GOP group backs Wallin for chairman

The Rhode Island Republican Assembly, a conservative group that calls itself “the Republican wing of the Republican Party,” sends word that it passed a non-binding resolution this week supporting AG candidate Erik Wallin as the state GOP’s next chairman:

The Republican Assembly’s by-laws require that official endorsements be made by a special convention of the organization. A convention has been called for January 13, 2011, coincident with the group’s monthly meeting. At the convention, RIRA will endorse candidates for leadership posts in the Rhode Island Republican Party in preparation for the Party’s March 2011 election.

The RI GOP’s current chairman, Giovanni Cicione, has occupied that role since March 2007 and has indicated he’s leaning against seeking to continue in the volunteer post. He succeeded Patricia Morgan, Governor Carcieri’s first choice as GOP chair, who, btw, won election as a state representative from West Warwick earlier this month.

Wallin ran a solid campaign for AG, placing second to Democrat Peter Kilmartin, while attracting 29 percent of the vote.

As noted in the RI Republican’s Assembly release, the vote for the party’s next chair will take place in March.