A group of Republicans in the House of Delegates has put a bull?s-eye on one of their own.
Del. Tony O?Donnell, the current minority whip, logically would be next in line to become House minority leader, a position that was vacated by Del. George Edwards, who won a seat in the state Senate.
But O?Donnell?s confrontational and sharp-tongued leadership style as the House Republican?s second-in-command has some in the caucus calling for change in light of their depleted numbers and loss of the governor?s office.
Baltimore County Republican Del. Pat McDonough said a group of House Republicans has gathered enough votes to put Del. Wade Kach, R-Baltimore County, in the minority leader?s seat.
“There are a pretty good number who believe there is a need for a change … for a new style of leadership,” McDonough said.
But he declined to name or say how many Republicans may be supporting the Kach candidacy.
To become the minority leader, a delegate must have at least19 votes out of the estimated 37 the Republicans expect to have by the time the election is certified in the coming weeks.
The House caucus will meet sometime before the General Assembly convenes in January to choose its leaders.
But O?Donnell said he remained confident he would take over as minority leader, and criticized his critics for airing the House Republicans? power struggles in public.
“Our strategy should be very principled; we shouldn?t sell out our core beliefs,” he said. “But by the same token, there is a different dynamic. Our caucus will pick and choose our opposition to issues very wisely. … We will not be an opposition party for the sake of opposition.”
Kach, who has been in the House of Delegates for more than 30 years, ran for minority leader against Edwards four years ago and lost by two votes. He said other members of the caucus approached him about running this year. Kach said he has been criticized as being too friendly with House Speaker Michael Busch, D-Anne Arundel, and other Democrats.
“I don?t think the way to approach these issues is to be confrontational about it,” Kach said. “Over the last three years, it?s boiled down to a limited number of people on the floor speaking for Republicans. We want to be more inclusive … and work within the system.”
Busch, who has had a strained relationship with O?Donnell in the three years O?Donnell has been the minority whip, said a change in Republican leadership would be “great.”
“After the last election, they ought to reconsider how they want to be represented over the next four years,” Busch said. “Wade and others … have been able to reach across party lines while at the same time maintaining their principles.”
