PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson County Republican Party will have new leadership next year after its chairman was disqualified from serving another term because of his defeat as a precinct committee officer.
Ron Gregory, who has served as party chairman for two years, was defeated in his bid for another term as precinct committee officer, or PCO, by Paul Moseley, who received 144 votes, or 55.6 percent, to Gregory’s 115 votes, or 44 percent.
Party bylaws require that anyone serving as chair be an elected PCO.
Prior to the election, Moseley said that Gregory “is a hard-working person who has done a lot for the party, but I think it is time that the party had some young blood with different points of view.”
Moseley is 49. Gregory, 75, has been involved in local party politics for about 15 years.
Gregory will continue to serve as chairman for the rest of the year and will manage the party through the fall general election, where Republicans hope to capture two Jefferson County commissioner seats.
After the Nov. 6 election, a new chair will be selected from the PCOs, which number about 14.
“Ron was very controversial,” said Geoff Masci, who is running as a Republican against incumbent Phil Johnson, a Democrat, for the District 1 commissioner seat.
“But you need a strong leader to get things done.”
Gregory said that assertive behavior is needed to accomplish party goals.
He acknowledged there was some criticism from within the party of his leadership.
“People will often disagree with people in a leadership role,” Gregory said.
“There are always malcontents who are going to complain.”
Edel Sokol, a Republican committee-woman, complimented Gregory.
“Ron has done a great job to keep us all together,” she said.
“Everyone who moves here is liberal and it would be nice to have a different voice on the county commission,” she added.
Sokol said that both Masci, former Port Townsend mayor, and Tim Thomas, who is challenging David Sullivan, 60, for the District 2 commissioner seat, have a chance at victory.
Sokol singles out Thomas, who is president of Bernt Ericsen Excavating Inc., as representing the future of the county Republican party.
“He is bringing in a lot of young people,” she said.
Sokol supported Thomas, 41, in the primary.
Gregory supported Dan Youra, emphasizing that his support was personal and not as party chairman.
Youra, 67 — who owns Youra Media, came in third with 12.53 of the total, or 485 votes.
In the top-two primary — which eliminates all but the top two vote-getters for the general election — Masci was outpolled by Johnson, earning 1,123 votes, or 28.12 percent, to Johnson’s 2,871 votes, or 71.88 percent.
Masci, 64, was not discouraged by these results, which were only district wide.
“I was pleased and actually got more than I expected,” Masci said.
“There was a huge push to get out the vote by the Democrats at the last minute.”
Masci and Gregory both said that the Republicans will get a higher percentage countywide, which is the source of Masci’s optimism.
Masci, who said he could have run as an independent, said he chose to affiliate with the Republican party.
“I’ve taken some positions that aren’t standard for the Republicans and have gotten some encouragement from the party,” Masci said about his conservation views.
“I think the local party is open to new ideas.”
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
