The Republican signs came down from the windows on Thursday afternoon, or Friday morning.  There are a bunch of boxes stacked up in the front of the main office, and they were closed today at 5:15, which is unusual.

Crazy...

as far as I can tell, she isn't at the office here of the RPV, since I think she lives in Winchester.  But the office looks scarce.

Republican Party of Virginia | Kate Obenshain Griffin, Chairman

November 13, 2006

Dear Fellow Republicans:

I write today to inform you that I will resign the position of Chairman effective at the close of business on Wednesday, November 15, 2006.

Senator Allen has asked me to serve as his Chief of Staff for the remainder of his term - taking responsibility for closing his office and assisting with a smooth transition.  I can think of no higher honor than doing all I can to preserve his outstanding legacy and helping to fortify his future.  Senator Allen has served our Party and the citizens of the Commonwealth as a true statesman - principled, effective, and courageous. It has been my privilege to be a part of his A-Team from the beginning.  This is one small way I can demonstrate my personal gratitude to Senator Allen.

After a long and hard-fought campaign, Senator Allen's loss is certainly fresh on all our minds and heavy on our hearts. Of course, that loss was coupled with a tremendous victory in that we returned all our Congressmen and Congresswomen to the U.S. House of Representatives. You are the warriors who made those victories possible, and who helped to build and strengthen our grassroots operation in the process.

You honored me with the position of Chairman over three years ago at a time when we as a Party were in disarray. We have come through many challenges that have threatened our Party to its core. Because of your dedication to our Party and its principles, despite setbacks, we not only persevered, but we have forged a positive course for the future.

The Republican Party of Virginia has grown during these years. Our infrastructure, including our technology and voter lists, is better than ever thanks to the efforts of thousands of volunteers who have spent countless hours collecting and entering information. We took on the challenge of investigating the demographic and political changes in Northern Virginia with our Northern Virginia Strike Force, producing a strategic approach that will help us tailor our efforts in this important region. Our finances are stable and our donor base continues to grow. The Chairman's Advisory Council has been a tremendous fundraising success and I thank all those who have become a part of this effort.

I am tremendously proud of what we have accomplished through our outreach efforts.  The Membership Advisory Committee is a group of dynamic, talented individuals from across Virginia leading the way as we reach out to recruit individuals of different ethnicities into the Party.  This Committee holds tremendous promise for building our Party in the face of Virginia's dramatically changed demographics.  In addition, through the Jennifer Byler Institute we are training a new generation of Republican women. The graduates of the Institute are already putting their training to good use, taking government and politics by storm, b ringing with them their energy, vast talents and conservative vision.  We are demonstrating that the Republican Party does not just talk about bringing women into our Party; we reach out and recruit them to positions of leadership.

We have sought to communicate more effectively with you, the grassroots, through weekly Executive Director's reports, General Assembly updates, updates from the Chairman, and our newsletter, The Red State Report.  We've received positive feedback from these additions, and I hope they have been useful.  One major goal has been to highlight the efforts of our grassroots workers.  We've done this through our "Grassroots Leader Spotlight" and our awards at the Advance.

When I became Party Chairman, I did so to help the Party through the storm it was weathering.  I hope I have served in a manner that is worthy of this great Party, its rich history and its bright, limitless future.  To serve you has been the highest honor of my life.  I am more grateful for this opportunity than I can possibly express. More than anything, I am grateful for having had the opportunity to travel to all corners of the Commonwealth, to meet and become friends with so many fine, dedicated, and principled people across Virginia.

I want to thank you for your support and encouragement throughout my tenure.  Whenever this job's burdens became heavy, I was inspired by you.  I have said this many times: you, the grassroots, the workers, are the heart and soul of this Party.  You are the future of this Party.  For the Party to be successful in the future, its candidates must look to you, who understand Virginia - its intricacies, its virtues and its history, and embrace your guidance. You must be unleashed, and with you the great energy and vision that come from people fighting for their principles.

I also want to thank the finest staff the Party has ever seen.  Shawn Smith is a vigilant defender of the Party, its resources and its reputation.  He manages the party with his innate talents, always looking for opportunities to strengthen our infrastructure and expand our reach.  Melissa Laughner and Israel O'Quinn have stepped up to numerous challenges with vigor and grace, and with skills that belie their youth. Cathy Bolden continues to provide a steady force in changing times.  Rachel Ingle has been a tremendous addition throughout the campaign season.  And we welcome Frank Loehr, who has adjusted to the position of Comptroller as if he had been doing it for y ears.  This group of people has accomplished more than twice as many people would have been able to because of their selfless dedication to the Party, its members and its philosophy.  I am honored to have worked with them.

After what will be a brief tenure on Capitol Hill, I look forward to being able to return to a somewhat normal life with particular attention to my number one job - being a mom.  When I became Party Chairman, Lucy, our youngest child, was nine months old.  She is turning four on Thanksgiving Day! Our oldest, Henry, is nine.  While I have truly loved the opportunity to serve as your chairman, my family has sacrificed mightily.  It is time for me to spend more time at home with them.

I will continue to be involved with the Party in every way possible.  I am a Party activist at heart - proud to be a part of our mighty grassroots.  I look forward to standing with you, shoulder to shoulder, as we take our Party into a challenging, but bright, future.

  With gratitude and the deepest respect, I am

  Sincerely,

  Kate Obenshain Griffin