Peck hired to lead state GOP

The N.C. Republican Party on Tuesday hired Russell Peck to be its new executive director.

Peck was heavily involved in the victory of Republican Chris Christie in New Jersey's governor's race earlier this month, Rob Christensen reports. Christie defeated Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine. Peck had worked last year as North Carolina victory director.

"I am pleased to announce that Russell has accepted our offer and will begin work on December 1," state party chairman Tom Fetzer said in an e-mail sent to members of the state GOP Executive Committee this morning. "He will joining us less than a month after helping to engineer a thrilling victory for Republicans in New Jersey's gubernatorial race this year."

"Many of you will remember Russell from his work last year as North Carolina's Victory Director, during which he built a statewide organization that did a fantastic job in a less than ideal political environment," Fetzer wrote.

The hiring was made in a conference call meeting of the GOP Central Committee Tuesday night.

Expressing some reservations was former state GOP Chairman Frank Rouse, who said the $75,000 salary and the fact that Peck was not from North Carolina gave him some pause. Fetzer, as a full-time party chair, is being paid $125,000.

The party also named former Raleigh City Councilman Kieran Shanahan to be its finance director and political consultant Mark Stephens, Fetzer's former political consulting partner, to handle direct mail for the party.