that I’m thinking the Cuyahoga County Republican Party may want to improve itself - only this time we should be seeking RFC’s (Requests for Chairmen or women).
Yesterday I got a call from an old political friend who has his thumb on the pulse of many things political in Northern Ohio. He’s done enough work in local and state races to know the players and what the general sentiment of the voting base is and he also likes to talk in what-if’s and possibilities (which is about all you can do when gauging the crystal ball of politics - future state). He was surmising yesterday that last week’s CuyCo GOP tabling of its much-ballyhooed platform was a clear indicator that the folks running the party are in trouble. He indicated that any attempt on the part of the local party leadership to enact new plans or programs (few if any of which have actually come to fruition during the current leadership’s tenure) will likely be met with successful opposition and that those voicing their disagreement will do so less based on how they feel about the particular proposal and more in the sense that it’s really a vote of no confidence for the party leaders. Which as you know if you read this page is fine with me.
But that brings up a much more critical question - is there anybody out there who can do a better job and receive the support necessary to unseat the incumbent party stool?
Based on the conversation we had yesterday, the answer (at least for now) is no. The two people that seem like strong candidates for the job - former RPCC Chair and State Rep Jim Trakas and current Lakewood Councilman Ryan Demro are both currently engaged in seeking elective offices that will require their full attention; Trakas is seeking the term-limited Bob Spada’s State Senate seat and Demro running for Lakewood Mayor (given my feelings about elected officials holding the Chair, I’m not much in favor of such an arrangement). I’m not sure who Jim’s opponent(s) will be in the senate race so I can’t yet make a statement of endorsement, but there’s no question that I’d like to see Ryan win and thus we find ourselves looking for someone interested in the RPCC slot.
So here’s my RFC:
Wanted - Potential candidates to seek the Republican Party of Cuyahoga County’s Central Committee Chairmanship in 2008. Must be a good organizer and fundraiser with a PROVEN record of success. Must bring an outsider’s paradigm to the job and ensure that change will be the foundation of their approach to leading the party. Candidates should have a strong management background and the ability to implement transparent financial systems and processes. Candidates should have realistic goals that include electing Republican candidates to county offices as well as the city council and mayor of the City of Cleveland (demonstration of a coherent plan for achieving these goals must be presented at time of application).
Interested candidates should begin discussing their interest in seeking this position now and start to develop a network of support should they have any chance of winning in 2008.
So that’s my RFC. I’d be interested in hearing what others think, and if there’s anybody out there who might be interested in the job.
Ok Wendell, put your blog where you mouth is, or your money where you blogs is, anyways… Present us with your goals and plans on this blog as if you were running for the chairman position.
August 1st, 2007 at 11:06 am
Considering that Demro probably doesn’t have a chance at winning, it would be interesting to see if he would make a move.
As for Trakas, we’ve already been through that and it didn’t work out so well, did it. Great speaker and motivator, lousy organizational skills.
August 1st, 2007 at 11:24 am
Joe:
Thanks for the encouragement… my goals currently for the county party - get the hell out of Cuyahoga County (wait was that me or the party? It’s late… ) but maybe in a few days I’ll have more to say.
August 1st, 2007 at 10:23 pm
Ha Ha Ha! I am sure many can relate to those sentiments. Look forward to seeing your thoughts, should be a good feature.
August 2nd, 2007 at 9:53 am
Demro has a good chance at winning, Lakewood is starting to go in the crapper and people know he is willing to do what it takes to turn it around. This isn’t a typical part line race.
As for chairman, it pays a hell of a lot more than Mayor of Lakewood. Currently, almost twice as much. I am not sure what that says about either position.
August 3rd, 2007 at 10:47 pm
Wendell,
Being one of the first people to come out against the platform and the one making the motion to table it, I feel it is needed to clarify for your foogy headed friend.
Your pal and his guess could not be farther than the truth. SInce I believe your pal to be either Mike Wise or Jeff Dean, their wildly off base guess does not suprise me. If not for Jim, I would have hated to see where our party would have been with Wise running it alone. That “has been” did everything he could to silence the rank & file.
Tabling the platform had nothing to do with Rob’s leadership. It had everything to do with it being a poorly presented platform and a message to the old guard, that the rank & file will no longer stand for their losing ways. We will no longer tolerate their garbage.
To be honest, given the broken party he has to lead, Rob isn’t doing that bad. Look at the backward thinking people he is forced to deal with.
The long time members or so called “inner circle” have the RPCC so screwed up that Ron Reagan would have a hard time turning our party around. Their tired old broken down ideas and campaign tactics need to go.
The Friendship Club they have had running the party will stop.
As for your two suggestions as chairmen…. Jim is going to be great in the State Senate and Ryan will be a great Mayor in Lakewood. Have we ever had a “good republican” Mayor in Lakewood?
How about you for chairmen?
August 6th, 2007 at 12:46 am
Mr King
Is it better to be a “has been” or a “never been”? Please tell us!
As always, it is easy to criticize from the side lines but I would challenge that it will take a long time for Mr Frost to fill Wise’s shoes!
