Greenberg sets sights on GOP chairmanship

Republican 5th District congressional candidate Mark Greenberg talks with the News-Times editorial board during an interview Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014, in Danbury, Conn.

Republican 5th District congressional candidate Mark Greenberg talks with the News-Times editorial board during an interview Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014, in Danbury, Conn.

Mark Greenberg’s next foray in Connecticut politics could be a charitable endeavor.

Coming of his loss to U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-5th District, in the Nov. 4 midterm election — the third time he has run unsuccessfully for Congress since 2010 — Greenberg is putting his name out there for the job of state Republican Party chairman.

The wealthy Litchfield businessman says he would be willing to do the job pro bono, forgoing the $52,000 annual paycheck given to current party boss, Jerry Labriola Jr., who is been under mounting pressure after the top of the GOP ticket was swept in the midterm election.

“If he wants to retire, give up or resign, then, in that case, it has appeal to me,” Greenberg told Hearst Connecticut Media Tuesday. “We have to do something about creating victories for Republicans in this state again and we have to rebuild our brand. As you know, in this state, we missed the wave again.”

Despite mustering 46 percent of the vote in a year when Republicans took control of the Senate and won several key blue state governorships, Greenberg said he doesn’t think the results of his race should have a bearing on viability as a successor to Labriola. Republicans haven’t won a statewide or congressional race in Connecticut since 2006.

“Who do we have who has been successful?” Greenberg said, adding that he was outspent by the freshman Esty. “I don’t think my defeat had anything to do with any errors on my part.”

Greenberg said that Labriola should be able to decide on his own terms whether to serve out the rest of his term as chairman, which is not up until next June.

“I think that he deserves that respect,” Greenberg said. “I don’t think we as party should be seen as lynching our chairman or attacking.”

Neil Vigdor