OhioGOP one step closer to pro-gun leader

By Chad D. Baus

Despite reports in recent weeks that Ohio GOP chairman Bob Bennett was considering an abandonment of his plan to orchestrate an orderly transfer of power within the OhioGOP via the creation of the position of Deputy Chairman, the Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that the party's central committee voted on March 9 to create
a deputy director position. The person to fill it will work along side Bennett, who plans to retire after the 2008 presidential election.

From the Plain Dealer blog site:

The deputy will then likely become the party's next boss. Three people
remain interested in deputy job: Stark County GOP Chairman Curt
Braden, Lake County GOP Chairman Dale Fellows and state Rep. Kevin
DeWine of Fairborn.

The 66-member central committee will pick one of the three at the end
of April.

Many gun owners have lamented the apparent OhioGOP disconnect to us during the past two decades. There has been much speculation as to whether or not Bennett, the muscle behind the likes of anti-gun politicians like Bob Taft, Mike DeWine, George Voinovich and Betty Montgomery, would keep our Second Amendment rights in mind when choosing a successor. 61% of participants in an online poll on the subject (which is still open for voting), say they believe Bennett would pick a clone - out of touch with gun owners.

Click on 'Read More' for the entire commentary.

Kevin DeWine is a three-time endorsee of this political action committee. As the attached letter (.pdf) indicates, he is the current Speaker Pro Tempore. His voting record in the Ohio House is solid for gun-owners and sportsmen. He has co-sponsored and voted for concealed carry legislation, the Apprentice Hunting License legislation, and worked to protect the sportsmen hunting, fishing and trapping license monies in the last budget cycle.

Buckeye Firearms Association's Larry Moore stated recently that he has "personally worked with Kevin DeWine on gun owner, sportsmen, and conservative issues. He addresses the need to recruit better candidates for the Ohio Republican tickets. I have to note that every gun owner should be working to recruit gun-friendly candidates."

"The position of Deputy Chairman of the ORP is not one that will appear on any state ballot," continues Moore. "The position will be filled by the vote of the sixty-six members of the Ohio Republican State Central Committee. If you are involved and know members of your county central committee or state central committee members, I ask you to urge them to support Kevin DeWine as the Deputy Chair ORP."

Chad D. Baus is the Northwest Ohio Chair of Buckeye Firearms Association, and a Member of the Fulton Co. (OH) Republican Central Committee.

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Is the OhioGOP (finally) getting the message from gun owners?