New GOP chief pledges neutrality > Kevin Keogh, a Dole supporter, plans to campaign for party, not candidate

HALLOWELL — Newly elected Maine Republican Party Chairman Kevin Keogh says he is a strong supporter of Bob Dole in the GOP presidential race, but Keogh pledges not to use his party post to promote any candidate.

“My job is to campaign for the party, not for any particular candidate,” Keogh said after his second election to the state party chairmanship Saturday. “That’s my personal choice.”

The 45-year-old Falmouth businessman, who co-owns five radio stations, replaces former legislator Pamela Cahill of Woolwich, who stepped down in midterm at the end of last month.

Keogh was the sole candidate for the post and garnered 38 of 41 votes cast in initial balloting, according to party activists who said three ballots listed no name. State committee members subsequently affirmed the selection as unanimous.

Keogh won a four-way race for chairman in December 1992 and then resigned in March 1994 before making an unsuccessful bid for the party’s 1st Congressional District nomination.

He said Saturday he intended to serve out Cahill’s unexpired term and retain her appointee as executive director of the party, Rick Tyler.

Keogh was nominated by GOP National Committeeman Ken Cole and seconded by Executive Committee member Ann Robinson. He said he would act as an advocate for an inclusive Republican Party capable of spanning a wide spectrum of philosophies.

“It’s the only way we’re going to be the majority party,” Keogh said. “We have to be the big tent, the broad party.”

Keogh said the party he envisions would be “plenty big enough for Colin Powell and Bob Dornan,” referring to the former general and the California congressman.

Keogh’s emergence as the front-runner for the chairmanship came amid evident fractiousness among some party elements, highlighting a contrast between the relatively moderate political approach of U.S. Sen. William Cohen, who is up for re-election, and the more hard-edged conservatism of Republican state legislators seeking to expand GOP gains at the State House.

Keogh said Saturday he was “very proud” to have support from Cohen, while adding that he also had the backing of freshman U.S. Rep. James Longley Jr.

Keogh said he was committed to coordinating activities by the state party organization with the legislative efforts of the Republican state Senate majority under Senate President Jeffrey Butland and the resurgent House Republican bloc under floor leader Walter Whitcomb.

“One of the things we want to do is work with Jeff, and we’ve already had some conversations, and with Walt,” Keogh said.