Days after voting to keep a Muslim vice chair in his position, the Tarrant County GOP has appointed one of the man’s outspoken detractors to its precinct chair recruitment committee.

According to the man who appointed him, James Scott Trimm is “one of the most hated men” on the party’s executive committee. His appointment, leaders say, is intended to be an olive branch to those who voted to remove Dr. Shahid Shafi from his position.

Joel Downs, chairman of that committee, announced the appointment Tuesday on Facebook, along with an explanation of why Trimm was chosen.

"Although James is a capable person and I appointed him for that the reason, I did it mostly to make a gesture of peace," Downs told The Dallas Morning News. "We need to bury the hatchet and defeat the Democrats."

The hatchet in question is the appointment of Shafi, a surgeon and Southlake City Council member, as a party vice chair. Trimm and fellow precinct chair Dorrie O’Brien along with other area Republicans campaigned to oust Shafi because of his Muslim faith.

After months of unsupported allegations that Shafi believed in Shariah law and had terrorist ties, the party voted on his removal on Jan. 10. The results were 139-49 to retain Shafi.

Now, the problem is bringing the 49 back into the party fold and unifying the local GOP.

Though Shafi urged unity in a speech given just after the vote, his detractors have maintained their position that he's not suitable for the leadership role.

“When I heard the vote numbers I was astounded,” Trimm posted on Facebook. “Thank you to the rest of the 49 courageous souls who voted with me to bless Israel. Unfortunately the 139 voted to take a different path.”

Downs said that in the recruitment role, Trimm will be identifying people with strong Republican voting records to take over as precinct chairs in areas with empty seats.

When asked whether the peace offering would be enough for Shafi’s opponents, Downs was ambivalent.

“I don’t know if any of this is going to work or not, but I feel like I have to try,” he said. “But if it doesn’t work it won’t be for lack of trying.”