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State Central Committee Votes to Approve Amendments
During today’s State Central Committee meeting, there was strong support for the primary election with 48-26 members supporting the measure. The meeting was contentious at times.
The State Central Committee also voted against both filing fee measures. One measure was a $50 convention delegate filing fee, and the other was a minimum $25,000 candidate filing fee.
Laying out the case: Primaries vs. Conventions
Recently, a debate has ensued to argue the best process to select candidates statewide here in Virginia. Today, the State Central Committee will be meeting at the Advance to discuss the best method for nominating a candidate. Will that method be a primary or a convention?
Granted there are many arguments for and against both nomination methods. There are those who would prefer a primary, because it makes the process run much more efficiently. On the other hand, there are those who would prefer a convention. The reasons include: the fact that it allows camaraderie with other fellow Republicans and allowing more time to hear from the candidates. While I appreciate the viewpoints of both, I am all in favor of the primary as the chief form of nominating a candidate.
My reasons are simple, as I grew up in a state that had closed (note the closed portion) primaries and registration by party. The process was very efficient, and we often had more unity when it came time at the General since everyone worked to get that candidate elected. Granted, there is always some form of drama that accompanied any spirited political race, but this system worked well. Now, I understand that the primary system in Virginia is an open primary that may or may not have a loyalty oath to sign, but this would be much more efficient than finding a central location and elaborate costs to hold a nominating convention.
Typically, primaries are classified as the following: closed (voting by party only) and blanket/open (any party can vote for either party). A primary can be beneficial, as it allows candidates to focus more on the issues. I would favor the closed primary system, as to prevent the Democrats for voting in the election.
With a closed primary, party registration is going to become a necessity. Normally, this is another sore spot for many in the Commonwealth, along with the doubts that the General Assembly would consider such a thing, but we are in the 21st Century now. With the growing population in the Commonwealth, there has never been a better time to consider such a measure. Granted, there will be added costs for party registration and create additional strain on each county/city Board of Elections office.
While the primaries have some negatives in terms of the costs incurred through election poll workers and machine rentals, this would add to the appeals of conventions. Conventions are great for bringing the party together to select a statewide candidate. Not only do they bring people from across the Commonwealth together to nominate a candidate, they also provide a social aspect as well. They allow for networking and a great camaraderie amongst fellow Republicans.
However, while this is great, there are more costs to a convention. First, the location of the convention is costly with the travel costs to the activists hoping to support their candidates. It is also costly to the party, especially since they have to rent out a large facility to hold everyone and find a location central for everyone to travel.
While some will argue that the primary only helped one candidate (Former U.S. Senator John Warner) win statewide office, this does not mean that primaries will not work in the future. I also realize that many might disagree with my viewpoints. It is time for a change, and this change may do our party good in the future.
Robert Hurt at the RPV Advance Luncheon
After being introduced by 5th District Chairman, Bill Stanley, Congressman-elect Robert Hurt spoke to the audience at the Republican Party of Virginia Advance Luncheon. Hurt thanked everyone for their support. Hurt began his speech saying that his fellow Freshmen in Congress also are thankful…that he picked 85 out of 85 in the office lottery yesterday.
Hurt mentioned that we must continue to push for accountability and transparency in Congress. Hurt also mentioned that this past election was a very costly election, but he mentioned that it would be those who worked hard on the grassroots front that produced victory during this election cycle.
During the campaign, Hurt said he learned a lot as he traveled to meet with residents in the 22 counties and cities that comprise the 5th District. Hurt mentioned that there was a lot of anger with the excessive government spending at the federal level. Hurt said that there is a need for fewer regulations and lower taxes. Hurt mentioned that common sense legislation is needed now more than ever in Washington.
Cross posted at Bearing Drift
Bill Bolling at the RPV Advance Luncheon
Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling was one of the featured keynote speakers during the Republican Party of Virginia Advance luncheon. In a speech that focused on the victories and the challenges ahead, Bolling gave an overall motivational talk about the direction of our party. Bolling discussed the improvements in the Commonwealth when it comes down to job creation and economic growth that has happened over the course of the past year. Citing Former Governor Tim Kaine’s lack of leadership as Governor, Bolling mentioned that the Republicans have turned around Richmond. Bolling also mentioned that we have turned a $6 million shortfall into a $400 billion surplus. Bolling also mentioned the success of government reform with the recent VDOT audit and that they found $1.5 billion for highway maintenance needs.
