GOP heavy-hitters back trustee for party leadership

State senator says current chairman's leadership has been 'aimless'

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By Dave Greber, Staff Writer 11:09 PM Tuesday, May 25, 2010

LIBERTY TWP. — A local Tea Party activist and township trustee is seeking the Butler County GOP’s top spot — and he has the backing of some of the party’s biggest figures.

Longtime Liberty Twp. Trustee David Kern, also a member of the Liberty Twp. Tea Party since its inception, says he plans to take on Tom Ellis to become the next county GOP chairman.

An election to decide the next local leader is tonight, May 26, at Tori’s Station in Fairfield.

Kern has strong support in the form of Congressman John Boehner and state Sen. Gary Cates. Both West Chester Twp. Republicans did their own politicking on his behalf earlier this week; Boehner in the form of a “robo-call” Tuesday evening and Cates in the form of a letter to the county GOP’s Central Committee, who will cast their votes tonight.

“Dave Kern has the energy, the experience, and the know-how to lead the Butler County GOP’s efforts in support of our great Republican candidates,” Boehner said Tuesday night via e-mail. “I’ve known Dave a long time – he’s a small-businessman and a committed public servant, and I know he’ll do everything he can to help elect leaders who will listen to Ohioans and fight to curb spending, create new jobs and restore common sense in Columbus and Washington.”

In a scathing letter to the 298-member Central Committee dated Monday, May 24, Cates said the county GOP lacks vision, trust, transparency and respect. And he called Ellis’ leadership over the past four years “aimless.”

“Enough is enough,” Cates said. “Someone needs to stand up and challenge his record.”

While Ellis declined to comment on the letter specifically, he said he disagreed with Cates in that he’s proud of the progress the party’s made during his tenure.

“From the (new) website to the debt reduction to the election of our candidates ... I have to say we’re very proud of the record that we have and the accomplishments that we’ve made,” Ellis said. “We’ve done a lot, and there’s still more to do.”

Kern said Tuesday he began giving the challenge serious thought over the past two weeks when the meeting was announced.

“I am gravely concerned for the future of our country,” he said. “I am fully cognizant of the importance of the upcoming elections to save the republic that we love.

“I’m not here to tear down the current chairman,” he added. “I just feel like I could do a better job and unify the party and make it more productive.

Kern said he feels “more focus needs to be on the winning of (local and state) elections,” and that his attendance at various Tea Party rallies and conferences has strengthened his resolve as a conservative.

“We should be committed to have in place an effective party that can win elections both locally, and all the way up to the national level.”

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