Republican activist accuses Bolling of 'political payback' in local endorsements

Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R) recently endorsed candidates in two Lynchburg area races for unit chairmen -- the lowest level Republican party post and one that a statewide officeholder would not normally involve himself with.
Bolling endorsed Gene Smith in Campbell County and Dolores Switzer in Bedford County --the only two contested unit chairmen races he involved himself with this year.
Tim Boyer, vice-chairman of the Campbell County Republicans, accused Bolling of endorsing in the local races to get back at him for working for Bolling's 2009 challenger Patrick Muldoon last year. Smith's and Switzer's opponents are close to Boyer.
"I find the lieutenant governor's involvement in a local contest for a party office to be an astounding display of vindictive political payback,'' Boyer said. "The fact is, I am only aware of two times out of hundreds of these contests that Mr. Bolling has ever gotten involved in a contest for unit chairman."
Randy Marcus, Bolling's chief of staff, said the lieutenant governor endorsed four unit chairmen candidates this year, though two of them -- including Anthony Bedell of Fairfax County -- ran unopposed.
Marcus said Bolling backs candidates whom he has known for a long time and whom he considers friends -- not because he opposes their challengers. He said the lieutenant governor endorsed those who asked, and that he would have endorsed others but they did not ask.
For the record, both candidates endorsed by Bolling in Campbell and Bedford lost. Will Kirk was elected chairman in Campbell last week and Nathan Boyer was elected chairman in Bedford Monday.
By
Anita Kumar
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April 15, 2010; 12:30 PM ET
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Anita Kumar
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Bill Bolling
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Posted by: DCG65 | April 15, 2010 12:53 PM | Report abuse
Let me get this straight. The Lt Gov of VA is holding a grudge for a race which he won by 70 points. (Perhaps Mr. Boyer is aware that it is routine for Republicans to take the opportunity to back different candidates in a Republican convention.)
And is it a manifestation of a vendetta because he endorses the incumbent unit chair who has served the republican faithful for decades in Campbell County?
On the contrary, it sounds like the bitterness is coming from Eric Boyer, and a fringe group, for anyone contesting their installation of a sycophant in pursuit of a family dynasty.
Posted by: realredrick | April 15, 2010 7:19 PM | Report abuse
McDonnell made an endorsement in the 6th Congressional District---Trixie Averill for Chair.
Posted by: BJRWC4 | April 15, 2010 7:51 PM | Report abuse
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Even had Bolling done this out of "political vindictiveness" it makes perfect sense - any unit chair who would have supported an absolutely impossible to elect candidate like Patrick Muldoon in the last cycle is unlikely to be effective in the job.
Bolling is absolutely right to endorse local party leaders who have displayed the have the judgment to do the job. Nothing wrong with that.