December 10, 2008 10:13 PM UTC

Mary Smith Stepping Down As Denver GOP Chair

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• by: redstateblues

( – promoted by Colorado Pols)

Jeremy Pelzer of PolitickerCO reports:

Mary Smith will not be seeking another term as Denver Republican Party chair in local party elections next February, state GOP officials said Monday, and Denver GOP vice chair and state Republican Party legal counsel Ryan Call may be her successor…

…Both Call and [State GOP Chair Dick] Wadhams said they didn’t know of any other candidates to succeed Smith. Smith’s two-year term expires in February.

As you may remember, Smith was rumored to be in the mix to challenge Dick Wadhams for his office when the party holds its reorganization meeting in Febrauary. She received endorsements not only from stalwart right wing blog Face the State (in an article in which they interviewed Republican lobbyist Sean Duffy, who told them he also favored Smith to replace Wadhams,) but from our own, hardly right-leaning, Colorado Pols.

Is this move by Smith a prelude to a battle with Wadhams for control of the future of the Republican Party? Does Scott McInnis‘ pal and former chief of staff Mike Hesse have any aspirations for the post? Will Wadhams try to hold on to his seat like grim death, forcing him to employ some of the same smear tactics he’s “mastered” in his career? If it does get dirty, it could be fun to watch–especially if you’re not a Republican.

This also means that both of Denver’s main political parties will have new chairs once their reorganization meetings take place next year. Anyone interested in a thankless job where you get yelled at a lot? Ok, besides Cindy Lowery.

(Cross-posted at Denver Pols)