(Updated at 9:35 p.m. June 9 with quote from Republican Party spokesman).
Though Republican Party of Texas Chairman Tina Benkiser has not yet announced a bid for re-election for her third term as head of the Texas GOP, she has already drawn two challengers -- both from the ranks of the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC).
Mark McCaig, a SREC committeeman representing Senate District 18, and Tom Mechler, former SREC committeeman from Senate District 28 (2002-06), announced their candidacies Monday, June 8.
Mechler, 52, a resident of Amarillo, is the secretary of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, appointed to the board by Gov. Rick Perry in 2005. He is the president of Covenant Contract Services/Makar Production Company, which locates, acquires and operates oil and gas properties, and is a registered mechanical engineer, with bachelor's degree from Texas A&M and an MBA from Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania.
Republican Party of Texas spokesman Bryan Preston noted that Benkiser has not decided whether to seek another term, but that "this is a healthy state party," he said. Preston added that the number of Republican officeholders has grown every year since Benkiser took office. He also noted that the party has the largest donor base of any state party.
Though Mechler told LSR he is a friend of Benkiser's and does not wish to criticize her chairmanship, a letter sent to supporters calls for greater involvement with party activists and volunteers than what is currently being done.
"I tend to see the party as a four legged stool – One leg is the SREC and the county chairs elected by the grassroots, one leg comprises the elected officials, one leg consists of the major donors, and the final leg, the auxiliaries. It appears to me that some of the legs in this example feel they don’t have a place at the table," he said in his letter to supporters.
Mechler called for greater articulation of conservative ideas.
"Conservatism, when articulated appropriately and implemented, rather than being just a campaign slogan, has broad appeal," he said in his letter. "Business owners across Texas want low taxes and reasonable regulations. Families failed by public schools that refuse to change want the opportunity to give their children an educational alternative. Texans believe in a culture that nurtures and protects life. These are all conservative ideas, and they have wide appeal."
He told LSR that the rise in Democratic seats in the House and Senate (on the national and state levels) was the result of a "perfect storm" and not due to the shortcomings of state leadership.
McCaig, 26, a resident of Katy, gained some media attention last summer by criticizing then-House Speaker Rep. Tom Craddick (R-Midland). He is currently a law student at South Texas College of Law.
"We need leadership at RPT that understands that we must value the contributions of every Republican if we are to win elections in 21st century Texas," McCaig told LSR. "We need bold, energetic leadership that can effectively communicate the principles of limited government that made the Republican Party successful."
McCaig called for greater "civility" within the RPT.
"We must realize that we will not agree on every issue and that civil and respectful debate strengthens our party," he said.
"Disrespecting and ridiculing Republicans over a difference of opinion is unacceptable and hinders opportunities for growth. RPT leadership must celebrate the contributions of every Republican, regardless of what 'faction' they are a part of. We simply cannot expect to win elections if we turn people away who want to become involved in the party and help us prosper because they supported the 'wrong' candidate in the primary or don't agree with the party 100 percent of the time.
McCaig also called for improving the image of the Republican Party of Texas "and not just rely on saying the Democrats are bad."
He also called for greater outreach programs through party auxiliaries, neighborhood-based activism and candidate training.
He told the Austin American-Statesman he hails from the "libertarian wing" of the Republican Party.
Benkiser was opposed by Paul Perry of Dallas at the 2008 convention, and held on by a 2:1 margin -- the last major challenge to her chairmanship. Perry received much support from a groundswell of libertarian-leaning Ron Paul presidential campaign supporters, who comprised about a third or more of the convention's delegation that year. The next RPT convention is scheduled for June 2010, and since that is between presidential election years it is uncertain how the libertarian wing will perform in challenging the party chairman.