Republican party chair bowing out

CLOVIS — After 15-plus years at the helm of the Republican Party of Curry County, Rube Render announced this month he will not seek re-election when party members vote for a chairman in early 2019.

Besides the typical reason a public figure gives for stepping away from their position — “I want to spend more time with my family, I’ve always wanted to say that,” he joked — Render told The News that he feels now is the time for somebody else to lead the party. He said he believes it’s bad for the county and the individual to have the same chairman in place for that long of a term.

“The party was here before I got here, the party will be here now that I’m gone and that’s part of the reason why I don’t think someone should get in a position where it becomes Rube Render’s party rather than the Republican party.”

Render’s schedule also filled up quite a bit following his March 6 election to the open District 4 Clovis city commission seat.

“That takes more time than people not in that position understand,” Render said. “You’re constantly doing something and I’m at the point that rather trying to do two jobs with a measure of mediocrity, I’ll try to do one job well.”

Render said that before his term runs out in early 2019, he plans to change the party’s rules to put a limit on how many successive terms a chairman can serve.

He said a limit of one, two-year term would not give somebody enough time to settle into the position, but a limit of two or three terms would prevent the party from having the same continuous voice.

“It forces the party to continuously pump new blood into its system,” Render said.

Several prominent local Republicans praised the leadership of Render as party chairman.

“Obviously it’s really easy for me to say that Rube has been an excellent chairman,” former Lt. Gov. Walter Bradley said. “He’s very dedicated, it’s been a great, great term.”

Bradley pointed to Render’s creation of the monthly Republican breakfast that regularly draws 20 or more people to discuss the latest and various happenings in the political world and Render’s commitment to operating a booth at the county fair as some of the soon-to-be former chairman’s contributions to the party.

“We’re going to miss him, I can tell you that. But I certainly understand his reasoning behind not seeking re-election,” Bradley said.

State Rep. Randy Crowder, R-Clovis, said Render has brought “a Marine mentality,” to the party, not stunning given his two decades of service with the United States Marine Corps.

“We’ve been very well-organized, very structured, very Marine, but it’s been good. Rube has done a remarkable job,” Crowder said.

Render said the thing he enjoyed most about the position was simply talking to people about politics and the competitive rush that comes with elections.

“Talking to people about politics and finding good people to do a good job for city, county, state and local positions, that’s the part that I like,” Render said.