By Clyde Noel

In the latest effort to unify a chronically fractured California Republican party, more than 150 invited guests came to Jan and Bob Fenwick’s home March 12 to hear newly elected state party chairman George “Duf” Sundheim.

The turnout served as a business meeting for SPARC (South Peninsula Area Republican Coalition) and included Sundheim’s strategy for winning.

“I want us to unify this party in a way that’s never happened before,” Sundheim said. “If the message isn’t the same in the Mexican barrio as in the country club, we have to change the message.”

Sundheim faces the challenge of reviving a party that lost every statewide office last November for the first time since 1882. To make his chore harder, the Republicans lag the Democrats in voter registration.

“The war (Republican infighting) is over. We are all Republicans together,” Sundheim said. “We are starting a game plan and will go to work. The working premise is good judgment, commitment and hard work.

Sundheim said he would run a campaign that respects former California Governor and President Ronald Reagan’s philosophy of “not speaking ill of other Republicans.”

Governor Gray Davis came in for numerous jabs especially on his popularity with the electorate.

“The only one with a lesser approval percentage in California is Jerry Springer,” Sundheim said. Sundheim was firm on abortion rights. “I am not going to comment on the issue. This is not a litmus test. I will support candidates regardless of their position.”

Sundheim said the first place to start working is with the business leadership of Silicon Valley. “Their money has elected Gray Davis and other Democratic candidates in the past.”

As the meeting came to a close, SPARC President Duffy Price said, “He will be a great coach for our party.”

SPARC member Joanne Rodgers of Los Gatos said she felt positive at the convention last month but is looking for more unity from both sides. “That’s the most important thing at this time,” she said. “I’m going to work for him.”

“Just so he brings the melting pot and the party together,” said SPARC member Kathy Lera from Los Altos. “Both the right and the left have to be more open.”

Sundheim, 50, a Palo Alto attorney, replaced Shawn Steel, a polarizing figure who openly feuded with numerous advisers and resisted White House-backed reforms to improve California Republican Party philosophies.