My sources tell me that there’s a high likelihood Fairfax County Republican Committee chair Anthony Bedell will follow Glen Caroline’s lead and not run for reelection. Given the behind the scenes criticism and constant second guessing from naysayers over the last years, I can’t say that I blame him. I joined the committee two and a half years ago, when Jim Hyland was still in charge, and was there to witness first hand the strength of the team Bedell assembled and the hard work that went into the multiple races we coordinated while he was in charge. We almost put Pat Herrity in the Chairman’s seat, we successfully won Braddock District for John Cook, and Bedell and the entire team helped us gain multiple seats in the House of Delegates, and not just elect a full slate of Republicans to statewide office, but turn the county red with an actual win for Bob McDonnell. We got our butts kicked in 2008 and less than a year later, we turned it around completely. A significant amount of credit for that should go to Anthony Bedell. Fairfax didn’t win best unit at the Advance for nothing.
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I can see why he would be willing to step down – the man was everywhere. He’s got young kids at home, but I never saw him miss a meeting or event, and I don’t think I ever visited FCRC HQ without running into him there. That kind of schedule has to burn a man out, especially if you’ve got a bunch of people second guessing you and complaining. Frankly, I don’t see what the complaining is about. The latest grumbles I heard were about the 37th special election. The lines were too long! It was cold! Here’s my response – cry me a river. My pregnant wife stood in line for an hour and a half to vote in that primary and she didn’t say a word. We’re Republicans. Leave the whining to the Democrats.
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It’s more than a little frustrating to think we may lose Anthony Bedell to overwork and under-appreciation. I can’t thank him enough for what he’s done for the Committee and for the County. But here’s the real question – if you can’t get behind someone who delivers these kinds of victories, who can you get behind? Honestly, I have no idea who can fill his shoes, or who would even want to. Who should replace Bedell if he chooses not to run again?
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Dec 10th by Brian S
I’m with you.
People get too spoiled and have too short of memories. I remember the days of pre-Bedell when the FCRC was basically useless in terms of energy, strategy, and coordination. Bedell has transformed the unit committee from a fratricidal group that spent more time arguing over internal issues rather than actually working to win. Now everyone is going to take credit and demean Bedell, which is a shame.
PLEASE STAY
What I find really frustrating is we finally get two strong leaders in Caroline and Bedell, and both get so burnt out after one cycle because of the constant whining that we lose them. What is this going to mean for these two counties for the Congressionals next year and the Senate and House races in 2011?
Having worked with Anthony at FCRC, I cannot say enough good things about him. If these rumors are true, it is a definite loss…but, it is great to see how much he has turned FCRC around! He certainly has left it in better hands than he inherited it. I wish him the best of luck.
I would like to take this moment to thank Anthony for all his hard work in Fairfax. In many counties the Victory staff deserve more credit then the local committees. In Fairfax Anthony deserves an insane amount of credit. Anyone who can do what he did in the bluest part of the state, is a valuable asset to the party. Thank you for your work the past two cycles Anthony.
As great of a chairman, Anthony was for FCRC, I think more credit needs to go to Seamus Owens, the ED for FCRC this past year. When he came on board, he really turn the vision of Anthony into action and change. Where previous EDs may not have had the ability to do anything productive for campaigns, Seamus being a former Campaign staffer himself, actually knew how to turn FCRC into a resource for campaigns rather than hindrance that stood in the way between victory and defeat. If we want someone to run the party like Anthony did, the choice is clear–Seamus Owens. And we need to make Kerry O’Brien the permanent ED of the party. There is no better place to recruit from other than the prodigies of Anthony Bedell himself.
Am I the first to start the “Draft Seamus Owens for chair of FCRC” movement?
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Congrats on the the baby Brian! Your blog time is about to go way down.
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People will complain regardless, good leaders put it in perspective and keep moving forward. Frankly, I’m not surprised that someone with young kids would serve just one term as Chairman. It’s probably not the end of their service, it’s just a pull bad for their family’s sanity.
If Anthony does step aside it will be a real loss for this party. Anthony did a great job fielding candidates this past cycle and putting together a real strategy that helped produce real results this year.
