A summary of tonight’s 10th District meeting:
The 10th district committee voted again to remove former Delegate Mark Berg from the Republican party and as the Chairman of the Frederick County Republican Committee. Nine others have also been booted from the party for supporting another candidate in the last election.
Clarke County Chairman Matt Leeds moved to establish a new FCRC without those 10 who have been charged violations of the Republican Party plan, Article One, supporting a candidate against a Republican candidate. Dr. Berg pointed out that none of the people charged violations of the Party Plan have been convicted of anything and none of them have had their due process. Delegate Berg suggested the committee hear the appeals from the 10 people expelled from the party. Secretary Gerry Gunn said there is no due process under the First Amendment because the Republican party is a private organization. Berg argued that no official committee has heard this case. Chairwoman Jo Thoburn argued that the credentials committees at the 10th district convention and at the state convention have the power to expel people from the party and both of those committees have already expelled the 10.
Delegate Mark Berg said one member cannot bring charges to remove the 10 people without it coming before the committee. Berg and the others have asked for a committee to hear the appeal. The Party Plan says the committee must have a vote and 2/3 of the committee votes are necessary to boot a member from the Republican party. Berg says Article One of the Party Plan doesn’t say a member can’t have due process.
Chairman Thorburn and Gerry Gunn argue that 10th district convention and the state conventions credentials committees have ruled against Berg and the others. All agree except for Berg.
With no vote on the appeal, Matt Leeds again reads his motion to appoint a new Frederick County committee minus those ten who are part of the appeal for re-instatement in the party. The motion passes with all voting yes except Delegate Berg. The Frederic county Vice Chair, Rose Foust, will take over the committee, until they have another election for Chairman.
Delegate Berg asked for a vote on the appeal. Secretary Gunn says he’s no longer a member of the committee so he can’t propose a vote on the appeal. Thoburn calls for a motion that says they have already voted on their response to the the appeal. Mark Berg is the only dissenting vote. The committee knocks Berg off the FRCR committee and appoints the Rose Foust as the Chairman of Frederick County Republican Committee.
In other news in the 10th district they moved for nominations for committee positions, with these results.
Andrew Nicholson was voted Vice Chair by acclamation.
Ben Bush was voted Secretary by acclamation.
George Croft voted Treasurer by acclamation.
Once again Barbara Comstock has said no fundraiser in the 10th district this year but she graciously agreed the 10th district could combine a fundraiser with her victory party in November.
The next step for Delegate Berg and the others who have been expelled from the party will be an appeal to the State Central Committee.
