Kevin DeWine to step down as Ohio Republican Party chairman

4/5/2012

COLUMBUS — Ohio Republican Party chairman Kevin DeWine has agreed to step down next week, a move that figures to finally end a long-simmering feud with Gov. John Kasich over control of the state GOP.

Mr. DeWine sent a letter to the Republican party central committee on Wednesday evening alerting them that he will resign at their next meeting, scheduled for April 13.

He has been party chairman since January, 2009.

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“Factions within our party are aligned to fight over who is best to lead us forward,” Mr. DeWine wrote. “A meeting looms where that fight could erupt into a party-splitting dispute that no one will win and everyone will lament. . . I cannot not in good conscience let that fight go forward.”

Mr. DeWine touted Republicans’ success under his leadership and said he plans to continue serving the party as a member of the National Finance Committee of the Republican National Committee.

Former state GOP chairman Bob Bennett could potentially replace Mr. DeWine on an interim basis through the Nov. 6 election.

READ MORE of this article at cleveland.com.