Michael Barnett, vice chairman of the Republican Party of Palm Beach County, phoned in from Port-au-Prince, Haiti Friday evening to respond to the news of the chairman’s recent resignation.

Barnett, who coordinates the party’s minority outreach efforts and has been in Haiti since Wednesday with a GOP delegation from South Florida, told BizPac Review Friday he had just learned of Chairman Ira Sabin’s Thursday evening resignation:

I just received word that Ira Sabin resigned as chairman. It was the right thing to do for the good of the party.

I want to thank Ira for his years of service, not only to the Republican Executive Committee, but also to the Republican Party.

We will schedule an election for a new chairman as soon as our Constitution allows us to.

Everything will remain the same in the interim; Tuesday’s Board meeting and the October 9 REC meeting will go on as planned.

We want to assure REC members the party is in capable hands with its officers and board.  Everything will be left in place for the sake of stability as we continue with the party’s work.

Sabin had served only nine months as chairman, but was facing a near-unanimous vote of no confidence from the county GOP’s Board of Directors who had prepared a resolution calling for his resignation at its upcoming meeting Tuesday.

Sabin abruptly resigned late Thursday evening and BizPac Review published his letter:

To the REC membership,

I hereby resign my position as Chairman of the Palm Beach County Republican Party effective immediately.

I am also resigning my position as Committeeman from Precinct 5128 also effective immediately.

It has been my honor to serve as your Chairman.

Best, Ira

Barnett will serve as interim chairman until a new chairman can be elected. Alison Rampersad is the party’s secretary and James Spafford is the treasurer.

Read more on Sabin’s resignation here: “Embattled PBC GOP Chair Ira Sabin resigns”

Read more on the party’s outreach efforts here: “Palm Beach County GOP begins building bridges to minorities”

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Janeen Capizola

"And though she be but little, she is fierce." And fun! This conservative-minded political junkie, mom of three, dancer and one-time NFL cheerleader holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science. [email protected]. Twitter: @JaneenBPR

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