The trouble I see with our party is that we are quick to complain and whine and slow to get hands on and volunteer. Everyone wants to second guess and play arm chair quarterback, but few will actually want to put in the hours that Anthony and others have to make this party successful. I understand why Anthony may decide to step away, but I would urge him not too. Anthony is good for FCRC and our party. I think Anthony will tell you he and I don’t always agree, but I have respect for the man who puts his life on hold for the good of the party.
Let’s stop the grade school bickering and instead support our leaders. Cold weather and long lines are not things to complain about. We should be celebrating our November success and work to elect Steve Hunt to the State Senate. The other stuff takes to much time and energy and seems to me to be petty grade school fighting.
Anthony, I support whatever you decide, but I hope you will stay on. We need your continued leadership!
I don’t want to throw stones here because Seamus may be someone who helped FCRC, but if we are going to look for reasons why FCRC has turned around is due to Anthony Bedell, but also the his former ED David Skiles. David did so much to help AB implement his plan. Let’s be honest when it comes to recognizing people. If AB does leave we need a new Chairman who has the same vision as AB and David Skiles is that kind of person.
While I very much appreciate the kind words, CliftonRep, there were many other influential people that helped FCRC. The tireless work that the volunteers did, such as Juanita Balenger, Mary Campbell, Marti Meersman and the list goes on. No staff at FCRC could have done anything without the support of these folks.
As I said in my prior post, but will say again. Anthony was an excellent Chairman. Having worked under Hyland and Bedell, I understand the time, and work it takes to be a good Chairman. Your family and life pretty much go on hold, so, its not a small task.
Chairing a County Committee for a jurisdiction of 1,000,000 people is a totally thankless job, an incredible amount of work if done well, and involves a huge amount of responsibility. It’s a very tough job for someone with a full-time job and I can completely understand his decision. The person who took my place is not running for re-election either.
I congratulate Anthony for his two years of service to the community.
As I understand it, Seamus is going to be heading to Parris Island next year so I don’t think he’ll be able to take the job.
Willie Deutsch, let me take this opportunity to agree with you. We don’t always see eye to eye, but you are dead-on in this post, friend.
I echo the laudatory comments about Anthony Bedell. What he and his team accomplished in Fairfax is truly amazing. I support him if he chooses to run again, and support his decision if he chooses not to seek another term, as I have done.
However, speaking for myself only, let me say the “whining” that I keep reading about had nothing to do with my decision not to seek a second term. (The letter I transmitted and that was re-posted announcing that decision outlines my reasons for not running again.)
Again, speaking only for Loudoun, the amount of intra-party bickering we saw the past two years was GREATLY diminished, and is only due to less than a handful of folks who still don’t get it. The storyline out of Loudoun (and Fairfax) is not the toll the “whiners” take on leadership, as that’s background noise like mosquitoes buzzing in your ear.
The storyline is, when we ignore this mis-placed pettiness and focus on our true goals and strategies, we win. And, at the end of the day, isn’t that what everyone wants?
Glen Caroline, Chair
Loudoun County Republican Committee
The thing I appreciate most about Anthony’s tenure (which I pray continues) is what you can see in this thread: a united party.
We still have our foodfights (they are the nature of political coalitions) and I think many of our internal struggles are actually right and proper for a party to have, but I think it says something that many of us who don’t always see eye-to-eye on every issue and sometimes have occassion to engage in very passionate battles with one another all can still be supportive of Anthony’s work as chairman. We can all recognize he’s done a good job and it has been a benefit to the entire party.
Whether Anthony stays on or we are unfortunately forced to find a successor, I hope we might continue to have a chairman who can keep the unit focused on getting things done and benefiting the entire party.
Benjamin,
Amen, brother.
Anthony is a class act. He is exactly what FCRC needed for the 21st century political environment. He is results driven, full of energy, able to pull impressive speakers, raise money, garner the respect of his elders and relate with his young staff. He will be virtually impossible to replace.
Anthony is also a really good softball player.
Anthony Bedell is as ideal a Chairman you can get. Those who complain will continue to complain regardless of how many elections are won, money is raised and volunteers are recruited.
To be honest with you, Seamus Owens and David Skiles both did a fine job while serving the FCRC, but it was under Bedell’s direction. Skiles served under Hyland and I honestly don’t want to go back to those days. So it’s easy for a rising tide to lift all ships, but Bedell was our chair and earns the lion’s share of the praise for our victories. Both Owens and Skiles are valuable to our party and we should hope for more young people like them to be involved, but now is not their time to lead us into midterms elections.
