VARTANIAN WINS GOP CHAIR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91-00587R000100600021-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 18, 2011
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: January 25, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/03/18: CIA-RDP91-00587R000100600021-4
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
25 January 1985
VARTANIAN WINS GOP CHAIR
BY RICHARD MARCH
CONCORD, NH
After the state's Republican Party had picked a new leader, Gov. John Sununu
noted some had called the leadership struggle a tempest in a teapot.
But Sununu, whose candidate had won the post, said the tea should still taste
good now that the tempest is over. ''We're stronger for having gone through
this. I don't think there's a cleavage, " Sununu said.
The tempest pitted Rep. Elsie Vartanian, R-Salem, against former CIA
official Max Hugel. Vartanian won Thursday night.. receiving 198 votes to 157 for
Hugel.
Although there were eight more votes counted than delegates present, Hugel-
moved to make Vartanian's victory unanimous.
"I'll leave it as it i5," said Hugel.
Vartani'an called the victory a "reflection of the unity of the Republican
Party.'' She is a four-term representative and will succeed former GOP
Chairwoman Donna Sytek, who resigned last year for an unsuccessful run for
secretary of state..
Hugel, who had contended during his campaign that Vartanian's House seat was
a conflict of interest, said he hopes future party heads are nominated by
delegates .
Vartanian had been nominated by a party committee comprised of Sununu, the
state's congressional delegation, and legislative leaders. Sununu had opposed
Hugel, citing Hugel's ownership share in Rockingham Park, a thoroughbred track
regulated by the state.
Prior to the election, Vartanian denied she was Sununu's handpicked candidate
and pledged to unify the party against Democrats like Dudley Dudley and Chris
Spirou, who both lost elections in, November.
''We will also make sure that the likes of Dudley Dudley and Chris Spirou
will never serve in office again.'' said Vartanian, drawing scattered applause
from an audience of about 450.
Hugel told the audience before the voting to vote for their independence and.
not follow party leadership. He dismissed his affiliation with a. regulated
industry. .
"I don't think you can use a regulated industry as a reason for not
supporting a candidate,Hugel said. "You are voting for your own independence
when you vote for me. You don't have to be told what to-do."
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/03/18: CIA-RDP91-00587R000100600021-4