A feature in yesterday's Washington Post on how to grow a political party from the ground up focused on Republicans in St. Joseph County, a group more distressed than Democrats in Allen County. When Chris Riley accepted the unpaid job as GOP chairman in 2006, he says it was "maybe the worst job in the world" -- he had a database containing 11 people.
Early in his tenure as county chairman, Riley compiled a list of every elected position in St. Joseph County, a largely rural expanse of housing subdivisions and cornfields near the Michigan border. It is the fourth-largest county in Indiana, encompassing 10 towns and 13 townships, each with its own judges and town councils, its own clerks and coroners. By the time Riley finished his list, it included more than 100 political positions, fewer than 35 of those occupied by Republicans.
Riley thought Republicans could regain legitimacy only by finding candidates to run for all 100 slots, so he created a depth chart of would-be politicians.
IT's a fascinating article for political junkies of all persuasions and especially recommended for those who think politics is an easy game.
