Wednesday, December 31, 1997
Washburn files for county chairman
By RICHARD HORN Staff Writer
Paul Washburn filed for Taylor County Republican chairman Tuesday,
saying if elected he would be heading a party that's already in
excellent shape.
The longtime GOP activist praised outgoing chairman Larry Gill
for his leadership and vowed to carry on in that tradition.
"The Republican Party in Taylor County has never been
in better condition," Washburn said. "Larry's had a
lot of help but he's been the one who's pulled it together. I
don't plan any major changes if I get to be Republican chairman."
The 48-year-old president of Abilene Maintenance Inc. was vice
chairman of the county GOP in 1970, while a student at Hardin-Simmons
University, and has been involved in GOP politics at a national
level, as well.
While at HSU, he served as an intern with the White House Conference
on Children and Youth. He later was executive director of the
Young Republican National Federation in Washington and chairman
of Texas College Republicans.
He's also worked as youth coordinator for statewide GOP candidates
in Louisiana and New Mexico and traveled the country as a campaign
consultant for the party's Senate and congressional campaign committees.
"What I found was it didn't matter where you were in the
U.S., the strength of the local party had a tremendous amount
to do with how successful Republican candidates were," he
said.
Washburn listed three goals he believes Republicans need to
accomplish.
"We need to stick to our political philosophy, we need
to tell the truth, and we need to treat our opponents with respect,"
he said.
The latter may be the most important, he added.
"We need to make it easy for people to become our political
allies, to elect the leadership this state's going to need in
the next century."
He also said he isn't worried about party divisions evident
in the past over, among other things, how to address "pro-family"
issues. The crowd at his announcement included a broad sampling
of the party faithful.
"I think we have everybody working together, and that's
the best assessment I can give right now," Washburn said.
"A lot of people realize that if we consistently keep
electing Republican candidates, we have a much better chance of
resolving the pro-life matter in our favor," he said. "I'm
pro-life, and I think virtually all the people in the Republican
Party are. But that's not the only issue."
Gill, first elected chairman in 1994, is not seeking a third
term. He will remain chairman until the county GOP convention
in May, following the election of his successor in the March 10
primary.
No other candidates have filed for GOP chief. David Dillman,
the county's Democratic chairman, is expected to seek re-election.
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Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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