Shortridge says he’ll serve as MNGOP Chair through ’12 in volunteer role
Political consultant Pat Shortridge sent an e-mail to GOP delegates today saying he intends to only serve through 2012 if he's elected chair of the Minnesota Republican Party. He also said he doesn't intend to take a salary if he's elected, a question many delegates are pondering since the party is more than $500,000 in debt.
"I am not running to build any kind of personal empire," Shortridge wrote. "I'm not running to help any particular candidate, faction, or group within the party. In fact, one of my greatest strengths, I believe, is my ability to be an honest broker and unify us in our mission to move this state in the right direction, so we don't become a basket case like New York, Illinois or California."
Shortridge says he's going to emphasize fundraising to help get the party out of debt. He said his goal, if elected, would be to keep and expand the Republican majority in the in the Minnesota House and Senate, re-elect the state's four Republican members of Congress and "take advantages of any opportunities that present themselves" (race for President, U.S. Senate and the remaining Congressional races).
Shortridge also said he intends to focus on identifying and contacting GOP voters, focusing on Republican messaging and improving researching and tracking.
"If Chip Cravaack needs to know the 5 worst tax votes Tarryl Clark ever cast, we should have it for him in minutes," Shortridge wrote. "If Tom Bakk gives a speech on the budget, we should be there recording it."
Shortridge most recently served as an advisor to Marco Rubio in Florida's 2010 U.S. Senate race. He also ran Republican Mark Kennedy's failed U.S. Senate race in 2006 and served as an aide to former House Majority Leader Dick Armey from 1991 through 2002.
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