Rest in peace to Bob Bennett. Chairman Bob Bennett was my political godfather, as he was for so many of us who work in Republican politics around the nation because we got our starts under his leadership in Ohio. He is the longest-serving Chairman of the Republican Party in perennial battleground Ohio. He managed the organization that would win presidential campaigns, governor races, and legislative majorities. Many times along the way, the broader Republican family would be at odds with itself on how to govern or how to compete in elections, but Chairman Bennetts way was always bringing the family together and proceeding to avoid fights, settle primaries, and focus on winning general elections. There is no way to duplicate his persona - he was a larger than life leader with a booming voice and a Northeast Ohioans toughness - but he could somehow soothe the acrimony of statewide elected officials when they seemed destined for intramural fights. Ohio Republicans enjoyed many victories under Chairman Bennetts wise leadership, with so many little-known stories of his brokering goodwill among them along the way. On a personal front, I am sad about Chairman Bob Bennetts passing because he is truly my role model for working in Republican campaigns. He hired me and allowed me to climb the ranks in the organization for seven years. This is a duration unheard of in campaign organizations - except in Ohio. I was just one of a vast number of Republican professionals around the nation who he hired, mentored, and often employed through several cycles. So many of us working in Republican politics can trace our paths back to the man Karl Rove called The King of Republican Chairmen. Chairman Bennetts commitment to continuity of staff was smart politics and an invaluable gift to those of us who worked for him for so long. Politics is a people business. Chairman Bob Bennett was committed to developing his people. The industry of political campaigns runs entirely on the talents of people, but the circumstances of election cycles do not naturally allow for much professional development. Chairman Bennett defied those circumstances. He built a one-of-a-kind state party that cultivated professionals in the toughest of battlegrounds. He put us on his team, and he mentored us over several election cycles. We learned his strategy for encouraging Republicans to work together. Under his leadership we won a lot of elections. I owe a lot to Chairman Bob Bennett, and his wisdom will inform many of my decisions every day of my career.
Posted on: Sat, 06 Dec 2014 15:37:27 +0000
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