The Republican faithful will be congregating on July 28th to vote in a new party chairman. Rob Capehart, who successfully helped patch our party together after the Warner debacle, will not be looking for a second term.

Capehart was excellent in recovering the party, but there were many who thought he did not raise enough money or make enough noise about the Republican agenda. For his role as peacemaker and pieces collector, there was none better. Now it is time to move on. The question is move on to whom?

Names are swirling around the inner Republican circle, but I am going to go the non-controversial route and avoid criticizing or analyzing the potential candidates.

Oh, okay. I will mention one name: Hiram Lewis. Yes, my friends. The unelectable candidate, the one who ticked off just about everyone in the party, the person who could not win a single county in West Virginia – not even his home county – is supposedly running for party chairman. That is as dumb as a milk bucket under a bull, but I digress.

But there is one name not being circulated that should be: Senator Steve Harrison. Senator Harrison is taking a hiatus from the senate and will be available to take another role in our party soon after the election is over.

While I am sure he would like a few months away to reevaluate and, maybe, just maybe, kick up his feet and rest a little, West Virginia cannot afford to let a man with his talents be out of circulation for too long.

Through his 14-year tenure in the legislature, Harrison has proven time and again he has the integrity and conservative values to lead the Republican Party. Whether the issue is taxes, family values, the role of government, immigration, gas prices, or a myriad of other issues, Harrison is as straight as you can possibly be.

He is well liked and even loved among Republicans. During my 2 years working for him I encountered Republicans and Democrats who would sing his praises. At first it took me off guard, but I quickly realized if I mentioned his name to anyone, they would have to tell me their “Harrison story” before I could wrest myself away. I would grab a stool and patiently wait for them to finish.

Harrison has done much in his 39 years:

* Grew up in Sissonville and attended Flinn Elementary School, Sissonville Junior High School and graduated from Sissonville Senior High School in 1985.
* Graduated from Brown University in 1990 with a triple concentration of Economics, Political Science and Organizational Behavior & Management.
* Was a District 1 Academic All-American in football and a member of the Ivy League Senior All-Stars in the 1989 Epson Ivy Bowl in Japan.
* Has worked in the banking industry for more than 15 years and is currently a Vice President at The Poca Valley Bank.
* Prior to being elected to the State Senate in 2002, served 5 terms in the House of Delegates.
* Served as Co-Chairman of the House Freshman Caucus in the 71st Legislature (1993-94).
* Was rated one of the “Top 12 BEST FOR JOBS Delegates” in ratings compiled by the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce based on the 1997-2000 Sessions.
* Has cosponsored more than 70 bills which became law.
* Has served as Chairman of the West Virginia Legislative Prayer Breakfast Committee since 1997.
* Served as a member of the Steering Committee and as the Social Conservative Committee Chairman for the Bush-Cheney ‘04 campaign in West Virginia.

The role of the party chairman is three-fold:

First, he must provide a consistent message externally to the media and those outside the party.

Second, he must be able to lead those inside the party as well as coordinate with Republican legislators.

Third, he must be able to raise money and lots of it.

Harrison would be able to handily accomplish the first two and with time could effectively do the third.

You can be assured that Harrison would take on the liberals at every turn but would do it with the dignity and grace expected of a leader but absent from the Democratic Party.

Yet the biggest problem is not getting enough people to vote for Harrison, but convincing him to run. The Executive Committee members I have spoken with have all pledged their vote if his hat was in the ring, we just need to get him to throw the aforementioned article of clothing.

I am stepping out on a limb. I have not spoken with him about this and it may annoy more than help, but go to the Senate member directory, select his name and send him an email encouraging him to run.

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A final note: some may think that Harrison put me up to this, but that could not be further from the truth.