Connecticut Republican Party chairman Jerry Labriola will hold onto his job for the final six months of his second term after coming under fire in the weeks following the November elections.
The Connecticut Republican Party Central Committee's 72 members met in Manchester on Thursday and opted to allow Labriola to finish out his term.
Labriola's leadership was called into question after Connecticut Republicans were shut out in all statewide races this year.
The party’s silver lining was that it picked up 10 seats in the Connecticut House of Representatives and one seat in the Connecticut Senate, but Republicans remain in the minority.
Two candidates had even made public their plans to run for party chairman in the event of a vacancy: Sen. Joe Markley and J.R. Romano. who managed the campaign for Republican treasurer candidate Tim Herbst.
GOP sources began to blame Labriola for the poor showing at the top of the ticket, which featured Republican Tom Foley in a second straight election.
However, over the past week, the vitriol that appeared to be directed at Labriola, it turned out, came from more of a vocal minority.
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Connecticut Republican Party communications director Zak Sanders said the party's policy is not to comment on meetings such as the one held Thursday.
“There was a healthy discussion about this year’s elections and strategies for growing our party and moving forward,” he said.
Mary Ann Turner, who sits on the Connecticut GOP Central Committee said, said the party isn’t about just the chairman.
“Jerry Labriola is just the head of the party just like I’m the head of the town committee,” Turner said.
She added that as much of the blame for the poor election results falls on the shoulders of the entire committee.
“We have to take responsibility. We’re not there just to just go hang around and enjoy each other’s company which is nice,” Turner said.
Turner, who has worked as a communications professional for decades, said the state party has to pick a brand and message and stick with it.
She said she knows that there are ways the party can identify with Connecticut residents that could lead to election victories. Turned conceded that she's not sure what that message would be but said looking for it should start with Republicans who have been involved with winning races.
“You go to the guy who’s making the product and ask them how do you make it better? He’ll tell you. And if you stop and you listen and you’re good managers, that’s how you’ll make the change. That’s where the change is. It’s on the ground. We’re not doing that,” she said.
