January 20, 2023
Maurice Emmer
(Find background information about this issue at THE EL PASO FIASCO.🔗)
WHY A SPECIAL GOP CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETING ABOUT EL PASO COUNTY?
WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND:
- A group within the EPC GOP (the establishment) controlled the county central committee for decades
- Another group (not establishment) was elected to offices and PCP positions two years ago to the establishment’s dissatisfaction
- For two years the establishment has tried to oust those currently in elected positions
- The establishment has created a shadow GOP organization without state approval
- The establishment has made numerous complaints about the current EPC officers; it is unclear whether they have pursued regular channels for relief
- The establishment fears they won’t gain control at the 2023 reorganizational meeting; they are trying to end-run the reorganizational meeting process
- Rather than seeking election at the 2023 reorganizational meeting, the establishment has demanded that the EPC GOP be barred from conducting its reorganization in the normal manner; they have insisted that the state GOP central committee paralyze the EPC GOP central committee and take over the EPC reorganizational meeting. The establishment believes it can use this device to gain control in EPC.
WHY THE STATE GOP CENTRAL COMMITTEE SHOULD NOT GO ALONG:
- There is no demonstrated need for the state central committee to intervene in EPC. No specific complaint has been alleged against the EPC central committee. If there are specific charges, they should have been brought to the state executive committee.
- Vague allegations are not the appropriate basis for convening a state central committee special meeting.
- If the state central committee intervenes in EPC, unsatisfied groups in other counties will be encouraged to drag the state central committee into their local power struggles; this will lead to statewide chaos
- The central committees in the various counties, which have more than enough work to do in their own counties, will have to attend to other counties’ matters as well. Every county central committee will be under constant threat that a dissident group will drag other counties into their business.
- The state GOP chair has called a meeting without even one- quarter of the state central committee requesting it. While she has this authority, it is unwise to exercise it. The bylaws require a meeting when one-quarter of the state central committee calls
- for one. This rule is important because it limits special meetings to matters of general concern, which this is not.
- The manner of calling the special meeting is suspect. The call materials indicate that motions will be introduced at the meeting, but the chair is keeping them secret.
- Conducting such a meeting exclusively by Zoom will reduce vital discussion and dialogue. In addition, it will enable the chair to muzzle speakers, which she has a history of doing.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
- Contact the state GOP chair, object to this meeting, and demand her call be withdrawn.
- If the call is not withdrawn, attend the meeting and vote as follows:
- To adjourn the meeting immediately (this is a “privileged motion” that must be addressed before other business
- To strike the agenda published by the chair as being beyond the authority of the central committee
- Against the adoption of any motions other than to adjourn or strike the agenda.
Maurice Emmer
Aspen, CO
For more information, see El Paso Fiasco