By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
On Monday, December 29, Mobile County Republican Chair Terry Lathan announced in a statement that she will step down as Chair in order to focus her attention on being elected Alabama Republican Party Chair in February.
Chairman Lathan said in a statement on Facebook, “One week from today I will turn the chairmanship over of the Mobile County Republican Executive Committee. Turning my vision towards Chair of the ALGOP. But for now ordering goods, filing reports, setting the Monday agenda, inviting guests, writing press releases, working with committee chairs and officers, organizing vacancy applications just to name a few of the duties.”
Lathan said, “I couldn’t be prouder of the Mobile Republican Party and our team. It has been a great pleasure and an honor to have served. 3 decades plus of volunteering. But I’m just warming up…Onward!”
Lathan wrote on Facebook on Saturday, “Since it’s a rainy day outside I thought I would share this with you all. My website for the ALGOP Chairman’s race is up and running. Feel free to share it and read my story. Some of you that I’ve known for a long time will learn a lot of new things about me that I’ve kept close. But it’s important for Party members to know about a candidate’s life path. The “War on Women” is hereby officially called out as false and we reject the notion of such baseless and empty words. You may quote me!”
Lathan wrote on her website, “The goals and objectives of the Alabama Republican Party are to win elections while representing the conservative principles that have made America the last best hope for mankind. To achieve these goals, ALGOP must continue to run an aggressive fundraising operation, recruit quality candidates, wage a public relations battle with a liberal press, and communicate our message clearly and concisely to the citizens of Alabama. I have a track record of doing these things and understand that we must continue the growth of the Alabama Republican Party.”
Lathan said that Republicans, “Must govern with authority and principled visions. Alabama is solidly Republican in many counties and now at the state and legislative level. The new found mission of the ALGOP and the greater Republican Party across Alabama must be to hold Republican elected officials accountable to our core conservative principles. Increasingly it will be important to ensure that we maintain a watchful eye for those individuals who do not share our values but instead seek public office as a Republican just to get elected. I will be a strong, independent voice for our Party and its principles, not for its personalities. I have successfully lead efforts to block qualifying from what were clear “fly by night” operators who wanted to use the Republican Party for their own personal gains, and I will continue to do so as your Chairman.”
Lathan has proposed turning future Alabama Republican Party Winter Meetings into Mini-Conventions with multiple training and Party building activities for members while maintaining the integrity of the State Executive Committee meeting.
Lathan also promised to streamline future State Executive Committee meetings to allow members the chance to read written preliminary reports from officers and affiliated groups prior to the date of the meeting and allow Steering Committee members time to give general updates from the podium at the meetings. Lathan claims this will enable more time to be spent on policy issues within the Party itself and discussion on our public policy positions.
Lathan also proposes holding Spring and Fall telephone town hall conference calls for the full Committee membership to keep the membership informed of recent activity and future events. Each call would feature a VIP guest speaker. Recordings of the conference calls will be made available for members if they are unable to attend.
Lathan wrote, “I will personally be in the ALGOP HQ weekly, as needed, to oversee the operations of our Party. I believe strongly in setting the tone and direction with the help of the Steering Committee and the State Executive Committee and allowing trusted staff members to execute the daily functions of our Party.” “I will not be offering any jobs, positions or promises of such prior to being elected Chairman. The incoming ALGOP staff will be professional, responsive and dedicated to serve the needs of fellow Alabama Republicans.”
Popular Alabama Republican Party Chairman Bill Armistead has announced that he will not seek a third term as Chairman.
Former State Representative Mary Sue McClurkin from Indian Springs has also announced that she is a candidate for Chairman. Members of the Alabama Republican Party Executive Committee will elect new leadership at the February Winter Meeting.
Notable Former ALGOP Chairmen include: Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard, Public Service Commission President Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh, Marty Connors, Winton M. Blount Jr., Senator Jeff Sessions, and former Congressman Spencer Bachus.
