Three seeking revival of GOP

With its hammerlock on the local political scene lost, Jefferson County Republicans may soon tap a mixture of new and familiar faces to bring the party back to prominence.

Donald G.M. Coon III, Brian S. Peck and James E. Fitzpatrick will seek the county GOP committee's chairman, vice chairman and secretary-treasurer positions during a Sept. 24 vote. The three are so far unopposed in their bids.

"I'm seeking it with a mixture of excitement and reluctance," said Mr. Coon, Watertown, who would replace outgoing Chairwoman Sandra L. Corey. "Much of the job is, frankly, thankless and difficult. But at the same time, there's certainly an abundance of opportunity for the Republican Party right now."

The GOP, as recently as 2002, held 12 county Legislature and two state Legislature seats and a congressional seat in Jefferson County.

But Republicans recently lost two high-profile races locally for state Senate, a seat they once owned in this county for at least 128 years, as well as a campaign for an open seat in the state Assembly, which was theirs for almost a century here.

Mr. Coon, a former county committee vice chairman, said the party has hurt itself on all levels.

The Bush and Pataki administrations, he said, moved away from the fiscal conservatism that once defined the GOP.

"They betrayed that basic value, particularly at the state level," he said. "And when you say one thing and do another, people tend not to believe you."

New Yorkers turned to Democrats to fill key positions. The party used its momentum to widen its statewide enrollment edge and erode the GOP's advantage upstate.

Registered Republicans still outnumber registered Democrats in Jefferson County 3 to 2. Even though the head count was still strong, Mr. Coon said, party operatives from Albany and Washington ruined some of the local party committee's goodwill with its people.

"We have to try to control some of the outside influences that have a more bare-knuckle way of doing business than what we're used to up here," he said.

Mr. Coon, Mr. Peck and Mrs. Corey all said the local GOP leadership also could have done more to keep party faithful involved.

"We need to be talking to people over coffee, or through any type of means possible," said Mr. Peck, a committee member since 2005. "So many times we get lost and forget that relationships are very important. I know that the technology seems new, but the underlying premise is grass-roots, open communication and open process."

The Carthage businessman has launched a new Web site, www.jeffersongop.org, to keep the party's base better informed about upcoming events or opportunities to volunteer on a campaign or a fundraiser. He said the party also can generate enthusiasm and expand its base through social networking sites, such as Twitter and Facebook.

Mr. Peck is also passionate about a related project: trying to get Republicans under 40 years of age more involved in the committee process through the county Young Republicans Club.

"It's important to have diversity at the table," he said.

If elected, the trio will be expected to deliver results almost immediately.

With John M. McHugh's impending departure, Republicans need to keep the 23rd Congressional District seat to stem the tide of big losses locally and build enthusiasm about the party's direction.

Mr. McHugh, a Pierrepont Manor resident, has been generous with his campaign contributions and his time, shipping tens of thousands of dollars and making dozens of joint appearances with local GOP candidates seeking state Legislature positions.

Mr. Coon said the county committee has about $10,000 accumulated, but he acknowledged it's more difficult to raise funds quickly "when you don't have the Senate seat and other high profile seats."

If Republican Dierdre K. Scozzafava is able to win the seat, the county committee could tap a candidate from its deep bench for the 122nd Assembly District seat.

"We've got some fantastic people in this county who could jump into that race," Mrs. Corey said.

A second win in quick succession could help the "pendulum swing the other way," as Mr. Coon said, and help the party recapture some of its flock that strayed during the 2008 races.

"Democrats only get elected (in Jefferson County) when Republicans vote for them," he said.

If elected, Mr. Peck would replace Mr. Fitzpatrick in the vice chairman's role. Mr. Fitzpatrick would replace Don A. Gladle in the secretary/treasurer position.