Tom Fetzer is running for chairman of the North Carolina GOP.

The former Raleigh mayor and longtime political consultant told Dome that he decided to run after learning that former state Sen. Woody White, whom he supported, was dropping out.

"I thought that created a void that needed to be filled, and here I am," he said.

Fetzer has been calling and e-mailing Republican activists today and plans to attend the Nash County Republican convention tonight. He'll be hitting other events between now and the statewide convention in May.

He said that he would help the party focus on its values while bringing new energy to fundraising and party building efforts.

"I think the party needs to return to its roots," he said. "Limited government. Personal responsibilty. Conservative values."

Late last year, Fetzer and longtime business partner Mark Stephens closed their political consulting firm. Since then, Fetzer has done private consulting for several businesses and educational institutions, he said.

* Former state Sen. Fred Smith, who once pondered a run for the job himself, has endorsed Woody White for chair of the N.C. Republican Party.

* Republican National Committee member Ada Fisher of North Carolina calls for Michael Steele to step down, criticizes his language.

* Former Cumberland County Schools Superintendent Bill Harrison sworn in to new seat, elected chairman of the State Board of Education. 

* Greensboro News-Record columnist Doug Clark says Gov. Beverly Perdue has a "special obligation" to see that lottery money doesn't go into the general fund. 

Chad Adams is running for chairman of the N.C. Republican Party.

"I absolutely am," he said. "Mentally, I decided a few weeks ago, but we had to work through some of the logistics."

He said he would work to restore the trust of grassroots activists who have moved away from the party, in part by working as a full-time chairman.

A former Lee County commissioner, Adams works as development vice president for the John Locke Foundation. He said he will take leave over the next week and would step down entirely if he wins at the Republican convention in June.

"We've got to make it exciting to be a Republican again," he said. "The issues still win, even when our candidates are languishing."

He's also launched a Web site for the campaign. 

Guilford County business owner Marcus Kindley, former state Sen. Woody White and Wake County GOP chairman David Robinson are also running for the post.

Marcus Kindley says he's a CEO, not a stockbroker.

The candidate for chair of the N.C. Republican Party took exception to a recent Dome item which identified him by the latter job title.

"That's kind of like calling your editor a mailboy down in the mailroom," he said.

Kindley noted that he is the longtime chief executive officer of Intercarolina Financial Services, a Greensboro firm with 70 employees.

He faces Wake County GOP chair David Robinson and former state Sen. Woody White. Current chair Linda Daves is not running again.

Former state Sen. Woody White of Wilmington over the weekend announced his candidacy for the state GOP chairmanship.

White, 39, is a lawyer and former law partner of Patrick Ballantine, the GOP nominee for governor in 2004, Rob Christensen reports.

He has been weighing a bid for several weeks, but announced his candidacy in a letter sent to members of the state GOP Executive Committee.

State Chair Linda Daves has said she will not seek another term at the state Republican convention in June.

Also running is David Robinson, chairman of the Wake County Republican Party, and Guilford county stockbroker Marcus Kindley.

Previously: White considering a run

David Robinson, chairman of the Wake County Republican Party, announced today that he wants to be the chairman of the state GOP.

Robinson issued a press release announcing his candidacy to be state GOP chairman. He said the state party should "challenge government corruption and liberal agendas" every day of the year.

State Chairwoman Linda Daves has said she will not seek re-election to another term. Former Lee County Commissioner Chad Adams and former state Sen. Woody White are considering runs. Guilford County stockbroker Marcus Kindley has announced that he is seeking the post.

Former State Sen. Fred Smith says he will not run for chairman of the state GOP.

Smith, a Clayton businessman, said with the downturn in the economy he needed to focus on his real estate development and paving business, Rob Christensen reports.

"My first duty is to my family and my business," Smith said. "I've got a duty to my employees who stuck with me during the time I was running for governor."

Smith unsucessfully sought the GOP nomination for governor last year.  Late last year, Smith began thinking about running for state chairman.

State Chair Linda Daves has said she will not seek another term at the state GOP Convention in June.

Marcus Kindley, a Guilford County stock broker is running. Looking at running are former state Sen. Woody White and Lee County Commissioner Chad Adams.

Previously: Former U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes to run?

Is former U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes interested in state GOP chair?

A reliable tipster says the Concord Republican may be considering a run to replace outgoing party chairwoman Linda Daves.

As with the race for Democratic Party chair, much remains in flux.

Former GOP gubernatorial candidate Fred Smith, former Lee County commissioner Chad Adams, and former state Sen. Woody White are also reportedly considering runs.

Guilford County stockbroker Marcus Kindley is already running.

A former Lee County commissioner is pondering a run for GOP chair.

Chad Adams, who served on the Lee board of commissioners from 1998 to 2006, said he's been approached about replacing outgoing state party chairwoman Linda Daves.

"The first couple calls, you think they're just being nice," he said. "But then a number of other calls came from people that I think a lot of, so I went home and talked to my wife."

Adams, 41, served as chairman of the Lee County Republican Party from 2000 to 2002 and as treasurer in the 1990s.

A fifth-generation resident of Lee County, he now works as development vice president for the John Locke Foundation, raising money for the conservative think tank. He also serves as director of the related Center for Local Innovation, which focuses on local government.

If he ran, Adams said he would focus on recruiting candidates for local office, boosting fundraising for the party and getting back "the conservative mantle on fiscal policy."

"We need to make it a much more nimble, forward-thinking kind of party," he said.

Former state Sens. Woody White and Fred Smith are considering a run for chair, and Guilford County stockbroker Marcus Kindley is already running.

Former state Sen. Woody White is considering running for state GOP chairman.

The Wilmington resident said he has been talking to people around the state about a possible bid, but has not yet made up his mind, Rob Christensen reports.

If should become chairman, White said he would work to expand the party.

"We have got to do a better job of reaching out and expanding our base," White said. "If you don't alter the way you deliver your message we run the risk of becoming an anachronism."

White, 39, is an attorney and former law partner of Patrick Ballantine, the GOP nominee for governor in 2004. White was appointed to Ballantine's seat, but lost in the General Election to Democrat Julia Boseman.

He served in 2004 as a member of the national party platform committee, is a former legal counsel to the state GOP, and is a former New Hanover County Republican chairman.

Guilford County stockbroker Marcus Kindley is already running for the post, while state Sen. Fred Smith is considering a run. Current chair Linda Daves said she will not seek re-election.