Burnt Orange Report

Weddington to step down as GOP State Chair

By Byron LaMasters

So both parties will have new chairs soon in Texas. Susan Weddington is planning to step down as GOP state chair. She's an ultraconservative religious right fanatic, but I'll give her credit, she certainly has a good track record of being chair through two GOP statewide sweeps (1998 and 2002). The Austin American Statesman reports:

Susan Weddington will step down from her post as chairwoman of the Republican Party of Texas on Sunday to take the reins of Gov. Rick Perry's new OneStar Foundation.

Weddington was appointed as party chair in August 1997. Under her leadership, Republicans have claimed every statewide office and a majority of offices in the Texas Legislature.

The OneStar Foundation was created by Perry to help people and charitable organizations build partnerships with the state to assist those in need and to encourage Texans to volunteer in their community.

"The same characteristics that made Susan Weddington a great chairman of the Republican Party of Texas will make her a tremendous leader in the volunteer community," Perry said Friday. "Susan is hardworking, driven, and determined to make a difference for all Texans, regardless of race, creed, ethnicity or political affiliation."

The State Republican Executive Committee will likely elect a new chair within 30 days after Weddington's resignation becomes effective on Sunday, party spokesman Ted Royer said.