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**Randy Bauer**

wrote:
THE POLITICS BEHIND THE CHANNING FOUR

By Larry Parr

Fascinating politics lie behind the early
announcement of a ticket for the Executive Board
elections in 2007.

The ticket consists of celebrated Grandmaster
Susan Polgar, Paul Truong, Dr. Mikhail Korenman and
Randy Bauer. Bill Goichberg has indicated privately
that he will support and, indeed, work for the ticket.
My sources tell me that Joel Channing, the wealthy
Florida real estate developer and current USCF
Executive Board member, will finance the campaign,
promising an essentially open checkbook in return for
his becoming president, tossing over Mr. Goichberg.

That is not how things have unfolded. I talked with Susan a couple
weeks back and urged her to run -- I am 99% certain she will be elected
and 100% certain she will be an outstanding addition. She is smart,
energetic, and committed to growing chess activity in the US. I agreed
to run but also said that I didn't want to turn this into a race of
competing slates.

I think that is divisive and did not serve the USCF well in the last
general election. I pledge to support any qualified, capable candidate
who is committed to working with all members of the Board in a
collegial, constructive manner. I think Don Schultz may run, and I
would support his candidacy for the same reason -- while we were
supporting opposing slates last time, he and I worked together on many
issues, and I know he cares about and is committed to constructive
change for the USCF.

While I think that Joel supports my candidacy (and probably Susan's as
well) he in no way has promised financial support, nor has he been the
one pushing this particular group of candidates. There also is no fait
accompli regarding the presidency, at least as I know it. I think Bill
has done a good job and wouldn't/haven't make any promises on support
of any particular person.

A lot has been happening behind the scenes, and
the ticket is in part based on the fear that Sam Sloan
will win next year unless stopped by overwhelming
financial resources brought to bear.

It's not my fear. I think Sam was elected last time because there
wasn't much interest in the one year positions (for one thing the Board
majority wasn't going to be impacted). I think Sam has provided
abundant evidence that his "bull in the china shop" approach isn't
suited to the Executive Board, and I think the membership will
recognize that, regardless of the financial resources brough to bear.
I know I've finished far ahead of him in both of the races we've
contested, and I see no reason for that not to be the case this time.

One source states that Mr. Goichberg will be
telephoning potential candidates, offering inducements
to have them step aside for the announced Polgar
ticket. Several candidates from California and points
west of the Mississippi will be asked to defer their
candidacies in return for future support and,
possibly, special favors from the USCF office and
Chess Life.

A secondhand source, very close to one candidate
running on the ticket, told me privately that there is
NO INTENTION of permitting Channing to purchase the
presidency by supporting the ticket financially.
(Putting the knife into Channing by his allies will be
the first political doublecross after the elections,
if the ticket is successful.) Goichberg is understood
to be a carcass - a cross between a discarded appendix
and chopped liver - though he currently hopes that he
will carry on. If successful, the ticket members will
vote to elect GM Susan Polgar as the next USCF
president. Period.

Fiction, at least as I know it. I like and respect Bill, Joel, and
Susan, and the "knifing" etc. you described is not contemplated or
expected.

Another source stated that Goichberg has, in
truth, little chance of convincing other candidates to
bow out and that there will be a fairly crowded field.
The anti-Sloan strategy may cause many voters to cast
their ballots for Sam for fear that a clique of
insiders is attempting a coup. Sam will trumpet
ethics, his successful discombobulation of Robert
Tanner, and the need for transparency against moneyed
insiders. It may prove a successful strategy against
heavy-handed political tactics.

I plan to talk about finance -- ya know, the fact that the Board I was
on balanced the budget -- member service, and the need for the Board to
be able to work together. Sam Sloan trumpeting ethics is delicious
irony for one who had his securities license yanked and... well, you
know.

Randy Bauer