Co-owner of GOP HQ says Shine should quit

[LiberalFighter]

Co-owner of GOP HQ says Shine should quit

When a political party's headquarters becomes a symbol of strife instead of unity, somebody is going to question the organization's leadership and direction.

For Allen County's Republican Party, that somebody just happens to own the headquarters - or at least a big piece of it.

“Steve (Shine) is my friend and I'll support him as long as he's chairman. But it would be better for the party if he stepped down,” said Al McComb, who in 2003 formed a partnership with fellow contractor Ken Neumeister, Shine and Shine's law partner, Tom Hardin, to buy the GOP's headquarters at 135 W. Main St. - a building that last week went on sale for $425,000 because of fundraising woes exacerbated by deep divisions within the local GOP. The party will move to a new headquarters by May as a result.

Shine said he has no intention of stepping down before his current term expires in March 2009, and it remains to be seen whether he will run again. But the job is apparently his if he wants it: Despite an effort by conservatives to file for precinct committee posts by Friday's deadline, 117 of the 301 positions remain open, allowing Shine to fill them with people who would support his re-election. Shine said loyalty to him won't determine the appointments, but insisted he still loves the job he's held for 16 years and “a lot of people believe I am the best person to unite the party.”

They have had in-fighting within the party lately.