Chris Healy, the chair of the Connecticut GOP and one of the many Republicans in the mix for the Republican National Committee chair race in January, says he won’t be seeking Michael Steele’s job at the RNC after all.
In an email sent today, Healy put an end to rumors that he may run for RNC chair — and endorsed former RNC political director Gentry Collins for the job.
“Gentry possesses the leadership skills, temperament and energy we need to take our Party forward – to preserve the gains made in 2010, to protect our interests through redistricting and to make President Obama a one-term President,” Healy wrote.
Healy has been one of the most vocal critics of Steele over the past few months, publicly attacking the embattled chair while most other candidates kept their criticisms on the more subtle side.
Collins became a candidate after very publicly resigning from the RNC in a letter that attacked Steele’s ability to raise money. Some among the RNC’s 168 voting members have questioned the decision to send the letter considering Collins used it as a vehicle for his own RNC chair bid.
Healy says those critics are wrong.
“I believe that more important than loyalty to an individual, Gentry showed loyalty to the Committee and to our mission as a Party,” Healy wrote. “Unfortunately, Gentry was placed in an unpleasant position, his integrity put at risk by those who refused to meet their commitments to the Committee. Gentry made the correct decision to outline the facts, which have never been refuted, and offered to put his career on the line.”
With Healy out of the way, the race for RNC chair is still chock-full of Republicans and so far no frontrunner has emerged. Former Michigan GOP chair Saul Anuzis has the most votes lined up so far according to one tally, though most RNC members are still not committed to any candidate.
