Sutton announces bid for state GOP chair
Longtime GOP activist and businessman Tony Sutton of Inver Grove Heights has announced that he's running for chairman of the Republican Party of Minnesota.
Sutton launched a Web site and Facebook page dedicated to the campaign. In an open letter to fellow Republicans, Sutton said he is not happy with the direction the party has taken and is frustrated with what he calls the party's recent philosophical and ideology drift.
"Part of the reason for our organizational problems is activist apathy born from the philosophical drift," Sutton wrote. "However, another reason for our organizational problems is the cookie-cutter approach to campaigns our Party has taken at the National and State level."
Sutton currently serves as the state GOP party's secretary/treasurer. He was Minnesota co-chair of the Mitt Romney for President campaign last year and was a Republican National Convention delegate in 2004 and 2008. Sutton is CEO of the Baja Sol Restaurant Group.
Ron Carey, who has served as state party chairman since 2005, has not yet announced if he'll seek another two-year term. The GOP's State Central Committee is schedule to select a chair June 13.
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