Dallas County GOP chairman says party needs a game plan
12:00 AM CDT on Sunday, June 15, 2008
By Gromer Jeffers, Jr.
HOUSTON -- Jonathan Neerman wants to be the future of the Republican Party.
At the same time, the newly minted, 34-year-old chairman of the Dallas County GOP is a billboard of the party's recent troubles and a harbinger of difficult days ahead.
In the 2006 election, as many of the 12,500 Republicans gathered here at the state convention are aware, Democrats pulled off a stunning sweep in Dallas County.
Mr. Neerman, whose baby face belies the premature white streaks in his hair, gives a blunt assessment of the party's immediate future. He tells his colleagues in other places that what befell Dallas County Republicans could happen to them.
He's Chicken Little with evidence and a plan.
"Until you've been through it, you don't really believe it," Mr. Neerman said during a lull in the convention. "As parties, we believe we have the best candidates and voters will pick the best candidates. What I'm telling people is, no matter how much you believe in your candidate, if you don't have a ground game to get them elected, it may not matter."
Though Republicans still have a vise grip on much of the state, the urban areas are tilting toward the Democrats.
While the convention was going on, Harris County Democrats held a news conference in Houston touting their candidates and bringing attention to recent troubles involving GOP officeholders.
Later, as Mr. Neerman looked on, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison urged the party not to be complacent.
"I'm going to tell you what my goal is," she said. "It is to take back Dallas County, to keep Harris County, to make sure that we lead our charge for the United States of America."
Republicans in Dallas County and elsewhere are looking to solidify their base and expand the party.
Mr. Neerman is part of that expansion. He's Jewish, a former CIA intelligence officer and a lawyer. His mother is from Singapore and his dad is from Tulsa.
He says there's room for many perspectives.
"We should widen the tent and get everybody a voice at the table," he said. "If ! we truly believe in our conservative principles, then that will carry the day. But we shouldn't be squelching out voices on the outside. We should give everybody a chance to talk."
Hans Klingler, political director of the Texas Republican Party, says future success involves getting younger Republicans like Mr. Neerman involved.
"He's one of our stars," Mr. Klingler said." He represents the future of the party."
But Mr. Neerman could be in for a tough go as local GOP chairman.
Democrats have been getting an increased share of the countywide vote in the last few elections. And with Barack Obama drawing thousands of new urban voters, Republicans have an uphill climb.
"There's no time for complaining and no time for whining," he said. "We need to go out and have a strong volunteer effort this year."
Fellow Republicans wish him well.
"Keep pedaling," state Rep. Dan Branch of Dallas said to Mr. Neerman as they crossed paths at the convention. "There's a lot of work to be done."