State house candidate steps down from party leadership role

Doug Jameson, who is running for the state House of Representatives, has resigned as chairman of the St. Clair County Republican Central Committee.

Jameson has stepped down from his chairmanship, giving way to Barbara Viviano to take over the local party leadership for the remainder of the term, which ends in April. Jameson said this move gives time to concentrate on his own campaign.

Jameson is running in the 113th House District with hopes of unseating state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea.

“We’ve reached that point in the election cycle where it’s just becoming a challenge to be able to do both of those jobs well simultaneously,” Jameson said. “So in the interest of my party and for the good of my campaign I’ve decided to separate those two and allow the successors to the office of the chairman assume those roles and carry forward with the party, while I devote full attention to the campaign.”

Notice was sent to the central committee members and Republican elected officials earlier this week.

The local party chairman’s responsibilities include managing meetings, planning events, recruiting candidates, coordinating candidates, managing the party’s resources, reaching out to elected officials, parties in other counties, and following the party’s platform at the local level.

Viviano has worked well with Jameson, alternate state central committee, and is involved in the Illinois federation of republican women, the former chairman said.

“She is well qualified, well versed and well-connected to step up to be the chairman,” Jameson said.

The local party has a practice of not endorsing candidates prior to primaries.

Even though he’s no longer chairman, Jameson said he likely won’t back any candidate in any of the contested GOP primaries in the metro-east.

“I don’t see a need for that,” Jameson said. “What I’m truly doing is kind of clearing my plate a little to focus on my campaign. The only candidate I’ll be endorsing is Doug Jameson for the 113th.”

This story was originally published November 9, 2017 at 1:33 PM with the headline "State house candidate steps down from party leadership role."