During the luncheon, Bolling applauded Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli for holding Washington accountable with the recent lawsuits against President Obama’s health care plan.
Bolling also mentioned the successes of the recent Congressional victories. Bolling also cautioned Republicans that Virginia is not a red state and that this election was a referendum on the Obama/Pelosi policies. Bolling said, “We need to stand strong for conservative principles. We need to take those conservative principles and values, and present them to businesses and families. We need to be focused on solving problems consistent with our conservative values. We have to reach out to the changing face of Virginia and grow our party.”
Cross posted at Bearing Drift
Tim Kaine Responds to the RPV FOIA Request
Tim Kaine released his response to the FOIA request filed by the Republican Party of Virginia regarding his travel records. You can view the response here.
Basically, the requested answers remain unanswered. Go figure!
Jeff Frederick Not to Run for RPV Chairman
Yesterday, Jeff Frederick sent out a letter to supporters saying that he will not challenge Pat Mullins for the Republican Party of Virginia Chairmanship. Below is the letter that Frederick sent out to supporters:
Dear Friends:
Over the past four weeks, Amy and I have had the opportunity to take a step back, reflect, and pray about our next course. It’s been a refreshing and exciting period as we consider incredible opportunities before us.
It has also been an encouraging time, and I can’t possibly put into words how thankful we are for the literally hundreds of people who have written me with their expressions of support and their confidence in our efforts to bring principled, grassroots leadership back to the Republican Party of Virginia. Your prayers have strengthened us, and given us comfort and peace.
Many of you from every corner of Virginia have urged that I seek the Chairmanship again, and I strongly believe that if I were to seek it at the state convention later this month, my prospects for victory are strong.
Unfortunately, I do not believe the same is true for our party’s prospects this year.
As you have likely heard, Amy has decided not to run for the House of Delegates. Her decision makes the task of keeping the 52nd District seat in Republican hands much more challenging, potentially making it the first casualty of the State Central Committee’s April 4 vote.
But that April 4 vote will likely have other consequences.
Those in our party who make the phone calls, put up the yard signs, canvass neighborhoods, and write small checks won’t soon forget how they expended time and resources to attend a convention last year to only have a small group of party insiders overturn the will of thousands as expressed in a fair and free election.
The events surrounding my removal were just the latest in a long succession of efforts by the SCC to ensure that they – and not the party’s base – were paramount in determining the direction of the Virginia GOP.
What some fail to realize is that the problems within our party have little or nothing to do with me. I was simply a rally call for those that have felt and feel disenfranchised as conservatives within the Republican Party. The action of the SCC on April 4 only reinforced that view and sentiment.
Grassroots conservatives are in the fight due to a commitment to their ideas and values – not because of any personality – mine or anyone else’s. Those on the SCC may have won this most recent battle, but regrettably, they fail to recognize that they are losing us the war. Winning elections is a game of addition not subtraction, yet our state party is turning away good people every day. You can’t rebuild a majority that way.
I was elected to change things, but those that are the guardians of the status quo strenuously resisted the changes I attempted to bring. They are intent on returning the party to the course it was on prior to my election, confident in the mistaken belief that doing the same thing over and over again will somehow produce a different result.
You would think that – given the number of chairman the Party has had in so few years – these “leaders” would figure out that maybe, just maybe, the party’s decline might have something to do with their own misguided priorities and poor judgments. It is inconceivable that they neglect to realize just how obsolete their approach is, particularly given that they are the very same people who have presided over loss after loss for our party.
The SCC’s actions taken in the last few months in particular have made a challenging course for our nominees even more treacherous. For example, the choice of our next Chairman should be put in the hands of the convention delegates. But once again, the grassroots of our party have been removed from the process by those at the top, putting such a decision in the hands of an elite few.It is that kind of top-down approach that resulted in our party’s greatest contraction, and it is the top-down approach that our activist and volunteer base resoundingly rejected at last year’s convention. Yet, reclaiming the chairmanship without replacing the entrenched party “leadership” would likely result in failure – and putting the energy and sacrifice I did into being Chairman isn’t worth a futile effort.
Therefore, today I announce that I will not be a candidate for Chairman at this year’s state convention.
My mission as Chairman was to advance our beliefs, articulate our vision, and win elections. A party firmly in the hands of the grassroots can accomplish this. A party controlled by a few insiders cannot. It is just that simple. Sadly, I don’t see that changing any time soon.
However, I recognize that I was not the perfect chairman. I made my share of mistakes. But, I also faced a small yet vocal and influential group who were determined to see me fail and committed to my removal from the day of my election. The opposition I encountered as I worked to change our party from the top-down organization it had become to a grassroots party rooted in principles rather than power was not surprising. Most of those at the top had strongly opposed my candidacy for chairman, as I made clear my intention to depart from the status quo approach that had failed us so profoundly during this decade. What was surprising is how determined these people were to revenge their loss at last year’s convention, putting that task above all others, including the task of electing Republicans, which is the primary reason our party organizations exist.
I’ve also learned quite a bit as a result of my experience as a chief partisan – among the lessons: it turns out I’m not that great of one. In my time running for and in public office, I have had to be the non-partisan, mostly because of the composure of my district. But I’ve realized that being a “conservative” is much more in my nature than being a “Republican”, and some of my missteps (particularly in the press) highlight my discomfort in campaigning for party versus ideas.
Many people have suggested to me that the “party comes first.” I strongly disagree. I’m not loyal to a party label, but rather to what that label is supposed to represent. It is the principles and values I am committed to, not politics.
As for my replacement, I would encourage you to oppose the anointed choice of the SCC. Remember, these are the same people who have led the compromising of our core principles and have overseen defeat year after year. If the Republican Party here in Virginia is once again to become a majority party, they are hardly the ones to be in a position to know what it will take to get us there. Nothing personal against the person they have selected, but that endorsement should be a signal to the grassroots of who not to support.
I am thoroughly confident that a true grassroots candidate – not one hand-picked by the same insiders who removed me four weeks ago – will emerge to pick up where we left off. Such a candidate will put principle before politics, champion our conservative beliefs, and honor the will and the efforts of our grassroots members.
To all of you who have stood by Amy and me, both when it was easy and during those more difficult times, we are grateful. Thank you. You have been a blessing to us, and you can count on us to be friends for life. We hope you will keep in touch, and we will make an effort to do the same. Also, please don’t ever hesitate to let me know how I can repay even just a small measure of the abundant support you have shown us.
Having not been in this particular position in our lives for 8 years, Amy and I are happy to be taking a break from public and partisan office. But rest assured, God willing, it won’t be a long sabbatical.
We have been humbled and inspired by the people we’ve met and the commitment we’ve witnessed by so many to preserve and protect the Virginia we love. Keep the faith.
God Bless,
Jeff Frederick
The Aftermath: Where does the RPV go from here?
With yesterday’s vote by the State Central Committee to get rid of Jeff Frederick as Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, we are now left with a temporary Chairman, Michael Thomas, and a sharp divide between the grassroots and the party leadership. Right now, this is not looking good for our party for the upcoming elections statewide, and there is no doubt that the Democrats will be taking advantage of this situation.
So now, the Republicans in Virginia are looking around at the aftermath of yesterday asking: where does the RPV go from here? Do some sit at home and punish our candidates because the vote did not go the way as some would have liked, or do we try to find some reason to unify and work hard for our candidates to ensure victory in November? I would hope that many pick the latter.
Look, I learned a valuable lesson from 2008, when I (like many) stood against John McCain’s selection by the Republican Party to be the Presidential nominee. I did not want to be active in this race. In fact, I threatened to sit home and not work on behalf of the ticket. However, it took a talk with a good friend, who I worked with in 2006 and 2007 on several successful (and some not so successful) campaigns, to realize that it was wrong not to help the party. Maybe, I was placing my own principles on the table for the sake of the party, or it could be something that Ronald Reagan once said, “I may not agree with someone 20% of the time, but if I do agree with someone 80% of the time, then they are not my enemy.” I did some grassroots work on behalf of McCain by phone banking, and even though, we were not victorious. The lesson I learned was that you need to view it in the Reagan perspective, but then advocate on behalf of principle.
I intend to work hard for all three of the candidates, even if the State Central vote did not go the way that many grassroots activists within the party wanted it to go yesterday. I would hope that many of those who were against the Frederick removal would work with the party leadership to develop with educating our candidates on how to stand on our core principles of limited government, lower taxes, and standing on behalf of life, liberty, and property. Together, we can do much if we work together, rather than sitting at home and pouting over past events. There is no doubt that many might disagree with my perspective and thoughts on this situation, and there might be some who agree with my thoughts. Right now, we are in a critical state as a party both on the state and national levels, and we all need to work on strengthening our core principles and embracing them to win races in the future.
**Cross Posted at Virginia News Platoon
Breaking News: Jeff Frederick Ousted as RPV Chairman
Today, the State Central Committee voted to remove Jeff Frederick as Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia. The final vote was 57-18. This saga is far from over…
Bearing Drift has great coverage live from the event.
Breaking News Regarding State GOP Chair
Last night, the 11th Congressional District Republican Committee met to discuss a resolution to call for Jeff Frederick’s resignation as Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia. The resolution failed to pass. Developing…
Poll: Do you think RPV Chairman Jeff Frederick Should Step Aside?
There has been a considerable amount of buzz within the blogosphere and mainstream media about whether or not Jeff Frederick should step aside as Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia. There has been some convincing arguments from both sides, but I feel that we cannot remain unified as a party or win races with such infighting. This is why I have decided to remain neutral in even reporting this material and have kept my opinions silent on this matter. The decision now lies in the hands of the State Central Committee, and they will ultimately vote on what will be in the best interest of the party.
I have decided to create a poll gauging whether or not Jeff Frederick should step aside as the Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia.
Personally, I supported Jeff Frederick at last year’s convention, because I felt that he would lead our party in the right direction. I am now left wondering how he will be able to lead our party after all of the accusations and be able to work with the State Central Committee to ensure victory in November for all of our statewide candidates and retain a strong majority in the House of Delegates. We need to be unified or we will continue to lose. While Jeff Frederick has defended his record and submitted his rebuttal to the accusations, I am uncertain if we can work together with this cloud of controversy.
Now, I am not calling for anyone to resign, rather it falls on the hands of the State Central Committee, who decide to ignore the grassroots and not allow for Frederick to redeem himself in the 2009 elections. While I am a grassroots activist, it will become difficult to lead effectively with everyone going against you. Sometimes, when there is dissension, it can bring out true leadership. This will be interesting to watch how this plays out, if Frederick remains as the RPV Chairman.
While we have lost some major races in 2008, most of this had to do with a bad candidate at the top of the ticket (John McCain) and just a referendum on the Republican party at the national level. While many would argue on the real reasons why Virgil Goode and Thelma Drake lost last November, I would say it was the general attitude that many Americans held about the Republicans in Congress. It is not necessarily Jeff Frederick’s fault.
Then, we move onto the recent special election races, where two Republican candidates won (John Cook in Fairfax’s Braddock District and Barry Knight in the 81st HOD race) and three Republican candidates lost (Joe Murray in the 47th House District, Pat Herrity, who ran for Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors seat, and John Coggeshall for the Norfolk’s Commonwealth Attorney). There were lots of reports that the RPV did not provide adequate assistance with these races, and the sole pressure was placed on the unit chairmen (many of them, with the exception of Alexandria signed this letter). I always thought these local races were supposed rely on the strong leadership of the unit chairmen.
We can not always call for someone to step aside when things go awry. This is when real teamwork becomes essential. Maybe, it is time for all Republicans to work together for the common revival of our core principles of being advocates for limited government, lower and fair taxation, and calling the Democrats on their flawed policies. Attacking each other from within accomplishes nothing, and this is a lesson I have learned from observation.
It’s time to unite for the good of the Republican party. The decision will made on April 4th on who will emerge victorious in this fight, and whatever the outcome, it is time to work together to ensure victory in November.
**Cross Posted at Virginia News Platoon
