Colorado has one new Congressional District because of the recent redistricting process, but Kristi Burton Brown, the Chairman of the Republican Party of Colorado, claims that the process necessarily made ALL districts “new.”  The Colorado Republican Committee bylaws provide a process for the County organizations encompassed in that NEW district, Congressional District 8, to call and conduct a meeting to create a NEW GOP organization for that district.  That has been successfully accomplished. 

Obviously, the NEW district (CD 8) is the only one without established political representation and elected partisan representatives currently serving in the legislature.  But, because of her proclamation, all Colorado GOP County organizations have been directed to hold “reorganizational” meetings and adopt new bylaws and elect new district officers for every State House, State Senate, and Congressional District in their county.  

Under the edict, the legally registered bylaws of 107 sovereign organizations supposedly evaporated, and 328 elected officer positions were vacated just ten months into their lawful two-year terms.  When asked to explain by what authority she has done these things, she reiterated that she and the GOP’s legal council interpret “changed” to mean “new.”  In other words, she has no legal authority.

There are two pending complaints against Chairman Brown’s actions, but the contentious and unlawful “Reorganizational” meetings that she required are ongoing.  Compliance to these unprecedented meetings is complicity in her usurpation of power.  The meetings can stop immediately without any repercussions other than making the Chairman mad.

Grassroots Republicans can take advantage of these unlawful district gatherings to show Colorado the power of a representative republican form of government over unjust dictates.  With support from their communities, the duly elected officers of the counties could refuse to conduct meetings in the districts, because they have no authority to overstep the district officers.  The duly elected district officers could refuse to resign their office or to surrender their district’s established bylaws.  In most districts, the changing lines do not disqualify an officer from serving their full term.  If there are officer vacancies in a district, their bylaws provide the procedure for that district to fill those vacancies, with the State Chairman only having the authority to intervene if a position is left vacant for more than a specific amount of time.  She never has the authority to remove an elected district officer.

Grassroots Republicans need to control their local parties and not abdicate their responsibilities or authority to the State Chairman.  “Because Kristi said” is not a valid reason to carelessly watch the complete destruction and top-down renovation of most of the Colorado Republican organizational structure.  For now, we can simply refuse to comply to her directives and conduct vacancy meetings as needed.  True Republicans should flood the meetings and fill vacancies with true Republicans.

At the caucuses in March, true Republicans can begin the lawful reclamation of the Republican Party by those of us who believe in America’s Republic, the rule of law, and the need for elected party officials and legislators who will adhere to the values and principles of the Republican Party Platform.