GARY ABERNATHY - SOME THOUGHTS

I feel the need to post some things on this blog in regards to Gary, instead of commenting on various others & FB.
I do not know Gary as well as many, but I do consider him a friend. Granted I am not aware of everything that went on during both of his tenures as State GOP ED. I do however feel that overall the WVGOP is better off that he has been involved with us.
Were there mistakes, probably. How much was he responsible for the positive things that came about during Kris Warner's administration? Probably more than some would want us to believe & probably not as much as others would. Ditto for the negative things. His book "Elephant Wars" was very entertaining, especially for me since then is when I started getting involved with the WVGOP.
After doing some consulting, he was hired last Dec as ED again, amid some controversy.
I understand the people that were not happy only want the best for the state & the Party & I have no problem with disagreement. I do have a problem with people that complain, but do not offer realistic solutions or stand up and try to implement their programs.
After Gary was hired there were complaints about his hiring, people wanting to get rid of Chairman Mckinney, as well as Gary.
According to the comments on some blogs you had thought there was going to be a hugh revolt.
During all this time, my attitude was if there are enough people, then get rid of them.
However, nothing materialised.
First there was the "Salem witchhunt". Now I have no personal complaints with the people who
organized this(that is what I had been saying), but if I want to have a meeting with maximum attendance, I would not have it in Salem, WV on a Thursday in the middle of winter(this is nothing against Salem, as my family started out there and the restaurant the meeting was at, was where our HC Republican club started).
This meeting was only attended by around 40 people, only 10 WVGOP EXEC Comm members and several that were in favor of the current admin. They also were very disorganized.
Then came the Feb meeting, everyone, including me, was looking forward to this group to at least bring up some suggestions & possibly present an alternate candidate. Nothing happened.
A few days after the meeting I asked on FB why nothing happened & someone said because they didn't have the votes. But according to the blogs, there was supposed to be this great number that wanted rid of Doug & Gary, so what happened.
Now that Gary is leaving there are several coming out again against him, but at least they are giving their names or at least most of them.
As I said at the beginning I know we all want the same thing, the betterment of the WVGOP, so lets now put the past behind us & work for that goal. I would ask the ones complaining if they have a suggestion send it to all the Exec Comm & lets work together to get the party moving forward.
I have 2 suggestions - Ben Beakes & Mike Ankrom.
GOD BLESS