If we find ourselves in the sad predicament of having to find a new chair, I personally like a little more gray hair, experience and wisdom in my chair and it’s naive to think that just because someone is ED of the party that they are equipped to be the next chair. Let’s at least consider replacements who have seen a couple of Presidential elections. This is Fairfax County and the stakes are high. Our chair is essentially CEO of over million voters. Would you trust that to someone in their early twenties? I hope Anthony continues to admirably serve the FCRC. And thank you Anthony for all you have given the FCRC during your past term.
So, you’re pointing out Anthony’s gray hair, then??
Yikes, not really, just theoretically. We both know this wasn’t Anthony’s first trip to the rodeo and we can’t have the 2010 midterm election serve as training wheels for our chairman. We are blessed to have such amazing young activists, but there’s no rush to push them into the chairman’s role. All good things improve with age and experience…even if it means having gray hair.
It is statements like this that made Glen Caroline a great chair of LCRC:
>>>The storyline is, when we ignore this mis-placed pettiness and focus on our true goals and strategies, we win. And, at the end of the day, isn’t that what everyone wants?
Glen Caroline, Chair<<<
Please, let us continue in this manner. Please let all republicans remember this. We must keep our eyes on the prizes and ignore the mosquitoes buzzing around trying to distract us. I too need this reminder. Ignore the petty, small, people, who see only in black and white. (And often dress that way too.)
KPS..and your feelings on no hair??
Anthony has been great.
Skiles is inexperienced, only one person is suitable and it will be…
Jeff Frederick.
KPS, I second the need for someone with more experience, if it comes to that… as for Mr. Hishta, thanks for your vote of rousing confidence, YES! Jeff Frederick would be great, perhaps he can run FCRC into the ground like he did RPV and make a mess of the Party structure…at least one could hope JK JK. In any case, we need someone who has the same level of experience as Anthony. Just FYI KBS, I worked under both Hyland and Bedell, and I would prefer not to go back to that either…
David, I understand and remember you working under both Hyland and Bedell. And as I stated, both you and Seamus are a tremendous asset to the party, as are the many unnamed volunteers who worked tirelessly during the past few cycles. My point is that a good ED does not necessarily make a good chair, if it did, where were the victories under Hyland? Bedell has raised the bar and the level of expectations among Fairfax Republicans and it is critical we maintain or exceed that level of experience, strategic thinking, diplomacy, organization and creativity. We’re blessed with many energetic, smart and ambitious volunteers, however, the 2010 cycle requires we have someone with extensive experience in winning elections.
Brian, I completely agree! That’s why I would not run for Chairman at this time! That being said, and in Hyland’s defense, when he became Chairman he inherited an organization deeply in debt. For better or for worse he in some ways erased that. I am not a fan of Hyland’s Chairmanship but I think everyone needs to understand he was not dealt a great deck of cards…between Republicans being what they were in 2007-2008 and other issues, it made a successful FCRC all but impossible.
I further agree we need an experienced Chairman for 2010, and why I hope Anthony does not retire.
Hi David, KPS here. My apologies for the previous post under my husband’s name (Brian S.)…I was using his computer and didn’t realize the post went out under his name. Please forgive this display of “pregnancy brain.”
I agree Hyland served the FCRC during difficult time and did a good job under the circumstances. I like Hyland and supported him in his most recent race as we live in his district. I’m glad we’re all in agreement that if Anthony does decide to step down, we need an experienced Chair. My posts and my point are meant to respond to those (CliftonRep and NotAnthonyBedell) who threw your name, as well as Seamus’, in the ring.
As I’ve stated, we’re lucky to have such an abundance of energetic, smart and talented volunteers and staff within the FCRC, however, there are few who are immediately ready to serve as Chair during the 2010 cycle.
What are the complaints and gripes that have been made about Anthony (and/or Glen)? What constitutes “constant second guessing from naysayers”? I haven’t heard a negative word about the performance of either of these two fantastic leaders. Seriously, how can anyone complain? I can understand getting burnt out, but as Glen said, the disunity and rancor that existed just a couple of years ago has largely faded away (victory’s grand side-effect).
So, I’m not sure I understand the thrust of Brian’s initial post. Who exactly is dogging Anthony, and what are these people saying?