Shahid Shafi, once challenged for Muslim faith, leaves Tarrant County Republican post
Southlake Republican Shahid Shafi has ended a tumultuous 17 months as a vice chairman of the Tarrant County Republican Party, posting a farewell on Facebook after party Chairman Darl Easton, of Euless, resigned early.
Shafi’s appointment as a vice chairman, along with Fort Worth Republican Chris Garcia, provoked a nationwide controversy a year ago when some Republican precinct chairs tried to remove him over his Muslim faith. Chairs eventually voted 139-49 not to remove Shafi, a trauma surgeon and six-year city councilman.
According to Shafi’s post, Easton has resigned early to make way for the possible early appointment of Keller Republican Rick Barnes, the only candidate running for county chairman in the March 3 party primary. Easton did not file for re-election.
Shafi was appointed to assist Easton, and his term ended with Easton’s.
Shafi’s post, published with a photo of him, Easton and Barnes standing together, said:
“Hi folks. As you may know, effective today, TCGOP Chairman Darl Easton has stepped down in favor of Incoming Chairman Rick Barnes.
“Along with that, I will also step down from the position of Vice Chair of TCGOP.
“Here is an excerpt from my note to Darl.
“‘Darl: It was an honor to serve under your leadership. You steered our party through historic times and will be remembered as a man of principles, who defended the Constitution, who led by example, who showed the world what we mean when we proclaim “liberty and justice for all.”
“‘The Republican Party is better off because of your service. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity you gave me. I could not have asked for a better leader.’“
This story was originally published December 29, 2019 at 5:45 AM.
