In a battle of Lookout Mountain, Tn., residents, Chris Devaney won a narrow victory over Oscar Brock on Saturday afternoon to become the new state Republican Party Chairman.
Mr. Devaney got 28 votes to 25 for Mr. Brock with one state executive committee member abstaining.
Rep. Eric Swafford of Pikeville dropped off after the first ballot.
Mr. Devaney said, "The election of 2010 is the most important for our state in generations, and we will be focused on building our majority in the General Assembly and electing a Republican governor."
In remarks to the committee before the vote, outgoing chairman Robin Smith of Hixson stressed that there is work left to be done keeping the Republican majority in the legislature, and electing a Republican governor in 2010 - and that the party must never stray from its principles.
"I love working with the grass roots," said Ms. Smith, pledging to remain a Republican activist even after she leaves the chairmanship.
Mr. Devaney is currently state coordinator for Sen. Bob Corker and was formerly executive director for the Tennessee Republican Party.
Ms. Smith said following the election at party headquarters in Nashville, "I am delighted with our new chairman. He will do a good job in leading us on the challenges we have in regaining the governor's seat and keeping control of the Legislature."
She added, "We had three good candidates for the chairmanship."
Ms. Smith said she will be traveling the Third District gauging whether to get into the Congressional race for the seat being vacated by Zach Wamp.
She said she wants to find out if Third District residents "want someone who will stick to their principles and fight the battles for fiscal restraint."
She said, "We're seeing the pillars of the free market absolutely under attack and being destroyed."
Ms. Smith said she won't be like some candidates "who say anything to get elected, then change stripes when they get in office."