For several weeks now, the RPV website has had an item in an obscure corner delicately labeled “Frederick County Contest”. The author of this political fantasy is a Frederick County prosecutor trying to persecute (yes that is spelled correctly) the honest Republicans who threw the rascals out at the Mass Meeting of March 8, 2016. The faction that was voted down tried to pretend that the Frederick County Republican Committee no longer exists (since it had fallen into the unwashed hands of the grassroots workers).
The bylaws of the FCRC require that an appeal be directed to and disposed of by the unit committee. Since the rascals knew the joyful serfs would not forgive their tricks at the Mass Meeting, they went venue shopping and found kindred spirits in the 10th District Committee, who dutifully forwarded the illegal “appeal” to the State Central Committee where the brief filed by the losers has been on display on the SCC page of the RPV website.
Meanwhile the reconstituted FCRC has been having a revival with — can you imagine it — nominations and votes replacing secret appointments. Chairman Berg understands the importance of details and encourages the enthusiasm of our members. Still our point of view seems locked out of the RPV website. Ten days ago we sent FCRC resolutions and positions and after numerous phone calls they are still not available on the SCC page.
The RPV Chairman promised some action but, as of yesterday, still no balance. At the Mass Meeting, the other side tried to run out the clock (and brought in the Sheriff’s Deputies to try to prevent the final vote). Is there a similar strategy toward the “trial” scheduled for tomorrow? I have read the posted “brief.” I was a member of the new credentials committee for the Mass Meeting. We made a point of accepting the FCRC member and convention lists that had been prepared by the outgoing leadership, only ADDING names, and this augmented report was approved by the Mass Meeting.
Attached you will find several documents submitted to but unpublished by the RPV. Note that state and county officials are attending FCRC meetings and addressing the newly freed Republican worker bees. Any effort to smear the hard-working Republicans of Frederick will fail — if any question is left, it concerns the integrity of the SCC and ultimately of the RPV leadership.
April 29, 2016 Via Personal Appearance and Testimony Before the Republican Party of Virginia—State Central John Whitbeck
Chairman
Republican Party of Virginia
115 East Grace Street
Richmond VA 23219
RE: FCRC Statement in Reply to “Appeal” filed by Andrew Robbins
Dear Chairman Whitbeck and Ladies and Gentlemen of the RPV State Central Committee,
I am Dutch Jennings, Treasurer of the Frederick County Republican Committee (FCRC), and I am here officially representing the interests of the FCRC in these proceedings per a unanimous vote of the FCRC quorum in attendance at the April 19th, 2016 meeting. We, the undersigned majority of the Executive Committee of the FCRC, appreciate your careful consideration of this matter.
- FCRC Positions
We respectfully request that you consider the following official positions of the FCRC:
It is the position of the FCRC, as previously expressed verbally, that any “appeal” filed with the 10th District or the SCC was not submitted in a manner as prescribed by FCRC bylaws; specifically that it should have first been presented to the FCRC for disposition. Accordingly, the SCC should return any “appeal” received to the FCRC for proper consideration in accordance with FCRC bylaws.
No such “appeal” having been decided, the duly elected representatives of the Frederick County Republican Committee are properly constituted. (Attached please see the minutes of the March 29th FCRC meeting at which we were elected.) FCRC bylaws state that the only means of removing any officer or member is by 3/5 vote of the committee, and then only after meeting certain other conditions. This has not been done or even attempted. Accordingly, all officers authorized by FCRC bylaws have properly begun serving our respective terms. Mr. Robbins’ contention that the FCRC is defunct as a functioning unit is meritless and in no way reflects the actual facts of the situation.
It is furthermore the position of the FCRC Executive Committee that the results of the Mass Meeting and of subsequent duly conducted FCRC business stand. The foregoing is supported by an audio recording of the Mass Meeting provided to SCC member Steven Albertson by the FCRC on April 27th, 2016, approved minutes of the FCRC Mass Meeting, minutes of two duly-held subsequent FCRC meetings, a duly-passed resolution of the FCRC dated April 19th, 2016, and a letter from the FCRC to the RPV Chairman dated April 19th, 2016.
At the April 19th, 2016 FCRC meeting, officers were elected to chair the various other sub-committees in accordance with the FCRC bylaws. The FCRC also received a Treasurer’s Report dated April 19th, 2016, a copy of which has been provided to the RPV SCC. It is the position of the FCRC that the sub-committee chairs also have been duly elected, and accordingly have immediately begun serving their respective terms. A draft of the April 19th, 2016 minutes have been provided to the RPV SCC, and an approved and signed version will be provided following the next FCRC meeting.
