On Wednesday afternoon U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn Walker 
Dallas Chapter Leader Takes on Spouse of Longtime Eagle Forum Leader
The Dallas Voice highlights the race between Dallas Log Cabin Republicans President Rob Schlein and Homer Adams, the husband of former Texas Eagle Forum and current Texas Republican Party Chairwoman Cathie Adams, to chair the North Dallas Precinct 1800.
In some ways, the Schlein-Adams race might seem like an epic battle in the ongoing GOP civil war between right-wing social conservatives and moderates who espouse a “big tent” philosophy.
But both Schlein and Dallas County Republican Party Chairman Jonathan Neerman, who’s himself been criticized by Cathie Adams for welcoming gays into the party, are downplaying the symbolism of the contest — at least for now.
“It’s just a precinct chair race, and I don’t want to make it bigger than it is,” Schlein said. “I think maybe the result could speak to something bigger, but you’ll just have to wait and see. If I kick his ass in a significant way, then maybe we can say it’s epic, but it’s just a precinct race.”
…
It’s not the first time Schlein has sought to take over the position from Adams.
In 2008, after Adams missed the filing deadline for re-election, Schlein was encouraged by Neerman to throw his name in the hat. Adams then expressed his desire to keep the position, leading to a vote by the Republican Party’s Executive Committee, which is made up of all the precinct chairs.
The committee voted for Adams by a margin of 60 percent to 40 percent.
“He gave his speech, I gave my speech, and he won but not by very much, which kind of surprised everybody in the room,” Schlein said.
Schlein added that he likes his chances even better this year, when the race will be decided by voters instead of party activists. His sexual orientation shouldn’t come as a surprise to those in the precinct because he and his partner knocked on doors in 2005 prior to the vote on Texas’ constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
Schlein said he’s prepared to mount an aggressive campaign, including direct-mail pieces, and he accused Adams of not doing his job.
Last 5 posts by cberle
- Log Cabin Court Case puts Obama Administration in Awkward Position - July 12th, 2010
- Conservative Barry Goldwater: An Early Opponent to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” - June 1st, 2010
- Making History for a repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” - May 26th, 2010
- Naval Academy Prepared to Adjust if the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Policy is Lifted - May 21st, 2010
- House Republicans Take Bold Steps to Cut Spending and Earmarks - April 21st, 2010
The fact that I’m a gay Republican has little bearing on the comment I’m about to make, but the fact that I live in Charlottesville, Virginia, has much:
Oh, how I’d love to see my Republican unit committee in such a position that two or more people compete for the chance to be a precinct leader!