After two straight collapses, the San Joaquin GOP is now at a crossroads. After what could be described charitably as civil war over the last two cycles, it is time for the members of the Central Committee to put their animosities aside and realize who they are actually supposed to be fighting. Now, after losing Richard Pombo’s seat in Congress and the Podesto campaign for Senate district 5 in 2004, it is the hope of many that unity of purpose within the local GOP will win out and revitalize a committee into a modern party apparatus modeled after such successful programs as San Diego. With a much stronger base of local elected officials and legislators along with a top tier donor base in the county that begins with GOP heavyweight Alex Spanos, it is entirely within the realm of possibility that the county GOP can once again be a determining force in winning elections (the way it was in 2002) rather quickly if the right decisions are made.
The genesis of this civil war began with a race for Stockton city council that pitted the two rival factions against each other. Almost three years later the committee is a shell, broke and with no hope of funding unless the sides come together again. Voter registration efforts, the pride of San Joaquin Republicans for years, have collapsed as well. Only a new direction and unity will restore the confidence in this party again amongst activists, donors and Republican elected officials in the county. With the stakes so high next election, it is imperative that both factions look to bridge the divide and come together once again.