Radio Host and Former State Representative Gary Byron Running for GOP Chair. “Personality Is the Secret Sauce of My Success.”
Gary Byron wants to lead Connecticut’s Republican party organization. The state party committee will choose a new chair in June. Byron will have to persuade national committee members Leora Levy and John Frey, who appear to have settled on a different horse.
Here’s Byron’s announcement:
My name is Gary Byron and I am asking for your vote to be the next Connecticut State Party Chair. I have chosen to run for this because I believe I am the best person to bridge the disconnect between what our party is doing on a daily basis and what people believe our party is doing (or not doing). I host a popular radio show that reaches our rank and file members daily and have proven relationships with current legislators and party leaders, including House Minority leader Vin Candelora and Senate Minority Leader Kevin Kelly, both of whom I worked intimately while serving with them in our state legislature.
A little about me, my skill set, and how it would benefit our party: In 1988 at the age of 18 I started a business, Tone Zone. By strategically creating short term and long term goals, I grew Tone Zone to be the third largest event company in Connecticut. I attribute my success to surrounding myself with people smarter than me then delegating responsibility accordingly. Periodically during my time in business I was also employed as on-air talent in both radio and television. In 2014, with odds stacked against me, I ran successfully for State Representative (27th District) against the DTC chair in the Democrat dominated town of Newington… winning by over 800 votes. In my re-election in 2016 I won again by an even larger margin against a challenger who was the Democrat BOE chair. I lost my 2018 bid by only 66 votes during the absentee ballot count.
This loss led to an opportunity to combine my political and broadcasting experience by accepting the coveted morning drive time slot on The Talk of Connecticut Radio Network (WDRC 1360 am/ 103.3 fm, WBOM 1470 am, WSNG 610 am), a network of conservative news/ talk radio stations. For the last two years I’ve listened to callers – mainly citizens of our state – be dismayed and disenfranchised with the policies being handed to us from the Democrat majority. I interview elected officials and political movers and shakers on the local, state, and even national levels on a daily basis. Part of my responsibility is to bring in high roller advertisers on an ongoing basis. By cultivating relationships throughout the year – not just at times when contracts are to expire – advertisers are made to feel they are a valued part of not only my morning show, but also conservatism in our state. This is a component I have been successful and I believe is an important quality when fundraising for our party. My personality is the secret sauce to my success throughout my career. These unique yet vital “ingredients” is what I will bring with me if elected.