Anthony Bedell to Step Down as Fairfax GOP Chair

Fairfax County Republican Committee Chairman Anthony Bedell will not seek a third term.

Bedell's official announcement came one day after the November 8 General Election, but says it's been known for several years.  "This [high pressure] thankless job is not the type most people stay in for a long time," said Cook.  "When Anthony announced he'd serve a second term, he made it clear that would be it."

"Anthony has done an outstanding job," said Cook.  "When he started as chairman of the committee, it was right at the end of the 2008 presidential election when Republicans had been beaten and the county committee had pretty much hit bottom," said Cook.

"Under Anthony's leadership, membership has more than doubled to over 600, money has been raised, and our influence has increased," said Cook.  "Anthony created a leadership team which now has a lot of people active and invested."

Two members of the Fairfax County Republican Committee have declared their candidacy for the chairman's position.  Jay McConville has served two years as vice chairman for budget and finance on the committee. He ran for delegate in the 44th district (Mount Vernon, Alexandria and Fort Hunt) in 2009.

Matt Ames currently serves as the vice chairman for operations and Providence District chairman for the Fairfax County Republican Committee.

“It’s a very time-consuming job, especially with a wife, three children and a full-time job,” said Bedell to the Sun Gazette. “It’s a perfect time to hand it off to the next generation of leaders."

The election for a new chairman will occur at the 2012 Fairfax County Republican Committee Convention at a date and site to be determined in the spring of 2012.

Bedell, 43, is a graduate of (1986) and Virginia Commonwealth University (1996).  He has worked on more than a dozen Republican campaigns including George Allen’s 1993 gubernatorial campaign, Allen’s 2006 senatorial race, and Bush-Cheney 2000 and 2004.  He is a United States Air Force veteran.  He lives in Falls Church with his wife and two children.