If you are a regular reader of the MCRC Briefs or other blogs then you know that the Arizona Republican Party is in a state of turmoil, as staff turnover is extremely high this close to Election Day, particularly within the Victory Program. One name we keep hearing is Jon Seaton, whose role is described as being “the guy in charge” by those working at the AZGOP, and as substantially less by those speaking for the AZGOP. Seaton first made waves when he was very active at the AZGOP’s State Convention in January. Several State Committeemen watched him direct speakers from the back of the room and attempted to question him as to who he was or why he didn’t have any credentials. The questions drove him into hiding, but these days he is omnipresent at AZGOP HQ, where he more often than not occupies the Executive Director’s office in the absence of his good friend Matt Kenney.
What’s that? You didn’t know they were friends? They’re much more than that as they were both heavily involved in the McCain funded SuperPAC that was targeting conservative PCs for opposing McCain’s liberal activities. They also go back to McCain’s campaigns.
Much of this isn’t news, since party regulars know that Team McCain regained control of the AZGOP when Jonathan Lines was elected last January. Where voters ought to beware is that while spending his time at AZGOP HQ, Jon Seaton’s firm is also running the congressional campaign of Tiffany Shedd. East Meridian Strategies has been paid a lot of money to help Shedd craft a “constitutional conservative” brand name that conflicts directly with Seaton’s love of RINOs. Seaton ran John McCain’s Presidential effort in Iowa and most recently ran Lindsay Graham’s failed Presidential campaign.
It has historically been prohibited to work for the party and primary candidates at the same time, but that tradition has clearly been set aside by Chairman Lines, who has already inserted himself into a number of primaries. It is still troubling to see Seaton and his firm profit handsomely from the AZGOP’s double dealing