In the end, conservatives retained control of the party when CRA-backed Shawn Steel was elected chairman over former Assemblyman Brooks Firestone by a 662 to 574 vote. A lawyer from Los Angeles, Shawn Steel has been involved with conservative causes and candidates since he first became involved with Barry Goldwater s presidential campaign in 1964. He understands the need for grassroots activism, and will help energize our party. It was a good win that will hopefully lead to Republican victories in the next election cycle. They almost succeeded.
Many activists believe the race became close as a direct result of California s open primary.
CRA s President agreed. Despite the enormous amount of time and money spent by the Firestone camp, CRA-backed candidates won eight of the other eleven board positions. One development at the convention that did not sit well with CRA members was a power-sharing plan crafted by one of President Bush s key advisors in California, Los Angeles lawyer Gerald Parsky. Without its origins being revealed to delegates, the so-called Parsky Memo was enacted with no debate as a resolution on the final day of the convention. This move concerns a number of CRA activists, including CRA National Committeewoman Celeste Greig.