By Karen Hardin – Awake Oklahoma.com
Tulsa and Wagoner County GOP delegates gave a referendum to leadership that had controlled both counties on Saturday, March 1 at their respective conventions. Every position was replaced with new leaders.
Tulsa County Report
In Tulsa, it was a rout, as grassroots candidate Melissa Myers, overwhelmingly beat Ronda Smith’s choice for her replacement, Charity Marcus.
New Tulsa GOP Chair and Vice-Chair, Melissa Myers and Brent Van Norman
Marcus stated several times in speeches how she had volunteered for the last 12-13 years in the Tulsa GOP. However, she simultaneously reported that people said they didn’t feel welcome at the GOP and how we needed to get them back involved. She professed to be the candidate who was going to do that.
Yet that leaves us with a question similar to what was asked of Kamala Harris when she ran:
- If you were already in a leadership position, why weren’t you already making those changes?
- Why would we think you would do anything different than what you had done for the past 12-13 years?
Much like the Trump/Harris election, the people made their frustration with the present administration clear by their vote. It was 70% for Melissa. Also, the entire Oklahoma Grassroots slate was elected with her which included:
Chair: Melissa Myers
Vice-Chair Brent Van Norman
State Committeeman – Paul Hassink
State Committeewoman – Angela Strohm
District Committeewoman – Shelley Gwartney
District Committeewoman – Amy Marsh
New Tulsa GOP leaders elected March 1 (l-r): District Committeewoman – Amy Marsh Vice-Chair – Brent Van Norman Chair – Melissa Myers State Committeewoman – Angela Strohm State Committeeman – Paul Hassink Not pictured: District Committeewoman – Shelley Gwartney
While Charity Marcus spent her time working to obtain a long list of endorsements, the grassroots spent their time working to grow the precincts and connect with voters. The proof was in the outcome. Endorsements didn’t matter—votes did.
Convention Chair, Rep Mark Tedford, endorsed Marcus, and yet didn’t feel there was a conflict for him to serve as Chair.
Many on the credentials committee were wearing Marcus stickers and evidently also didn’t feel there was a conflict in campaigning while also serving in that position.
A text was sent to the delegates in the middle of the election advertising to vote for Charity and her slate. But even those efforts, in which the Establishment side had access to information and tools the grassroots candidates didn’t, they still only achieved 30% of the vote for Charity and barely 10-15% in some of the other races.
It was a clean sweep and a clear word from Tulsa GOP delegates stating they are tired of the games, manipulation of rules, and withholding of delegate information and financials.
It was a vote for transparency and accountability.
So far the transfer of power has gone relatively smoothly and both Ronda Smith and former Vice Chair Jenifer Stevens have offered ongoing assistance to the new leadership if needed.
Wagoner County Report
Wagoner County also saw a complete change in leadership at their Saturday convention, which voted out long-time Chair Matt Vermillion along with every position in which someone ran against the current leadership. In recent years, the size of the Wagoner County GOP delegation had grown stagnant. That is until last year, via grassroots efforts, we started to again grow the precincts. This year the number of those involved doubled.
After credentials were approved and as the convention started, Terri Coulter, who was running for Chair, stepped to the mic to get the elections moved to the top of the agenda. The almost unanimous vote changed the order for the day.
Good thing too, as once the elections were completed there were only twenty minutes left to vote on planks and resolutions. The clock ran out and most of that business left undone. If the time had run out on the elections, it would have allowed the leadership positions to be appointed rather than elected. Thankfully the elections were completed. The new Wagoner County GOP leadership includes:
Chair – Terri Coulter
Vice Chair – Ed Balcerek
State Committeewoman – Karen Hardin
State Committeeman – Jordan Rollinson
District Committeeman CD1 – Kevin Hardin
District Committeewoman CD1 – Mary Balcerek
District Committeeman CD2 – James Jones
District Committeewoman CD2 – Angie Duncan
New Wagoner County GOP leaders elected on March 1 (left to right): District Committeeman CD1 – Kevin Hardin State Committeewoman – Karen Hardin State Committeeman – Jordan Rollinson Chair – Terri Coulter Vice-Chair – Ed Balcerek District Committeewoman CD1 – Mary Balcerek Not pictured: District Committeeman CD2 – James Jones
There was a question as to the validity of Rollinson’s ability to run since he didn’t register in Wagoner County until the end of January. If someone didn’t qualify to vote per the rules, how did they qualify to run? Vermillion insisted the rules said he could run and let him file. To be clear, the rules are unclear on that issue.
Cory Lakey won the raw vote in that race for State Committeeman, while Jordan won the fractionated vote. It was a close race. Jordan is a charismatic rising young leader and we pray he will represent Wagoner County GOP well.
While the majority of delegates in both counties were rejoicing, we understand there are those who aren’t.
It is finally time to try to work together to restore trust, accountability and transparency. May we work together to go after the bigger goals of turning Tulsa back red, finding good candidates to run in upcoming elections, training our delegates how to assist candidates, growing our precincts, getting involved, and working together.
Can the divide between Establishment and Grassroots resolve? That’s hard to say, because it’s not infighting as much as it is a complete difference in political ideology.
Let’s pray for unity where we can, and
begin the process of rebuilding and restoring our counties.
Shared via OKGrassroots.com
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