Bend businessman seeks to oust state GOP chairman

The future of the Republican Party in Oregon could look different in the coming years.

The Oregon Republican Party soon will once again decide who it wants as its chairperson, and that could be Bend businessman Sam Carpenter.

After the the 2018 election cycle, the party is looking at how it would like to move forward in future elections.

Carpenter, who’s facing current Republican Party Chairman Bill Currier, said Tuesday he’d like to see the party led in a new direction.

Carpenter said 90 percent of Republicans in Oregon are in support of President Trump, and party leadership should reflect that.

“The leadership has to reflect the party. And the party has has a platform that needs to be respected, and followed. And we also need to support our Republican president — that’s where we start,” Carpenter said. “But the disfunctionality within the Oregon Republican Party has to be addressed.”

Carpenter went on to say he hopes his candidacy is the start of a grassroots movement that’ll create conversation and debate within the party.

Currier. running running for another term as chairman, and said this is an important moment for the state party.

“Should we be more conservative, should we be more liberal, and should our candidates be one way or the other? And I would argue that is the wrong focus,” said Currier. who has held the post since 2015. “What we should be looking at is what appeals to Oregonians, what are their concerns, and how do our policies adress those concerns?”

Currier also said this election for the party’s leadership will have a huge impact on the party’s future.

He said he’d like to see the party build on its successes, and create better relationships.

The election for the chairman position takes place in Salem on Feb. 16. It’s voted on by delegates sent from Oregon counties with organized Republican parties.