A replacement for resigned Fort Bend County Republican Party chairman Gary Gillen will be chosen Nov. 27 at a special meeting called by Texas GOP Chairman Tina Benkiser.

In a memo to Fort Bend County GOP Executive Committee members, Benkiser said she intends to appoint Paul Davis, chairman of Precinct 1120, to serve as temporary chairman of the meeting.

Citing untenable political differences with what he termed a “fringe element” in the local party, Gillen surprised a group of elected Republican officials and others attending a West Fort Bend Republican Women’s luncheon last week with an announcement that he was resigning effective immediately, along with party Treasurer Richard McCarter, Secretary Nancy Porter and Parliamentarian Dick Hudgins. Before the luncheon, county GOP General Counsel Farha Ahmed also resigned from her party position.

“As you may know, the positions of county chairman and secretary as well as certain other offices have become vacant in the Fort Bend Republican Party,” Benkiser said in her memo. “Thus, in accordance with the Texas Election Code, this will serve as an official call and notice of a special meeting…for the purpose of filling the vacancy” for chairman.”

Benkiser said the local executive committee may also choose to fill the other vacant positions during the meeting.

The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 27 on the seventh floor of the William B. Travis Building, at 301 Jackson St. in Richmond.