Republicans hope to bring ‘unity team’ to national convention

A group of state Republican leaders and activists who supported various presidential candidates early in the primary process have formed a “unity team” as a suggested fusion slate to represent Maryland at the 2008 Republican National Convention.

“The idea is to bring everyone on board in support of Sen. (John) McCain,” Corey Stottlemyer, the former political director of the state Republican party and unity team member, said.

Chris Cavey, the first vice chairman of the state party, is leading the effort.

“We have presented the unity team as a suggestion for those who do not necessarily have a ballot,” Cavey said.

The plan is not endorsed by Jim Pelura, the chairman of the Maryland Republican Party.

“The Maryland Republican Party does not have slate,” Pelura told PolitickerMD.com.

Pelura said he did not “have a problem” with a slate, but said he was not “endorsing” the proposal.

The chairman said the 10 at-large and ten alternate delegates would be selected by “the central committee members” at the state GOP spring convention on May 10.

“Any Maryland Republican who wants to run, can,” Pelura said.

Cavey said he expected central committee members would “honor their previous commitments,” but said he thought they “would look to the unity team” after voting for their friends to fill the remaining spaces.

“This is not a slate being jammed down your throat by anyone,” Cavey said. “This is, pure and simple, a suggestion.

Members of the unity team said they would not ask the McCain campaign for “an official blessing” in regards to the slate, but said they had informed them of the idea.

The at-large unity team includes: Senate Minority Leader David Brinkley (R-New Market), a former supporter of Fred Thompson; House Minority Leader Anthony J. O’Donnell (R-Lusby), a former Thompson supporter; Del. Tony McConkey (R-Severna Park), the former co-chair of Mike Huckabee’s state campaign; Cavey, a former Thompson delegate; Chuck Gast, the second vice chairman of the state party and former Mitt Romney delegate; Mike Geppi, the third vice chairman of the state party and Rudy Giuliani activist; Joan Becker, the chair of the Howard County Republican Central Committee and former Giuliani delegate candidate; Stottlemyer, a McCain activist; Patt Parker, the president of the Maryland Federation of Republican women; and Anne McCarthy, the former Dean of the Business School at the University of Baltimore and McCain activist.