group of Fayette Republican Party leaders is

trying to pin the "donkey tail" on Rep.

Rick Price, saying he votes like a Democrat.

Price

is "no longer deserving" of the party's

support, the group said in an open letter to

Republicans in Price's 28th District. Price's

vote for the Senate version of an education

reform bill backed by Gov. Roy Barnes, a

Democrat, angered the group.

"As

an area that votes consistently and

overwhelmingly Republican, the citizens of the

28th Senate District have a right to

representation that follows Republican

principles," says the letter.

Party

Chairman Eric Dial was quick to point out that

the group of six do not represent the party as a

whole, but said they're entitled to their

opinion.

"These

six individuals are voters and taxpayers and are

certainly entitled to their opinion, and have the

right to express it," said Dial, adding,

"This is not official Fayette County

Republican Party business and does not represent

the official stand of the Republican Party."

Price

agreed that the signers of the open letter have a

right to their opinion, adding, "It goes

with the territory." But he defended his

voting record as a Republican and a conservative.

"Having

one of the highest ratings of the Georgia Chamber

of Commerce, the Small Business Federation and

the Christian Coalition apparently isn't good

enough for these few," said Price.

He

said he voted for the Senate version of the

education bill, but Thursday night voted against

the final version.

Signing

the open letter were Charlie Harper, the party's

first vice chairman; Lane Watts, vice chairman

for precinct operations; Margaret Vail, assistant

vice chairperson for the 104th District; Troy

Besseche, treasurer; David Studdard, vice

chairman for membership, and Elizabeth Cole, 19th

precinct chairperson.

Harper

said this week it's his hope that the group's

action will stimulate someone to run against

Price for the Republican nomination.

"I'm

trying to get a candidate to run against Sen.

Price, he said. "If absolutely necessary,

yes," he said when asked if he might be that

candidate himself. But he is hoping the candidate

will be someone else, he said.

Either

way, he added, "With redistricting coming up

next year, we can't afford to have someone who is

voting against Republicans at that time."

Do

confrontations of this type hurt a political

party?

Party

Chairman Dial stopped short of accusing the group

of harming the party, but said, "This type

of thing has the potential to harm the party.

"We

do have a responsibility to hold elected

officials responsible, but we have to be careful

how we do that," he added.

Price

said he believes such an attack is hurtful to the

party, but added, "It's also part of the

process."

Harper

said no. "I think it's more hurtful if

you've got someone who claims to be a Republican

voting against his party," he said.

"We've got to hold rank on the important

bills."

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