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Politics

Vote boosts Putnum's stature

The Bartow lawmaker becomes the No. 3 Republican in the U.S. House.

By BILL ADAIR
Published November 18, 2006

WASHINGTON - Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Bartow, was elected chairman of the House Republican Conference, the third-highest job in the party's leadership and one that is likely to raise his national profile.

Putnam won on the third ballot of Republican House members, narrowly defeating Rep. Jack Kingston of Georgia 100 to 91. The previous two ballots had eliminated the other candidates for the job, Reps. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Dan Lungren of California.

As conference chairman, the Bartow lawmaker will be in charge of the Republican message. He will be the party's chief spokesman from the House and will provide guidance to party members about GOP positions on the issues.

Putnam, 32, provides a fresh face for the party less than two weeks after it lost control of Congress. He is the child of a Bartow ranching family who can speak about the needs of farmers, and an ambitious lawmaker who can discuss the intricacies of tax legislation.

Putnam said his goal is "to regain the faith of the American people in their government" and show how his party differs from the Democrats.

"It has to be more than just obstructionism and saying no all the time. We have to be competitive in the field of ideas," he said.

Although the conference job has often focused on providing talking points to members, Putnam, who headed the party's policy committee this year, said he would emphasize the details about GOP policies.

"It needs to be more substantive than just bumper sticker slogans. Members have to be able to articulate our vision on the House floor, to the Rotary Club, to an editorial board and in town halls across America."

Washington bureau chief Bill Adair can be reached at adair@sptimes.com or 202 463-0575.

[Last modified November 18, 2006, 01:14:30]