Apr

Chipper and Dapper

One of the things that’s most interesting about CR conventions … when you bring all these people who love politics together in the same room, lots of politicing happens. Lots… particularly when there’s a hotly contested race for state chair to start the morning off.

Roll call.

15 chapters – - nice crew. Over 90 delegates attending – plus a couple well-loved alumni.

LaVonne Derkson from UW-Madison nominates John Connors… Daniel Suhr from Marquette nominates Ryan Wrasse.

I’m sure Brandon has been keeping you up to date on his running post. I hope my speech went well – at least people laughed at the country club/gun range impromptu joke. Ryan gave a fine speech as well.

Thanks to both candidates for running. John made a great point, echoing a point I had heard earlier at CPAC from KellyAnne Conway: We say we believe in competition because it brings out merit and ideas and energy. So thanks to both candidates for running, and congratulations to Ryan for winning. I said this already, but he’ll make a great chair.

UPDATE: ALSO BLOGGING: The Fighting Phoenix are back in action.

Okay, well, since i have it on J: drive, I will cut and paste my nomination speech for Ryan and put it below the jump for y’all to enjoy (or for Ryan’s mom to log on, read, and feel warm and fuzzy).

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Daniel Suhr – Iâ€™m a second year law student at Marquette. This last year I have served as state executive director under Mary Ellen, and let me publicly thank her for that privilege.

At a symposium evaluating the legacy of President George H.W. Bush, one historian argued that Bush 41 was the most qualified candidate for president in the 20th century: Officer in the US Navy, CEO of a corporation, chairman of a county Republican party, member of Congress, candidate for US Senate, ambassador to the U.N., special envoy to China, chairman of the Republican National Committee, director of the CIA, Vice President of the United States.

One thing I love about Bushâ€™s life story is how he comes from the grassroots up. He starts out as a GOP volunteer, as a county chairman in Texas, and he works his way up all the way to President.

Today I have the honor of nominating Ryan Wrasse for state chairman. Like President Bush, he is eminently qualified for the position, in fact, the most qualified candidate I have seen in my four years with this organization. And again like President Bush, he rises to this post from the grassroots up. Leadership comes from the grassroots up. One difference, I donâ€™t think Ryan could ever be accused of being a country club Republican, as you will see at the gun range this afternoon.

Ryanâ€™s experience uniquely suits him for this job and for this moment in our organizationâ€™s history. Over the last year as executive director I have seen the demands of the position, and Iâ€™ve identified four constituencies the state chair must serve. I am confident Ryan will work well with each.

The first is candidates and campaigns. As every CR in the room knows, we are the go-to source for volunteers when a campaign needs help. Ryan was the southern field director for Reid for Congress this cycle, helping organize the largest congressional district east of the Mississippi River. In a phrase, heâ€™s done it, and he gets it.

The second constituency is the institutional Republican party. Ryan was for two years chairman of the Republican Party of Oneida County, the youngest in the state, a testament to his maturity and leadership skills. He will be helpful in building relationships with the state and county parties, particularly in this off-election year.

Third, and somewhat related to the first two, are our donors. The state CR chair is the face of our organization; it is his or her signature on the bottom of the letter or making the ask on the phone. As staff on a congressional campaign Ryan saw fundraising up close, and he takes an active role in the county partyâ€™s finances as chair. His skill in this area will be particularly important for our group moving forward.

The final and most important constituency the state chair serves is you, the CR grassroots. He comes, as we say, from the grassroots up, and he knows that is how the state organization should be run. He is actively involved in the Stevens Point chapter. He has traveled across the state to attend Republican events. He served as a member of the CR State Executive Board as political director (some of us old folks still remember his presentation on terrorism at UW-Oshkosh 2 years ago) and on the grassroots level as 7th CDC. Ryan will be a great leader for us because he is one of us.

Just as Bush 41 was the most qualified candidate for president, consider the experience Ryan brings to this job: dedicated grassroots activist, field staff for a congressional campaign, like Bush, a county party chair, CR CDC, state CR political director.

At the symposium I mentioned earlier, where on historian argued Bush was the most qualified candidate of the century, another scholar opined that the convictions of George H.W. Bush were best described as those of a Christian, a patriot, and a gentleman. I can think of no more apt description of my friend, our next state chair, Ryan Wrasse. Thank you.

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