Lawmakers want new local GOP leader

A meeting of the Columbia County Republican Party on Saturday to elect new delegates showed that all is not well among the county's Republican leadership.

On one side is Republican Party Chairman Alvin Starks, who's accusing the other side - U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood, state Sen. Joey Brush, state Rep. Ben Harbin and county Board of Commissioners Chairman Ron Cross - of plotting against him.

"The sole purpose of electing delegates here to today is to oust me," Starks said.

The delegates elected Saturday will vote at the county Republican Convention March 8.

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Starks is seeking re-election to the chairman's slot, but says local Republican lawmakers are recruiting people to run against him.

Though no one has stepped forward, Brush said the search is on.

"We think the party could to a lot better than what it's been doing," he said. "There's hardly anybody active in the party anymore. It doesn't raise any money. Nobody comes to the meetings and it's one of the top Republican voting counties in the state. At the state level, Columbia County is a nonplayer because of leadership. The Republican Party is not even a player in elections in our county, really."

Starks calls Brush's accusations "lame" and said that Brush is the one that has failed to work with the county Republican Party.

"What makes this county continue to grow and flourish is that we know how to take care of business at home," he said. "The question that should be posed to Sen. Brush is what has he done in Atlanta to benefit Columbia County?"

Cross said that he is not part of any collusion, but he does have reservations concerning Starks.

"When everyone comes to me says that we'd like to see a change in the Republican Party because we're not performing as a unified party like we should it's hard to ignore," he said.