sentences:  His successes as county chairman led Governor George E. Pataki to select him to be the Republican state chairman in November 2004.Minarik quickly came under attack following his remarks on the election of Howard Dean as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, stating that the Democrats were now "the party of Barbara Boxer, Lynne Stewart, and Howard Dean".These comments set off a national firestorm, with Pataki publicly rebuking Minarik, and Dean demanding an apology or Minarik's resignation.