- FCRC Requests
The above FCRC Positions notwithstanding, since the SCC has proceeded with what it considers to be an “appeal” hearing, then the FCRC has voted to take appropriate measure to see its legitimate interests are represented. We again respectfully request your cooperation in fulfilling the following requests:
The RPV still has not provided copies of all documents and evidence of any description, as requested in the FCRC letter to Chairman John Whitbeck dated April 19th, 2016. We repeat that request at this time.
FCRC documentation and evidence supporting its positions in this matter have not been posted to the FCRC website along with Mr. Robbins’ “appeal” filing, despite a written request by the FCRC to the RPV Chairman in a letter dated April 19th, 2016; and a subsequent commitment from RPV Chairman John Whitbeck to do so prior to today’s proceedings. We again repeat that request.
The FCRC again requests that a copy of any transcripts or electronic records of this proceeding be made immediately available to the FCRC free of charge.
If the “appeal” is found in favor of us, the FCRC, we request to be notified if the SCC will then order the immediate release and transfer of any and all FCRC records, statements, and property, including but not limited to all money, checks, and bank accounts. We request that in that event, this transfer be ordered to be made to the undersigned by the previous office holders within three business days of the decision.
In the interest of transparency, the FCRC again requests that all records and decisions by the SCC be provided to the FCRC directly and to the public on the RPV website. We request that this disclosure include the full written or verbal text of the appeal decision, the rationale and justification for the decision, the names of those casting votes in this matter, and how they voted. We request that this disclosure clearly state the SCC decision on who is bound by the decision, why, and for how long.
- FCRC Impact Statement
In closing, we wish to draw to the SCC’s attention the extent to which these protracted matters have been disruptive of FCRC planning and execution of vital election year business in support of our Republican candidates. Only six months remain until the general election, with vital state and national interests at stake. This is really not the time for internal strife that robs us of vital time and resources needed to complete our mission as a robust functioning unit.
Our insistence on all evidence being made a matter of public record is premised on our belief that verifiable documentation is essential to pursuing the right course of action based on indisputable facts. Some of us are aware of a belief among many within the RPV that public documentation of internal disputes makes the Republican Party look bad. While we understand a general need for discretion in conducting some party business, an over-zealous attempt to conceal pertinent information—whether from an attempt to shield individuals from personal embarrassment, or from an effort to keep the internal workings of a private organization out of the public eye—will only hamper the ability of reasonable people to get on the same page and proceed along a clearly-indicated course of action. It should be noted that many in the newly-reconstituted FCRC, as well as two members of our Executive Committee, have become engaged in local politics quite recently—some as a result of the March Mass Meeting—and do not have access to much information regarding prior disputes. That many facts relating to such prior disputes are not a matter of public record or otherwise readily available is a detriment to our ability to function effectively as members of the local Republican Party who only wish to move forward with the business of getting good people elected to public office.
Any decision to intervene in our unit, at least beyond the minimal extent that might be judged by you to be absolutely necessary to rectify an isolated issue, will in all likelihood set us back 2-3 months and prevent us from being very effective at all this election cycle. If Frederick County has a poor turnout for Republicans in November, or contributes to Virginia going blue, then many present in this proceeding will likely be wishing other more practical considerations had prevailed in the resolution of this matter. Besides, top-down dictates are more befitting the Democrat party way of operating and not core values of the Grand Old Party, the party of liberty and self-determination.
Perpetuating past division is not the answer to any of the challenges facing us as Frederick County Republicans. Let us work diligently to find the best ways to cooperatively work together for our Republican candidates and victory in the fall.
Thank you sincerely for your prompt attention to these matters.
FCRC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Rose Focht, Vice Chairman ______//E-signed //__________
Charolette Eriksson, Secretary ______//E-signed //__________
D.P. “Dutch” Jennings, Treasurer ________DPJennings____________
Enclosures:*
FCRC Mass Meeting Minutes of March 8th, 2016 (approved)
FCRC Membership Meeting Minutes of March 29th, 2016 (approved)
FCRC Membership Meeting Minutes of April 19th, 2016 (draft)
FCRC Treasurer’s Report of April 19th, 2016 (approved)
FCRC Resolution passed April 19th, 2016 (approved unanimously)
FCRC Letter to RPV Chairman dated April 19th, 2016 (approved unanimously)
*These documents were provided to the RPV SCC in advance and are otherwise available upon request.
Attestation:
Due to logistical considerations, the above E-signatures were personally authorized by Mrs. Focht and Mrs. Eriksson, and the foregoing letter was approved by the majority of the FCRC Executive Committee for submission to the RPV SCC in this matter in advance of the scheduled hearing.
Signed: DPJennings
D. P. ‘Dutch’ Jennings, Treasurer and Executive Committee Member
