David Silek Makes Case for Warren GOP Chairmanship Ahead of Aug. 5 Vote

Local attorney David Silek is again seeking the chairmanship of the Warren County Republican Committee, telling the Royal Examiner that he wants to rebuild the organization, recruit stronger candidates, support Republican nominees, and reduce divisions within the local party.

The vote is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 5, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the former 15th Street School, now part of the Warren County Health and Human Services complex at 465 W. 15th St. in Front Royal.

Silek previously won the chairmanship during a February mass meeting, but the result was later set aside following an appeal. The Sixth District Republican Committee ordered a new vote and will oversee the Aug. 5 process.

Silek said he decided to become active in the committee again after what he described as a poor showing by Republican candidates in the previous statewide election.

He argued that the local committee did not do enough to turn out Republican voters or support the party’s nominees.

“The local committee lifted not a finger, really, to support our statewide candidates,” Silek said.

That criticism reflects Silek’s account of the committee’s work and the internal dispute that followed. His opponent, Scott Lloyd, has been invited to present his own views in a separate interview.

February Meeting Remains a Point of Dispute

Much of the interview focused on the February mass meeting and the events that led to its result being overturned.

Silek said the previous committee controlled the meeting arrangements, including the location, rules, and voting process. He accused members of the former leadership of mishandling parts of the meeting and later challenging problems they had helped create.

He also alleged that some ballots cast for him were initially placed in Lloyd’s stack during the count. According to Silek, the error was discovered after vote counters switched ballot piles and counted them again.

Silek said the ballots were counted several times before he was declared the winner.

He also criticized the departure of former committee leaders during the meeting, saying responsibility for managing the crowded event was left to others without warning.

Lloyd appealed the result to the Sixth District Republican Committee. Silek’s side later appealed that decision to the Republican Party of Virginia. The February outcome was ultimately set aside, leading to the new vote.

Silek said the Sixth District Committee, led by Chairman John Massoud, will run the Aug. 5 election rather than the local committee.

Who May Participate

Silek said registered voters in Warren County may attend, although participants could be asked to sign a statement affirming support for Republican principles or candidates under party rules.

He also said preregistration is available to help confirm voter eligibility before the meeting.

The final rules and entrance procedures are being handled by Sixth District Republican officials. Participants should rely on the official meeting call and instructions issued by the party for exact eligibility requirements.

Silek Defends His Republican Record

During the interview, Silek responded to critics who have described him as insufficiently conservative or as a Republican in name only.

He pointed to decades of involvement in Republican politics, beginning with poll work in Warren County during the 1980s.

Silek said his first job after college was in the office of former U.S. Sen. John Warner. He later completed a political leadership fellowship at the University of Virginia’s Sorensen Institute and attended Regent University School of Law.

“I was a member of the Warren County Republican Party before most of them ever lived in Warren County,” Silek said.

He described himself as pro-life, opposed to higher taxes, and supportive of limited government.

Data Centers and Local Government

The interview moved beyond the committee race into Silek’s views on local policy.

Silek said he opposes placing data centers in Warren County, though he acknowledged that the facilities are needed elsewhere to support modern technology.

He argued that larger Northern Virginia jurisdictions are better suited for such development because they already have the required infrastructure.

“I think we need to effectively out-zone them,” he said.

Silek also questioned the long-term value of data centers, predicting that technological changes could eventually reduce the need for large ground-based facilities. That prediction was presented as his opinion and was not independently verified.

He compared the possible future of unused data centers to abandoned factories and shopping malls that communities struggle to maintain or redevelop.

Silek also raised concerns about local taxation and the assessment of major industrial properties, including the power plant in Warren County. He said local leaders should ensure that large infrastructure projects are assessed fairly and provide appropriate benefits to county residents.

He called for closer examination of government spending and said officials should challenge agency requests before approving additional tax revenue.

Recruiting Candidates and Rebuilding the Committee

Silek said one of his main goals as chairman would be recruiting candidates with professional experience, sound judgment, and a willingness to serve despite the public criticism that often comes with local office.

He said political disagreements should not become personal attacks and argued that the committee should welcome Republicans who do not agree on every issue.

“I don’t believe they all have to be in lockstep with me on every view,” Silek said.

He said members should be able to debate proposals without creating disruption and that the committee should hold forums on important local issues.

Silek also promised more active support for Republican candidates after they receive the party’s nomination or endorsement.

He said that during his brief time as chairman, volunteers covered nearly every day of early voting and every polling place on Election Day.

The key, he said, is asking residents to help and explaining why their involvement matters.

“The people of Warren County are very giving and very willing to help, but you have to ask,” Silek said.

Effort to Unite the Party

Silek said he approached Lloyd after the February vote and offered him a role in the committee’s leadership if he agreed not to appeal.

That agreement did not happen, but Silek said the offer reflected his willingness to include people with different views.

“If I’m elected, or again elected, chairman of the party, I’ll have a place at the table for people of differing views,” he said.

The Aug. 5 vote will determine whether Silek or Lloyd leads the Warren County Republican Committee following months of internal disagreement over the February meeting and the future direction of the organization.

The election will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Warren County Health and Human Services complex, 465 W. 15th St. in Front Royal.