State GOP Chairman May Seek National Post

California Republican Party Chairman John Herrington said Friday that he is thinking seriously about running for chairman of the Republican National Committee and will make a decision in the next few days.

“I am being urged by a number of Republicans from the Reagan Administration days and since to run for chairman. I am thinking very seriously about it and hope to come to a decision over the weekend. I am interested,” Herrington said.

The 165 members of the Republican National Committee--three from each state and U.S. territory--will meet Jan. 17-19 to choose a successor to Haley Barbour, former executive director of the Mississippi Republican Party, who has announced that he will not seek a third two-year term as national chairman.

Herrington, 56, was elected state GOP chairman 2 1/2 years ago and has been credited with maintaining relative harmony between long-feuding moderate and conservative factions of the state party and reinvigorating its fund-raising efforts.

Herrington, a Walnut Creek attorney, served in Ronald Reagan’s administrations when he was governor and president, including the posts of White House personnel director and energy secretary.