The primary election allowed citizens to elect people to represent them on the Ravalli County Republican Central Committee (RCRCC). This primary saw more candidates for these positions than at any other time in recent memory and possibly history in Ravalli County. Ravalli residents are wondering: Why are these positions so highly contested? The answer to that question is fairly simple, yet, not easily explained. As one that lived it, I will attempt that explanation. To grasp the current status, one must first understand the recent past.
In the summer of 2022 the MTGOP (Montana Grand-Old-Party) adopted a rule change that was in direct violation of state law, moving the county leadership elections for Republican Central Committees (RCCs) to AFTER the State Party leadership elections. This new rule effected all county RCCs across the state. In the early spring of 2023 the RCRCC notified the MTGOP of this violation of state law. In response to this notice the MTGOP issued an email distributed to all RCC chairs in the state citing an anonymous legal opinion claiming that the MTGOP was NOT in violation of state law. The party moved ahead with their determined plan to hold their leadership convention in the summer of 2023. The RCRCC (and a few other counties) held their county leadership convention in compliance with state law and in protest to the new MTGOP “rule".
During the 2023 legislative session House Bill 322 was drafted and adopted. This bill confirmed the RCRCC had indeed correctly interpreted the law and the MTGOP’s “legal opinion” was flat wrong. HB322, clearly confirming the MTGOP was knowingly operating in violation of standing state law, was signed into law by the Governor on May 18th, 2023, a full three weeks before the MTGOP Leadership Convention held in Missoula June 9 & 10, 2023. In spite of being notified they were breaking the law, the MTGOP forged ahead with their planned leadership convention. The RCRCC brought all this information to the attention of the MTGOP at this convention and protested the credentialing of the displaced RCRCC leadership. As anticipated, the MTGOP-assigned credentialing committee ruled against the new lawfully elected RCRCC leadership, thereby guaranteeing the existing MTGOP leadership would continue through the MTGOP leadership seems to be the attitude exhibited by most elements of Government today, that of: "If you don't like it, Sue Me!"
Subsequently, in order to be “recognized as official" and gain voting rights within the MTGOP, by the now illegitimate MTGOP, county RCCs were forced by the MTGOP to violate state law by holding unlawful leadership conventions in the fall. The illegitimate legacy leaderships of various (I.E. Missoula and Ravalli) county RCCs delayed holding the 2023 leadership elections until the last minute allowed by the MTGOP rule, the end of October. This spiteful act caused the new RCC’s leadership terms to be shortened by over 6 months. It is worth noting here that at the time of the leadership change, displacing Mr. Nelson as Chair of the RCRCC, a number of incumbent precinct representatives resigned and many others boycotted the RCRCC meetings by refusing to attend under the newly elected leaders.
Now to the crux of the issue of why the Republican Precinct representative positions were so highly contested. The former Chair of the RCRCC, Terry Nelson, who had held the Chair position of the RCRCC for over 13 years, lost his position as Chair in October 2023. Nelson is now Secretary of the MTGOP, being elected at the illegal convention, yet, Nelson seems to be seeking to regain his position as Chair of the RCRCC. Evidence shows that Mr. Nelson and his loyalists, recruited candidates to seek election to the RCRCC throughout the county. Most all of these candidates submitted their candidacy on the last allowable filing date. Evidence also shows that loyalty to Mr. Nelson, and his agenda, was a primary qualification to earn the endorsement and support of Mr. Nelson.
Rather than any allegiance to Republican principles or the Montana Republican Party Platform. That evidence was confirmed at the most recent RCRCC meeting held July 2nd, where all precinct representatives were given the oath-of-office. It is an established policy of the RCRCC that allegiance to the State Republican Platform be confirmed by ALL Republican precinct representatives at the swearing in ceremony for obvious reasons.
At this July 2nd meeting, the newly elected, and a number of incumbent representatives refused to take the offered oath-of-office. They instead had gone to the County building to have their oath-of- office administered there. They did this to avoid offering their allegiance to the Montana Republican Party Platform.
It is the primary goal and purpose of Truth Be Told News to provide readers with the Truth, substantiated by facts.
Following is a listing of those representatives who refused to proclaim their allegiance to the Montana Republican Party platform, and the precincts they represent, They Are; Precinct 2: Ron Stoker, Precinct 3: Joede & Ginger Vanek, Precinct 4: Judy Haefner & Howard Lyons, Precinct 6: Sean Ashby & Shannon Urso, Precinct 7: Laurie Burnham, Precinct 9: Richard & Patty Franklin, Precinct 10: Rich Hulse, Precinct 14: Wayne & Carrie Rusk, Precinct 19: Tony Hudson, Precinct 21: Steve Gibson & Sue McCreary, Precinct 22: Steve & Melva Neal, Precinct 23: Matt & Theresa Pendergast, Precinct 24: Ryan Roth,
These individuals registered and ran as “Republicans” to represent you at your Precinct as Republicans, yet, have taken extraordinary efforts to avoid proclaiming allegiance to the Montana Republican Party Platform. In the business world this would be grounds for an investigation of fraud. Unfortunately, there are no such laws governing politics, yet this does leave one to wonder what party’s platform do these folks represent? It would be negligent not to mention that these individuals are the ones that can be heard calling for “UNITY” in the Republican party. Exactly WHAT do they think the party should “unify” around? Obviously not the party platform they so vehemently oppose.
You are encouraged to let them know what YOU think! After all, they are YOUR representatives although according to bad law in Montana, the precinct representative positions are the only recall-proof position in our entire system of government. MCA 13-38-205(5) should be repealed.
Two critical issues exist within our political system in Montana. First, of course, the open primary system that allows anyone to register for any party they believe will help them win, and second, having the “State” involved in the administration of private political parties, as they have been declared by SCOTUS. Imagine having the same state involvement in the Elks, the Eagles, the VFW, the 4-H or any other private organization. To have “the state” mandating how their representatives and leadership are elected is as bizarre as it sounds. It’s only accepted in politics because now it’s “the norm”.
Remember; The only way the government gains power is by taking yours.
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