By LaShelle Griffith in Bartlesville, Oklahoma
The aftermath of the County Convention brought forth a series of events that compelled me, as a Precinct Chair, to shed light on the unfolding drama within the Washington County GOP County Committee.
The Central Committee Meeting
Following the County Convention, I was consulted by the County Chairman and a State Committee Member to recommend nominations for the State Election Board (SEB), which I promptly did. On April 11th, a Central Committee meeting took place, in which I was not present. I have since learned of a split in the committee’s vote, resulting in a deadlock. The Chairman subsequently ruled on the vote, and then the Vice Chairman left the meeting, yielding her vote to the Chairman via text.
7/20/23 Editor’s note additional info: It was after much back-and-forth, spirited discussion, the Chairman ruled on which of two equally favored candidates would be the nominee of the Central Committee. On an appeal of the Chairman’s ruling, the vote was 2 to 2. As it requires a majority vote to reverse a ruling by the Chairman, the Chairman’s ruling stands, even though his own vote caused the tie. (See RONR 44:13)
The Vice Chair’s Unauthorized Actions
The Chairman submitted the Central Committee recommendations with the two required signatures (himself and a State Committee Member) to the SEB. Meanwhile, behind the scenes the Vice Chairman was contacting members of the OKGOP State Committee and the SEB without checking with the Chairman or members of the County Committee. See OKGOP Rules for authority – Duties of the Vice Chairman 6(b)4 of OKGOP Rules here.
Instances of Insubordination
The Vice Chairman already had a history of insubordination. For example, on April 10th, a County Committee meeting was held. Without any direction or authority from the County Committee or the Chairman, the Vice Chairman contacted the sheriff and requested law enforcement be present to handle issues of decorum. Such actions raised concerns about her conduct and her disregard for proper channels of authority.
Cause for Removal and a Call for Hearing
On May 5 the Chairman’s nominee to the SEB was notified he had not been selected for the position, and the Chairman became aware of the Vice Chairman’s actions regarding the SEB nomination.
Aware of prior instances of insubordination from the Vice Chairman, the County Committee was less than pleased to discover that the Vice Chairman had been liaising with State Committee and SEB members independently, without obtaining permission from the Chairman or County Committee members. Nineteen members of the County Committee signed a letter regarding misconduct by the State Committee Woman and the Vice Chairman. The letter was a call to a hearing regarding their actions.
The Day of the Convention – Prior to the letter, I had had a conversation with the Vice Chairman (she approached me) about how she could improve relationships with me and others. My first comment to the Vice Chairman was about respect for personal space. Then I suggested that she learn that the executive committee is advisory. She asked what I meant. I gave her the example of the meeting in March where a guest was chest bumped, while she (then a State Committee Member) was yelling for a guard to remove the guest. I told her that it was that action that caused the quorum of the County Committee to move to another room.
The first response to my statement was denial. I asked if the Vice Chairman was aware there was a recording of this. The response then changed to, “Do you think if I took accountability and apologized we could recover from it and unite?” My response was “possibly.”
The letter for hearing was delivered to both the Vice Chairman and the State Committee Woman at the State Convention on May 6. Friends of theirs who were present were shown the documents. Then the taunting and rude comments began.
Over the next few weeks a member of my precinct contacted me as Precinct Chairman regarding the biblical way to handle this disagreement. I explained that we had to follow Rule 19h of the OKGOP Rules and that the defendants could present their case at that time. I assured my precinct member that I would be fair in my decision based on all facts.
Appeals, Lawsuits, and Legal Maneuvers
An official call for a hearing was sent out on May 18 in accordance with OKGOP Rule 19h. Appeals were made to cancel the proceedings, with lengthy documents submitted by the Vice Chairman. Threats of lawsuits were included in these documents, and she, along with the State Committee Member, finally filed for a Temporary Restraining Order that halted the hearing. This order also included a claim for damages related to a hearing that had not yet taken place.
Court Hearing and Lifted Restraining Order
A Court Hearing was held in Nowata County on June 6. Judge Gibson denied their petition, allowing the County Committee to proceed with their meeting and address the pending matters.
The Judge had left our case open and they filed for dismissal on June 13. This blocked our opportunity to request that our attorney fees be paid.
County Committee and Executive Committee Calls
On June 8, the Vice Chairman requested that the Chairman send out a meeting call (including an electronic meeting option) to Executive Committee Members, and allowed less than 8 hours for the Chairman to respond and issue that call. Additionally, it is important to note that RONR Rules do not permit electronic meetings unless the party’s bylaws explicitly allow for it.
That same evening, the Chairman issued a call to the County Committee to complete the unfinished business of the hearing and vote on the removal of the Vice Chairman and State Committee Member. This meeting was scheduled with 5 days notice, adhering to the rules.
The Hearing and Removal Vote
The Hearing was held on June 13. There were members that were repeatedly dilatory, delaying proceedings, etc. Many warnings for dilatory behavior were issued. A question of due process was raised. I am not sure why, as due process is merely the opportunity to be heard, with Counsel, as stated in the rules.
The Vice Chairman and State Committee Member chose not to attend this meeting. The claim by the Vice Chairman in the local paper was they did not have proper 10 days notice or counsel. Remember they had just sued us and restrained the opportunity for a hearing that we had provided them to defend themselves.
During the meeting, the County Committee voted overwhelmingly, with a 30-6 majority, for the removal of the Vice Chairman and State Committee Member.
Voting for a New Vice Chairman
The meetings to replace the Vice Chairman took place on June 19. The Executive Committee meeting became contentious when the Chairman called a vote backwards calling for Nays first and Ayes second. The Ayes were overwhelmingly more than Nays. A former Chairman and Member of the Committee called for an appeal of the Chairman’s ruling citing an incorrect requirement of a ⅔ vote to overrule the Chairman. I rose for a point of inquiry after the Chairman asked the Member the rules. I asked the Member be removed for continuing dilatory delay. The Member and other Executive Committee Members left of their own accord.
A call was made to ensure quorum. We had the exact number to proceed. The two candidates, John Kahre and Tom Stearman, gave short comments, then a vote was taken. Tom Stearman won the vote.
Credentialing then occurred for the County Committee meeting, during which time a Precinct Chairman made rude and incendiary comments towards a State Committee Member. The same Precinct Chairman made a Point of Order as soon as the Chairman stood (even before the Chairman had time to state the agenda). Then a vote was taken to confirm Tom Stearman as Vice Chairman. An email went out to WCGOP members announcing Tom Stearman as Vice Chairman on June 20, 2023.
Continued Struggles and Calls for Investigations
Amidst these controversies, the previous Vice Chairman continued her demands for investigations and meetings. On June 23, she asked for an Executive Committee meeting to be scheduled, but two hours before that meeting, she attempted to cancel it. When members arrived for the meeting, they were locked out of the building, and proceeded to have the meeting on the sidewalk outside the building.
Conclusion
Washington County has not had a functioning County Committee in decades. This is the first time to my knowledge that this committee has exercised its supreme authority in the Washington County GOP. Because of this, we are navigating new territory and seeing the clash between the corporate oligarchy of the Chamber and the principles of “We The People.” The power dynamics at play within the County Committee will no doubt continue to dominate for quite some time. This, however, does not deter us from our commitment to uphold the principles of “We The People”.
Originally posted on OKGrassroots.com
