New Hampshire Republican Party chairman John Sununu announced Monday that he won’t seek a second term, leaving a key vacancy within GOP ranks in the nation’s first primary state.
Sununu, the state’s former governor and a former White House Chief of Staff to George H.W. Bush, announced his retirement in a letter sent to members of the state party’s executive committee. He’ll step aside when his term ends on Jan. 22.
“It’s been an honor to serve as Republican Party Chairman and to work with the countless number of activists and concerned citizens who made our historic victories possible,” Sununu wrote. “Together, we elected outstanding Republican candidates who will fight to create jobs and restore fiscal sanity in Washington and Concord. For a variety of personal, family and business reasons I cannot provide the time and focus required to serve as chairman for another 2-year term. It is important that we elect a new chairman who is capable of managing the Party, raising money and expanding our reinvigorated grassroots effort for 2012.”
News of Sununu’s departure was first reported by the New Hampshire Union Leader’s John DiStaso. State party spokesman Ryan Williams told DiStaso that Sununu has not yet chosen a favored successor, but also isn’t ruling out an endorsement.
Possible contenders include Cheshire County GOP Chairwoman Juliana Bergeron, former congressional candidate Jennifer Horn, Derry Town GOP Chairman Jim Foley and Sununu's son, James.
Sununu and the state GOP are coming off big wins in November. Former state Attorney General Kelly Ayotte was elected to the state’s open Senate seat, and Republicans Frank Guinta and Charlie Bass won both of the state’s congressional seats.
New Hampshire isn’t the only early presidential state with GOP state party chairman race – South Carolina GOP Chairwoman Karen Floyd also stepped aside last month.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46036.html#ixzz2H5Z4vC7j
Sununu, the state’s former governor and a former White House Chief of Staff to George H.W. Bush, announced his retirement in a letter sent to members of the state party’s executive committee. He’ll step aside when his term ends on Jan. 22.
“It’s been an honor to serve as Republican Party Chairman and to work with the countless number of activists and concerned citizens who made our historic victories possible,” Sununu wrote. “Together, we elected outstanding Republican candidates who will fight to create jobs and restore fiscal sanity in Washington and Concord. For a variety of personal, family and business reasons I cannot provide the time and focus required to serve as chairman for another 2-year term. It is important that we elect a new chairman who is capable of managing the Party, raising money and expanding our reinvigorated grassroots effort for 2012.”
News of Sununu’s departure was first reported by the New Hampshire Union Leader’s John DiStaso. State party spokesman Ryan Williams told DiStaso that Sununu has not yet chosen a favored successor, but also isn’t ruling out an endorsement.
Possible contenders include Cheshire County GOP Chairwoman Juliana Bergeron, former congressional candidate Jennifer Horn, Derry Town GOP Chairman Jim Foley and Sununu's son, James.
Sununu and the state GOP are coming off big wins in November. Former state Attorney General Kelly Ayotte was elected to the state’s open Senate seat, and Republicans Frank Guinta and Charlie Bass won both of the state’s congressional seats.
New Hampshire isn’t the only early presidential state with GOP state party chairman race – South Carolina GOP Chairwoman Karen Floyd also stepped aside last month.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46036.html#ixzz2H5Z4vC7j