Cole resigns post with Republican National Committee

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Tom Cole, a former state senator and secretary of state in Oklahoma, said Tuesday he will resign as chief of staff of the Republican National Committee effective on Thursday.

Cole, a member of the Bush-Cheney Energy Transition team, said he plans to return to his Oklahoma City-based political consulting firm, Cole, Hargrave, Snodgrass and Associates.

"My partners are insistent that I get back to work," Cole said. When he took the RNC job, Cole had said he planned to return to his firm when his mission was complete.

Cole, who supervised the RNC's operations and served as the committee's chief political strategist, said he is proud of the RNC's performance in 2000.

"Being part of the first RNC team to win the presidency and both houses of Congress in 48 years is a tremendous honor," Cole said.

At its peak, Cole directed an organization with 225 employees and a budget of more than $250 million.

Last year, the RNC mounted its largest effort in history, spending more than $71 million on advertising, $43 million in voter programs, $7 million on congressional races, $11 million on state and local elections and $13 million in direct support of the Bush-Cheney campaign.

"Tom is a walking political almanac whose experience helped lead us to extraordinary victories," RNC co-chairman Pat Harrison said. "I thank his wife, Ellen, and the state of Oklahoma for letting us borrow Tom for the past year and a half."