For months, Broward GOP chairman Chip LaMarca has been contemplating a bid against Democratic County Mayor Ken Keechl and it looks like he's very close to making a decision.
On Tuesday morning LaMarca posted this message on Facebook: "Chip LaMarca is pondering a big decision."
Many of his friends asked what he plans to run for while one joked: "order the steak."
"I hope to have an answer within a week," LaMarca said in an interview Thursday.
LaMarca said he met with Keechl earlier this week.
"I had a two-hour meeting with him on Monday,'' LaMarca said. "He described to me the finer points of why I shouldn't run."
LaMarca, a Lighthouse Point City Commissioner, will have a huge hill to climb in terms of fundraising: Keechl has raised more than $300,000. But Keechl is ripe for a challenge after facing criticism over his campaign spending including paying $3,100 a month to rent a campaign office from his partner. The district leans slightly Democratic now but was held by Republican Jim Scott before Keechl.
Expect a partisan battle. Keechl is the county's first openly gay mayor and gay activists will rally around him while many Republican activists will help LaMarca.
If he decides to run, LaMarca will likely step down as GOP chair but he wouldn't talk about a likely replacement.
Not only will he have a need for major fundraising, but this district has gone from +1% Republican in voter registration 4 years ago to a +5% Democrat today.
I'm not sure how LaMarca thinks he's going to do better today than Jim Scott did 4 years ago with a $500,000 coffer.
Posted by: Steve | March 04, 2010 at 05:34 PM
Run, Chip, Run! You have been a solid leader to the party.
Richard DeNapoli would make a great BREC chair! (note: this is not Richard)
Posted by: BREC Member | March 04, 2010 at 05:38 PM
Richard is an anorexic idiot that is hated among all that attend BREC.
Posted by: Richard DeStupidi | March 04, 2010 at 07:40 PM
LaMarca should run against Stacy Ritter...He would win easily!
Posted by: Jim | March 04, 2010 at 10:32 PM
Chip is one of the most well meaning, pro active guys in politics. The County needs him.
Posted by: Pompano | March 05, 2010 at 12:06 AM
Chip is great- Richard Not so great.
Posted by: GOP girl | March 05, 2010 at 09:37 AM
what's about Chip's Business lawsuit? anyone looking into that
Posted by: details | March 05, 2010 at 09:50 AM
Richard Di Nothing is a twit who would make an even bigger mess of BREC than even Tynan did.
Posted by: Francis | March 05, 2010 at 02:26 PM
DeNaps is the haps. He would make an effective BREC chair.
Posted by: Chris | March 05, 2010 at 04:19 PM
Richard puts the time in to get things done, we need someone who will be dedicated
Posted by: Leadership | March 06, 2010 at 10:47 AM
Of course ricky has the time. He has no friends, dumped his girlfriend last summer and all he has left is politics. Feel sorry for the guy but then again, you can't act like you know it all and treat people the way he does.
Posted by: anothe BREC member | March 06, 2010 at 02:12 PM
Some restraint should be shown in posting this drivel and airing out dirty laundry and private squabbles in public. Good Lord.
Posted by: Former BREC member | March 06, 2010 at 04:50 PM
What about Sharon Day for BREC Chair?
Posted by: Howard from Broward | March 06, 2010 at 05:23 PM
I have personally known Chip LaMarca for quite a while, He gets my vote and my financial support.
Posted by: Ken Set | March 06, 2010 at 09:15 PM
Come on people. Rule 11 anyone???
Posted by: Ronald Reagan | March 07, 2010 at 06:52 PM