Mr. Allbritton, who is out of town, is said to have thought the center should have a full-time chairman.

Mr. Katz was elected by the organization's board in 1977 as its first full-time chairman.

He stepped down in 2002 when the club needed a full-time chairman although he continued as president of the club.

To give the organization a firmer structure and direction, its coordinating council decided to elect a full-time chairman.

Also that person must really know the field, and be able to act as a full-time chairman.

Retiring as a judge in 1983, he was appointed full-time chairman of the Law Reform Commission.

Its members are unpaid, except for the full-time chairman, who earns $78,000.

"There was the potential loss of faculty, and the difficulty the department was encountering required a full-time chairman."

"I expressed to him the thought that a full-time chairman is what the party needs," he said.

The current investigation is not likely to lead the Merc to install a full-time chairman.