Kirk Overbey who represents the Travis County area on the State Republican Executive Committee, has announced his support for Mike McNamara in the race for chairman of the Travis County Republican Party.

In a letter to precinct chairman, Overbey labelled McNamara "the conservative candidate" and noted that he had been active in Kirk Ingels' primary campaign for state representative in 1996. McNamara

is also a conservative precinct chairman, Overbey said.

He acknowledged that McNamara's opponent, Becky Motal, has been considered pro-life but in the chairman's race, he said, she is apparently being promoted and "coached by the liberal wing of the party. "

He noted that the host list of a recent Motal fund-raiser contained 56 names of which only two could be considered conservative and "none were strongly pro-life." Overbey declared he is a "strong supporter of my friend Mike Mcnamara."

McNamara, a systems analyst, said his experience in local politics began in the mid-1970s and he speaks for the "conservative, grassroots movement which is growing by leaps and bounds" in Travis County.

McNamara is GOP chairman in pre-cinct 104 in the northeast quadrant of the county. He noted he is chairman of the Republican Caucus, a group of Republican activists and precinct chairman who support the county party and the Republican goals of lower taxes and smaller government.

He has stressed using technology and training to equip precinct chairman to organize their precincts and improve communication among party activists and with the public.

"My vision for the county party is an organization of politically astute, active participants working in coordination throughout the county to build a winning team."

He has emphasized that under his leadership the county GOP will be concerned with local issues affecting neighborhoods.

A flier distributed by his campaign states, "Republican principles of limited government, individual freedom, respect for property rights and personal responsibility are important in local government as well as at the state and Federal levels.

Motal, a financiaL planner for the Lower Colorado River Authority, twice ran unsuccessfully for the Austin City Council. She is stressing her experience as a candidate in advancing her bid for county chairman.

A major function of goal of the party, she said, is to elect Republican and "that's why my experience, my expertise, my background, makes me the very best candidate for this position -- because I've been a candidate and know what the needs are.

Speaking of the recent controversy over annexation by the city, she said the city had failed to state clearly the benefits of being annexed. A lot of people in the county, she said, are impacted by Austin and are unable to vote for the city council.

Annexation, she said, is part of the city's responsibility and authority to manage its growth.

Motal said there is merit to the suggestion the party retain an executive director to manage day to day affairs allowing the chairman to perform a more pubic role. She observed, however, it would take considerable funds to do that.