There's been plenty of debate over whether or not former KVI talk jock Kirby Wilbur's ascencion to head of the state GOP represents a shift to the Tea Party for the Washington State Republican Party.

On Satruday, Washington State Democratic Party Chair Dwight Pelz told PubliCola it did.

“You have to interpret this as a win for the Tea Party in Washington State,”  Washington State Democratic Party Chair Dwight Pelz told PubliCola this afternoon. “Luke Esser was a mainstream Republican. Kirby is much more of a Tea Party talk jock.”

While Republican consultant (and former GOP chair), Chris Vance told us it didn't (kinda).

“No, no, no, no. This has nothing to do with the Tea Party. The Tea Party is new people flooding into the party. Kirby Wilbur has been a Republican since the 1970s. He’s a longtime Reagan Republican. ... I’m not saying the Tea Party didn’t vote for Kirby. They’re going to vote against the establishment.”

And yesterday, dueling editorials on the PI and Crosscut said yay and nay, respectively.

The Yakima Herald reports some less-noticed but relevant news: Laura Sample, a long time Yakima Republican and recent Tea Party activist, won the vice chair spot.