Larimer County Republican chairman Tom Lucero will resign his position effective Jan. 1, he announced in a letter to surprised party leaders late Tuesday.
Loveland resident Tom Buchanan, chairman of the Loveland 912 Project and a longtime party activist, said he will seek the position and had been on the phone with GOP officeholders and members of the county’s Republican Central Committee to line up support.
“Yes, it’s a surprise,” Buchanan said of Lucero’s announcement. “I don’t think anybody expected this at all.”
Buchanan said he had also talked Wednesday to former Colorado legislator Steve Tool, who he said might also seek the chairmanship.
Tool said he had not made a decision.
Tea Party member Buchanan said his experience with grassroots party organization is needed with the 2012 election.
“Everybody knows I’m a rabble-rouser,” Buchanan said. “My forte is getting people motivated. It’s an election year, and you’ve got to do that.”
