Republicans To Hire Victory Director This Week (UPDATED – Lambert)

The Republican Party of Arkansas has still not hired a new executive director to replace Chase Dugger who left this summer to join Southern Meridian Consulting. However, this week they are expected to make a final decision for hiring a Victory Director.

If you are thinking about applying, sorry because you are too late.  The deadline was yesterday and sources tell me around seven people applied. The RPA’s state executive committee will meet this weekend in Little Rock where they will hear recommendations from a subcommittee that will interview all seven applicants.

Sources tell me the main three candidates in the running are…

Skot Covert – State Chairman of the Arkansas Federation of College Republicans.  He is a student at Arkansas Tech where he wraps up his course work in December. He worked for Lieutenant Governor Mark Darr’s campaign last year and he worked in his state office during last year’s legislative session.

Ken Yang – Secretary of State Education Coordinator – He worked on the Mark Martin for Secretary of State Campaign.  For an office pledged to not be political, Yang has stood out.  Last year, he unsuccessfully ran for Chairman of the Saline County Republican Party. An office spokesman tells me that he would of course have to step down if he got this position with the party. (Noted – Mark Myers with the Secretary of State office forwarded me an email from the 2010 campaign saying the prohibited partisan activities only applies to those in the SoS election division which does not include Yang.)

Michael Lambert – Campaign Manager for Marcus Richmond – He also worked as an Arkansas Field Director for John McCain’s Campaign in 2008 and on the Republican Victory 2010 Campaign.

The Victory Director will be responsible for carrying out the day-to-day operations of the state party Victory Program under the direction of the state party Political Director Megan Tollett. They will oversee statewide grassroots efforts, Victory field staff, communications, fundraising, follow the budget guidelines and ensure that the party structure functions smoothly.

The job starts in February 2012 and runs through November 2012 and I am told the pay is in the $40k range.

I imagine we will know who is hired this weekend.

UPDATE – No official word yet but multiple sources tell me the committee’s likely pick is Michael Lambert (pictured here with RPA Communications Director Katherine Vasilos and House Minority Leader John Burris in an apparent preparation for an 80’s flash dance.)