-
Milligan Stepping Down as GOP Chair
Milligan: Out as GOP Chair
Word is that Dennis Milligan, who has served as the chair of the Republican Party of Arkansas since 2007, told party officials today that he will be stepping down from the post.
I’ve poked some fun at Milligan here on the blog, because that’s what I do. But the fact is that he took on a job no one else was willing to take and did a good job with it, helping to deliver Arkansas to John McCain—by nearly 20 points!—and seeing the party pick up seats in the legislature in 2008. Note that both of these achievements occurred in a terrible environment for Republicans nationally. So give the man some credit for a job well done.
Now, after that bizarre and uncharacteristic detour into earnestness, who are the leading candidates to take on the job of GOP chair?
Update: The ever-industrious Jason Tolbert at The Tolbert Report blog chats with Milligan, who tells Tolbert that he’s not “stepping down,” he’s “just not seeking re-election.” I’m so glad he cleared that up with that completely meaningless distinction. Really, it makes me want to take back all those nice things I said.
Related Posts
PERMALINK » 22 Comments »
22 Responses to “Milligan Stepping Down as GOP Chair”
Leave a Reply
CATEGORIES
ARCHIVE
Blogroll
- ARCCA Blog
- Arkansas Journal
- Arkansas Times Blog
- Arkansas Watch
- Blake’s Think Tank
- Brummett’s Blog
- Capsearch Insiders’ Blog
- Dave Elswick’s Blog/KARN
- Doug Thompson Blog
- Fayetteville Flyer
- Jay Greene’s Blog
- Jeremy Langley Blog
- KATV Choose Your News Blog
- Lance Turner
- Lynch at Large
- Points by Pritt
- Politics in Arkansas
- Red State Conservative
- Rett Hatcher & Co.
- Robbie Wills’ Blog
- Talk Business
- The City Wire
- The Griffin Room
- The K. Ryan James Blog
- The Legislative Beat
- The Tolbert Report
- The Wide Awake Cafe
- Under the Dome
- Unfamous First Words
- Val’s Bien
November 8th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Anyone but that pro-choicer John Parke.
November 8th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Oh no. Here’s comes the will-writing crook.
Doyle, please stay away.
November 8th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
The new chair needs to be either from SW Arkansas (or Union County) or NWA. Maybe Fort Smith.
November 8th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Why should geographic location matter in picking a chairman? How about we pick someone who represents our views and values and focuses on growing our party here in Arkansas?
November 8th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Well stated, Brett. How about someone who can raise tons of money and recruit good candidates?
D.
November 8th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
You’re right David. That should have been included in my criteria.
November 8th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Call me crazy but this sounds like a job for David Kinkade to me!
November 8th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Carlton Saffa would make an excellent party chairman.
November 8th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Not qualified. Not interested. Thanks though.
November 8th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Well stated Brett.
November 8th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Rumor has it that Mississippi County Republican Chair Tyler Dunegan will run for the seat. According to their website, he was elected in 2005 at the age of 21.
November 8th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
“The Insider” needs to re-check his sources.
November 8th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
I think we need someone like Josh Hutchinson to be RPA Chairman.
November 8th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
I vote to exclude from consideration anyone living in Pulaski County, Saline County, or Benton County — Pulaski and Saline because the leading Republicans in both are extremely skilled at fighting intra-party wars but largely incompetent at real world politics, and Benton because no one in that county has any clue what life is like in the rest of the state. Not that I want to sound obnoxious, but facts is facts.
November 9th, 2008 at 1:16 am
Source rechecked - Seems to be true.
November 9th, 2008 at 7:26 am
Jake Files in Fort Smith is definitely interested in the position.
November 9th, 2008 at 9:44 am
Joseph Wood is my choice
November 9th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
I second your motion, Nope.
November 9th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
And they circle and circle! Each one throwing out their buddy’s names to be chairman.
No offense to the folks that suggested that Josh Hutchinson, Jake Files and Carlton Saffa be chair, while I respect all of these individuals and think they bring many qualities, you seem to not understand what the point of the chairman’s job is…raise money and find candidates. The best fund raisers are rich people that run around with other rich people and can call in favors. While Josh, Jake and Carlton are great guys, they are not rich.
We need someone that has wealth, has contacts in business and is well respected in the philanthropic communitiy, not just someone that happens to have done some volunteer work for the party or has connections to the party.
The lower level executive positions can be filled with your younger activist types, people that will do more than show up at state committee meetings. Draft young people for those positions, but make the chairman someone that is well off and well connected.
November 9th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Rex,
I just ran your list of criteria through the Arkansas Project mainframe computer and it came back with the name of the perfect chairman: David Pryor. Hmm, I think this thing may be on the fritz.
D.
November 9th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Rich and well connected? I still say this sounds like David Kinkade!
November 10th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I hear Tyler Dunegan is going to announce by the end of the week. I was told he has a large list of endorsements and supporters that he will be mailing out to state committee members.