An Open Letter to the State Committee of the Oklahoma Republican Party:
The Grady County State Committee members left the State Committee meeting held on Saturday, July 8th, 2023 at Higher Plain Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, at the very least confused as to the purpose of the State Committee (SC), and at most frustrated to the point of indignation by the proceedings in general. Please keep in mind that indignation is anger or annoyance provoked by what is seen as unfair treatment.
The first issue that the meeting got hung up on was whether or not to seat certain people on the State Committee because there was a dispute as to who the appropriate State Committee members were from Washington County. Among our four Grady County SC members, two recused themselves from this vote due to lack of information regarding the dispute.
Another primary issue to be voted on was the approval of the Agenda. This was resolved rather easily and the two National Committee members held their updates till the end of the meeting. Though no New Business was allowed to be added to the Agenda.
But it is with the third issue that Grady County SC members have a grievance. And this is the one that left us with the question as to what our purpose was as a State Committee member, and why did we give up our Saturday for the benefit of the Oklahoma State Republican Party when it seemed we were not allowed to offer anything of value?
According to the State Party Rules, the authority and duties of the State Committee is charged with the duty of promoting the welfare and direction, controlling the affairs of the Oklahoma Republican Party and the Oklahoma State Republican Conventions, and in promoting the welfare of the Republican Party of the United States of America.
How are the State Committee members going to fulfill this duty? We should be a body that comes together to deliberate and discuss the appointments, resolutions, etc that are brought before us. We are not a representative body where each member is looking out for the interests of their specific group that holds a member’s seat on the State Committee. In fact, there are really only a few actual members elected to this body, and those are the two members elected by each county. Everyone else is there by virtue of a position they hold elsewhere. We are also not there to rubber stamp everything the State Party Chairman puts before us, as some people seem to prefer. We should be more akin to a group of Shareholders of a company who hold management accountable to the performance of the company and to maximizing value to the Shareholders.
When a State Party Chairman puts before the State Committee members a list of Appointments, (State Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, and General Counsel of the State Committee shall be appointed by the State Chairman, subject to the approval of the State Committee, as soon as possible not exceeding sixty (60) days after each regular biennial State Convention. SPR 10J), it may be safe to assume that most members of the State Committee have seen neither a resume nor a bio about any of the appointees, and that SC members would like to find out more regarding their experience, credentials and background before confirming. This is basic due diligence, and should be afforded to the members of the State Committee.
However, when a certain person appears to be sitting next to the mic just to immediately move that we accept all the Appointments as a slate, it is then immediately seconded by another, and we waste a great deal of time debating whether or not we accept them as a slate, we have disenfranchised those who have legitimate questions or concerns about the individual appointees themselves. These shenanigans may seem clever, but clearly only serve to sabotage the purpose of the State Committee, and appear to be a pattern that repeats itself frequently.
When the State Committee member from Latimer County had a respectful question about one of the Appointments, he was completely undermined by the immediate motion to vote on the Appointments as a slate. Then the same thing happened when someone else had concerns about one of Wayne Hill’s Executive Committee appointments. No concerns were addressed because we voted on the list as a slate. Grady County will proffer a State Party Rule change to address this situation at the next State Convention.
As to the finances of the State Republican Party. It is difficult to address the financial condition of the Oklahoma State Republican Party without a thorough financial report. The State Committee needs more than the beginning and ending account balance over a period of time. A lot happens in between those dates. We need details and the ability to ask questions in order for us to fulfill our duties. Grady County will proffer a State Party Rule change to address a Quarterly Financial Report at the next State Convention.
There are seemingly four factions in the State Committee: those that want to rubber stamp everything the Chairman presents; those that want to dismantle everything the Chairman presents; those that want to get the meeting over as soon as possible; and those that will stay till midnight to resolve the business before us through respectful deliberation.
What will it take to end the shenanigans and get all State Committee members in the fourth category?
With hope for the future,
Grady County State Committee Members
Carrie Bertrand – Grady County Chair
Jana Belcher – Grady County Vice-Chair
Jason Hardaway – Grady County State Committee Member
Devona Hardaway – Grady County State Committee Member
Gina Desmarious – Grady County State Committee Alternate who attended as a guest.
PS…. Did we get an update on the Ethics fines??
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Thanks to Carrie Bertrand for sharing this letter with OKGrassroots! Just a little about Carrie below:
“As far as the GOP, this is my second term as the Grady County Chair. I’m a founding board member of Constitutional Home Educators Alliance, and speak on home education topics throughout the state.
Professionally, my husband and I own Bertrand Investment Strategies, and have served clients throughout Oklahoma for 25 years. I raise Texas Longhorns for fun, and sell grass-fed/finished beef.”
You may contact her directly: bertrandcarrie@gmail.com
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