At least Wise put candidates on the ballot and retired the debt. Wise handed the chairmanship to Frost on good faith and then Frost stabbed him in the back!
This ego maniac is paying himself $110,000 and has accomplished nothing. Please give an example of the “good job” this chairman is doing!
August 6th, 2007 at 8:01 am
King -
Two things, the conversation I was having was neither with Jeff or Mike, so… and I would agree that the party is broken, but I completely disagree with the idea that the current leadership isn’t doing that bad.
The time has come for a fundamental sea change in how the party does business - that means changing the committee structures, targeting visible and important races, actively recruiting more members through new kinds of outreach and paring down the budget to better achieve the goal of getting people elected.
As for me, I’ve come to believe that most folks prefer for me to throw the stones rather than build the foundation.
August 6th, 2007 at 8:10 am
First– be a man C.E.H., state your name.
Criticize from the sidelines? Should I take that as you are actively involved? Well if so, good job, you have not accomplished anything successful in how long?
The rank and file will be on the sidelines no more. We will be breaking up your so called Friendship Club and the members will start having a say. The little social circles that have allowed our party to be run in the ground will be cast aside.
You can bet there will be opposition like they have not seen for ANYTHING they try to force on us.
Wise handed the party to Frost? Huh, funny did not think he OWNED to give to anybody. Are you implying that Frosts election to chairman was fixed or a done deal before we voted?
Wise put candidates on the ballot? Big Shit! Any idiot can put people on the ballot. How about winning the race?
How did Frost stab Wise in the back? What Wise forgot about the backstabbing he did? Let me guess, Wise wanted something done and Rob wouldn’t, so now he is a backstabber.
Has been or never been? First, you will eat those remarks and I assure you that, YOU will know me.
I would rather be a never been that can look in the mirror and have integrity, than a has been with none!
Wendell I stand corrected, sorry about the assumption.
The time for change was quite some time ago. I would say before Frost was chairman. To be fair, Jim & Wise also had to deal with the “social club” trying to run the party, so they were also handicapped.
While I feel the party is SO broken that anybody we put in as chairman right now would not do good. First thing we need to do is put a stop to republicans supporting democrats in the area.
Example - Where have we been on the Med Mart & Conv. Center? We should have been out in front on this issue. Why weren’t we? Because, as you know and seen often, the money men of the party do not want us too. I bet they were screaming bloody murder when they wanted to amend the platform with language against the tax and that is why it was not added to the platform. This is the garbage that MUST stop!
You are dead on with the changes that are needed. UNtil this happens any chairmen would have a hard time succeeding.
Throwing stones can be good, believe it or not, sometimes they fall in place to build the foundation!
King
August 6th, 2007 at 9:55 am
Well gang as I am the new Secretary for the Greater Cleveland Young Republicans I would like to let you know that I am open to any and all suggestions that any R has for me. I would love to see our membership rise so that we can support campaigns, develop young people into future candidates and be of service to the county party and the county as a whole. Feel free to e-mail me with any suggestions you have at amschlinger@yahoo.com
August 6th, 2007 at 10:26 am
Mr King
It is clear by your tone that you have “never been” and “never will be”!
But you are right about one thing. There is no need for a new chairman because the party in this county is not just broken, it is dead!
August 6th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Go Joe!
Hey, does the party have a link (front page) on their site to your email address? If not they should.
August 7th, 2007 at 9:15 am
Thanks Wendell, have already gotten some feedback.
August 7th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Mr. Howell,
You are correct… I have never been and will never be associated with the people who have broken the party. For this I am most proud. As it is nice to have some dignity and integrity.
Our party is not dead Chris, just badly broken from many, many years of leadership allowing themselves to be lead by the nose. This is not completely the leaders fault as they inherited the social club that is a force in our party.
Example given…
Why do you think the coming out against the Med Mart Tax was not added to the platform as proposed?
You have been around long enough, and I guess you may know exactly why. Because some of the “money men” or so called “power people” cried and stomped their feet. Well they will have a treat at our next meeting! A motion will be moved to have the Med Mart Tax language inserted in our platform. That is if the platform passes this time.
Another example of why we fail…
Democrat Ward Leader in a local city had a republicans sign in their yard, with the permission of Dimora. Rank & file dems complained so loudly, she was forced to remove it.
We have so called high ranking RPCC members donating to democrats, we have RPCC members that refuse to support our candidates and we have RPCC members that endorse democrat candidates over RPCC endorsed candidates.
This is the type of thing that has broken our party.
Allowing our party to be hijacked by a select few for many years has stifled our growth and thinking. Jim & Mike were saddled by this as is Rob. Had Ron Lisy been elected Chairman when he ran against Rob, he would have had the same problems.
Have a good day
King
August 8th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
I agree King. Those you mention are nothing more than deadwood that need to be cleared. Until they are, whoever is chair is going to stuggle.
August 9th, 2007 at 7:46 am
Greg, and they will be…..
August 9th, 2007 at 10:18 am
help is on the way boys, just be patient
August 10th, 2007 at 11:07 am