State Republican Party chairman Ed Cox announced this morning that the state Party and the entire New York congressional delegation will be backing Maria Cino’s challenge to Republican National Committee head Michael Steele.
“The RNC faces massive debt, a brain drain, a Presidential campaign on the horizon and other serious challenges. What we need now is experienced, committed and focused leadership,” said a statement co-signed by the existing, and incoming, Republican congressmen. “Throughout her career in politics and government Maria has demonstrated clearly she has the skills necessary to ensure the RNC is an effective driver of our values and our candidates in time for 2012.”
Cino is a former G.O.P. official who served in a variety of capacities in the Bush administration. Many Republicans have been furious at Steele for running a disorganized Republican Party and failing to raise campaign funds.
Interestingly, these same criticisms have been voiced about the leadership of Ed Cox, and rank-and-file Republicans around the state have been looking for a way to oust him from his leadership position.
The full statement from the (growing) New York congressional delegation below:
STATEMENT FROM NEW YORK REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
“As Members of the New York Republican House delegation, we wholeheartedly endorse Maria Cino to become Chairwoman of the Republican National Committee. Maria was born and raised in New York, where she began an exemplary political career running winning campaigns in a politically difficult region for our party.
“Maria offers two decades of experience and know-how to turn our national committee around and execute during a critical presidential and congressional cycle. Maria served as Executive Director of the National Republican Congressional Committee during the historic 1994 House takeover. She later served as RNC Deputy Chairwoman, overseeing operations and strategy during the successful 2004 presidential cycle.
“In the Bush Administration, she served as an Assistant Secretary of Commerce and then as Deputy Secretary of Transportation, where as chief operating officer she managed a $61 billion budget and an organization of 60,000 employees. Most recently, she served as Chief Executive Officer of the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul, which the Associated Press lauded as a ‘model of efficiency and
organization.’
“Maria’s national political experience is unparalleled. Her organization and fundraising skills are world-class. We all know what is at stake in 2012. We also know that our party is unprepared for the campaigns that lie ahead. Saddled with a historic debt, an expensive convention to plan, and a total rebuilding of our Victory programs, we are confident that Maria can once again save our party.
“We urge you to consider supporting Maria Cino as the next Republican National Committee Chairwoman. We are confident Maria will once again make us all proud.”
Peter T. King, Member of Congress
Christopher J. Lee, Member of Congress
Thomas W. Reed, Member of Congress
Ann-Marie Buerkle, Member-Elect of Congress
Chris Gibson, Member-Elect of Congress
Michael Grimm, Member-Elect of Congress
Richard Hanna, Member-Elect of Congress
Nan Hayworth, Member-Elect of Congress
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