February 28, 2009 07:45 PM UTC

Meet Tom Stone (Whether Dick Wadhams Likes It Or Not)

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• by: Colorado Pols

Eager political types who woke up this morning hoping for lots of press coverage of the new challenger to nationally infamous Colorado GOP Chairman Dick Wadhams, former Eagle County Commissioner Thomas C. Stone, were rewarded mostly with crickets. Actually, it’s winter so there weren’t even crickets.

We’ve only got one newspaper in town now, after all, and if there’s anybody who knows how to browbeat reporters out of writing a story it’s Dick Wadhams.

Fortunately for everyone, the Vail Daily sees fit to update yesterday’s report:

Tom Stone has decided he wants the state Republicans to have a choice, and he’s giving it to them.

The former Eagle County Commissioner announced Friday that he is running for state Republican Party chairman, hoping to upend Dick Wadhams, who is seeking a second term.

Stone, who lives in Gypsum, said party members need to see a contested race, especially in a time when the GOP has been wounded by a large number of Democrats taking office on local, state and federal levels…

The first order of business, if nominated as chairman when the Republican Central Committee meets March 21, is to begin mending the Republican brand and winning seats back, Stone said.

“There is a real sense of urgency out there among Republicans who are tired of losing,” he said. “People are very, very concerned, and it’s time for a change.”

Stone said he also plans to focus on taking advantage of technology and social networking sites to bring in a new generation of Republicans. He has Facebook and Twitter accounts, as well as a Web site.

“I think that we’ve ignored our young people who are very bright and can add a lot to the party and to our effort and to our cause,” he said…

Wadhams says he has a record he’s proud of and that can stand up to competition, but he also welcomes the challenge Stone presents.

“That’s why we have elections,” Wadhams said.

The Colorado Independent also reported on Stone’s announcement.

It’s all going to come down to support among party activists who will settle the question of Stone’s legitimacy–no moderate Scott McInnis-brand ‘savior’ by any stretch but at least not of the same clique-driven reactionary thugs who just presided over the Colorado GOP’s third consecutive humiliation.

Or they’ll stick with Wadhams, who you can be assured is working the phones hard this weekend to ensure:

1. That Stone gets no meaningful press coverage before everyone comes back to work on Monday, and

2. That Stone is squashed like a bug among GOP apparatchiks by Monday.

A poll follows.

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