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County GOP stays course New chairman to continue conservative tradition By PAUL FATTIG The Jackson County Republican Central Committee leadership will stay the conservative course. Larry Fowler of Jacksonville, elected this week to serve as chairman for two years, plans to follow the conservative political footsteps of immediate past chairman Perry Atkinson of Medford. "Perry and I are a lot alike -- we think the same on a lot of issues," said Fowler, 53, who works in the construction industry. And he sought to put to rest fears raised by some moderate party members concerned that the local GOP leaders could threaten the party's broad base. "One of my roles as chairman is to bridge the gaps in the party, if there are any," Fowler said. "My agenda is to draw everyone together, not to isolate or exclude anyone." Also elected Tuesday were fellow conservatives Richard "Tiny" Robertson of Medford as vice chair and Lisa Bruce as treasurer. The previous slate of officers, aside from Atkinson, were considered moderates. "There are some people who are significantly disappointed the way it turned out. They were hoping people from both ends would be elected," said Medford resident Robert Luther, a semi-retired psychiatrist who unsuccessfully ran for re-election as a treasurer. He is a self-described moderate who served as local GOP committee treasurer for the past four years. "What's best for the party is to have representatives from across the political spectrum," he said. "The optimal situation is to keep everyone involved, the conservative and the moderate." Yet Luther is heartened by the fact Fowler has indicated he will appoint a moderate to the executive committee. "His pledge is to maintain the interest of the whole party," Luther said. "We hope the more conservative people who now have the votes will keep everybody interested." The point, Luther said, is that the party, which did well in the local elections, must continue to reach out to those who may not lock step with the conservative cause. "We don't want to lose our momentum," he said. "We want to keep the whole spectrum involved." Fowler said that he also wants to maintain a broad political spectrum. "My role is to try to strengthen the party here, add some numbers," he said. "We have a platform is that chuck full of stuff we agree on. The things we don't agree on we can come to some consensus." Fowler's conservative philosophy is in step with the GOP's state and national leaders, observed outgoing county GOP central committee chairman Atkinson, vice chairman of the Oregon Republican Party. "I was honored to see him take my slot," said Atkinson, a staunch conservative who takes issue with those who suggest the party at the national level is moving toward the political center. "Livingston is a pragmatist, but he's clearly conservative," he said of U.S. Rep. Bob Livingston, selected this week to replace Newt Gingrich as speaker of the House. Moreover, majority leader Rep. Dick Armey, R-Texas, and Rep. J.C. Watts, R-Oklahoma, new chairman of the GOP conference, are also solid conservatives, Atkinson added. "And, statewide, the house just elected Lynn Snodgrass," he said, referring to the Republican from Boring who is now Oregon's speaker of the House. "She is definitely conservative. So I think the party stayed conservative." It's only when the focus is on a single issue that the party is pushed toward the center, he said. "But the issues that divided the party have been pretty much dealt with in the caucus," Atkinson said, later adding, "The platforms nationally and statewide make it very clear what the party's ideology is: It's conservative." For instance, both state and national party platforms are pro-life, he said. "Those battles are over," he concluded. Further evidence of the conservative support are the calls he has been receiving to run for the state party chairmanship, he said. Atkinson lost his bid by one vote for the state GOP chair last year to Deanna Smith of Salem. She is among those encouraging him to run this year, he said, noting he is waiting to decide until after the county central committees around the state elect officers this week. While retaining its conservative course, the local and state GOP should focus on future elections, he said. "We should be working hard to develop good candidates and farm teams," he said. "And we should be raising money to get the candidates elected." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA