Political year in review

Another April Fool’s Day has passed since Pat and I decided to throw our hats in the ring for the positions of Plains Precinct Committeeman and Committeewoman for the Republican Party and we’ve certainly met many good people and a few fools along the way.

We were naïve thinking that two individuals could have an impact on local politics.  We thought we could provide some education through writing articles for the newspaper, telling about the roles of precinct people, answering the questions we received about such things as why the county Republicans and Democrats were planning to jointly conduct forums; offering information about candidates and our assistance in their campaigns.

We naively thought our intentions and energy would be welcomed by the local Party.  We were sadly mistaken.  Instead, in June between the Primary and our first meeting as elected officials, it was related to us the county chair had boasted at the State Convention that he had three new ones who would be shown the door if they didn’t toe the line.  At that first central committee meeting, we got a dismissive head toss in our direction indicating the three new ones.  No welcome, no explanation of duties, no hand shake; nothing but disdain.

We faithfully attended meetings, sat observantly, and studied the bylaws of the Montana State GOP and the Sanders County GOP, waiting for some opportunity for meaningful participation.  On our own, we decided to host a meeting of the precinct people and the GOP candidates to assess ways to assist them in their campaigns.  While we thought it was a good meeting, our follow-up offers to assist were declined.

One newspaper article certainly hit a nerve and the meeting that followed was the one where the chair declared himself to be The Dictator and that no one would speak without his permission.  Who would have the everlasting audacity and perversity to say such a thing and mean it?  What followed was the reading of his response to our last article.  At the end of his nine or ten minute rebuttal, he did indeed deny the opportunity to respond; his State Committeeman even reiterating, “He said he was the dictator!”  We were appalled that people could sit there and not show disgust with this behavior – we walked out.

That meeting happened in late September.  An agenda was sent out via email that included the notation:  Sanders County Attorney.

The county attorney, who was also the SCRCC treasurer at the time, made a statement to the effect that as the county elections were now going to be non-partisan there was no longer a need for a central committee and therefore the committee should disband; this expanded to no longer needing a Republican Party in the county.  Most could tell it was an issue that had been decided previously. There were people present to vote, or who had proxies arranged, had never even attended a meeting prior to that night or participated in a single vote! 

Who were these people who thought they could so easily dismiss and disenfranchise the Republicans, and all the Independents who vote Republican, in this county?  Why would so many collude to this deal?  Why was it accomplished so secretly that five precinct people and one elected Republican official had no idea this was going to happen until the attorney/treasurer opened his mouth?  Why did seven precinct people vote to disband?  Why did ten Republicans, either publicly elected, or as officers of the SCRCC, do this?

Well, it has come to light what the motivation was and we have the evidence to share at our County Convention on April 9th.  We faithful precinct people and a number of other good people have been working diligently to reconstitute the SCRCC in a manner far improved from the former SCRCC.

We have arranged for excellent speakers to attend the convention, including Public Service Commission Chairman, Bill Gallagher who has long had ties to this county as a former school teacher in Plains and has many friends here.  Steve Daines, who is running for Congress, and Ken Miller, who is running for governor, will also have a chance to address attendees.  Two representatives from the State Republican Party will also be in attendance to help conduct the first portion of the convention which is to elect a chairman for the SCRCC. 

Everyone is invited to attend.   Plains Grange, noon, April 9th; there will be refreshments and door prizes, too.