Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Orlando Sentinel: Greer out, Thrasher in as Republican Party of FLorida Chair

By Josh Hafenbrack and Aaron Deslatte, Tallahassee Bureau

Embattled state Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer will resign his post effective in February, a Republican insider said Tuesday.

His replacement will be Sen. John Thrasher, R-Jacksonville, a veteran Republican and former House speaker who recently won a bruising primary battle to replace late Sen. Jim King.

The source said Tuesday that Gov. Charlie Crist came to the realization that Greer should go as party chairman late last week and over the weekend.

“Greer was basically killing two people – Charlie and himself,” the source said.

Greer is scheduled to hold a 1:15 p.m. conference call with reporters.

The plan is apparently for Greer to resign effective sometime in February, followed by a special meeting to vote Thrasher as his replacement sometime before the legislative session starts March 2.

The move will be formally announced at a conference call Greer has scheduled with Republican executive committee members today.

Thrasher is considered a skilled political operative and a comfortable choice for various Republican leaders — including those in the House and Senate, Crist and Republican gubernatorial frontrunner Bill McCollum.

A senior McCollum campaign official said Tuesday that the gubernatorial candidate “has been actively engaged in these discussions regarding the future of the Party. He fully supports Senator Thrasher for the post.”

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