Critchfield leaves county GOP for Perry campaign

The leader of Jasper County’s GOP contingent has decided to work on a much different project.

Marshall Critchfield has announced he’s stepping down from his position of chairman of the Republican Party of Jasper County. He’s been hired by the Opportunity & Freedom Political Action Committee — the super PAC supporting Perry’s campaign — as its Iowa State Director.

“I have decided to accept a position that will require me to step down from my role in Jasper County,” Critchfield said in his statement. “I am very excited for this new opportunity and look forward to speaking with every one of you (county party members) about my organization’s strong commitment to getting (former) Gov. Rick Perry elected President of the United States.”

Critchfield said Jasper County Co-Chair Marlys Popma has been notified, and the county’s leadership team is working on a plan for a smooth transition.

His assistant at Opportunity & Freedom, according to The Texas Tribune’s website, will be Beth Hamilton, a Republican operative from Jackson, Miss. Jackson is the home of Austin Barbour, senior adviser to the super PAC.

Perry’s official campaign team in Iowa had 10 paid staff at one time, but recently reduced that number to one position. State co-chair Sam Clovis, whose long list of Iowa political activities include radio host and 2014 state treasurer candidate, recently left the Perry campaign and joined candidate Donald Trump’s team.

However, Critchfield isn’t replacing Clovis, who was directly heading the campaign. He’s in charge of the fundraising super PAC.

“I will oversee a state-of-the-art ground game, comprised of dozens of paid staff going door-to-door and on the phones throughout Iowa to identify supporters and potential supporters of Gov. Perry,” Critchfield said in an email to the Newton Daily News. “Opportunity and Freedom has made the decision to invest in Iowa to help Perry succeed on caucus night, Feb. 1. That is what I have been hired to help accomplish.”

The outgoing chairman thanked local Republicans for participating in fundraisers and events over the past couple of years, such as a “Newton Poll” in place of this year’s canceled statewide straw poll; two annual trap-shooting events and various parades and festivals.

“Thank you for all of the support over the past two years,” Critchfield said. “We have made monumental strides together: street parties, shooting contests, straw polls, bar-b-que joints, and social media — it’s been a great run.”

Critchfield said some Iowa voters might have little or no impression of Perry, who hasn’t gotten nearly the recent TV exposure of some Republican candidates. Perry was in a televised Aug. 6 debate, but it was the late-afternoon debate rather than the prime-time version broadcast on Fox.

“Our group is sending people door to door – across Iowa. We’re going to get folks to give Rick Perry another look,” Critchfield said. “This country is looking for a charismatic reformer who doesn’t remind them of Washington, D.C. and who has a proven track record of getting things done.”

Critchfield is optimistic Perry, despite his early struggles in exposure, will catch fire in Iowa.

“Nobody has ever left an event for Rick Perry without a smile on their face,” Critchfield said. “I’ve spent enough time in politics to know that ‘likeability’ is one of the top reasons people pull the lever for a particular candidate.”

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com