Babauta, who was elected party president last July, turned over the party leadership to focus on his new job as chief executive officer of the newly established Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.
Fitial said his election as head of the party he abandoned in 2001 “is a new beginning” as he reiterated that the local Republican Party welcomes everyone.
Fitial previously served as head of the local GOP before founding the Covenant Party in 2001.
Babauta, who ran against Fitial in the 2001 and 2005 elections, told party members that the governor is the local party’s key to maintaining strong ties with the Republican National Committee in the U.S.
The former governor also commended former Speaker Oscar C. Rasa and newly confirmed Judge Joseph N. Camacho for the revision of the party by-laws which were cut from 27 to just eight pages.
Fitial said his main focus now as the leader of the GOP is “to expand the grassroots support of the party.”
He added, “If we don’t have the numbers, we don’t have a party that is strong. So in order for the Republican Party to be strong we have to expand our grassroots.”
He said his job as governor will not be affected because party affairs will be conducted after his working hours.
Fitial said even after he created the Covenant Party he remained a member of the national GOP.
Rasa noted that Fitial is the first governor to become the party president at the same time.
Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos and other prominent Covenant leaders say they are sticking with their party.
