To: Jack R. Wilson, Republican Party of Virginia, 115 E. Grace Street, Richmond, VA 23219
Dear Mr. Wilson,
As we approach June and the high season of campaigns and elections in Virginia, we are both concerned that the Republican Party of Virginia and our election processes have been sidelined by the Governor’s economic shutdown that claims unprecedented authority of dubious Constitutional validity.
The last pronouncement from RPV—months ago—was that our state convention may take place in Richmond on June 26-27, 2020. We have now reached a place and time where it is no longer possible to honor this date—and no longer prudent to further delay our decision on venue and timing.
Although we are both competitors for election as RPV Chairman, we are taking the unusual but essential step of issuing this joint letter to convey our deep concerns and those we have heard from hundreds of Republicans in our travels and conversations across Virginia over the last three months. Without question, the current indecisiveness has had an adverse impact on our party and our members.
We are also concerned about emerging perceptions across Virginia that party leaders desire to push RPV elections to the end of the year or beyond—and to jettison the traditional in-person convention in favor of an unconventional method that divides and further erodes the trust and confidence of Virginia Republicans. A traditional in-person convention in July that elects party officials by majority vote is crucial to building and motivating a unified and energetic team that works to reelect President Trump and elect Republicans to the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.
We were informed today by third parties that you have appointed a committee to plan for how our party will meet and elect candidates to RPV positions of leadership. Their report is due to you on June 20th for possible SCC action on June 27th, a task that should have been completed two months ago. Although you have recused yourself from the process, you—not SCC—made the appointment of committee members; therefore, the appearance of a conflict of interest remains and a perception persists that the process is flawed from the outset.
We therefore ask that we and the candidates for RNC National Committeeman and Committeewoman (or designees) be included as observers in any in-person or online meetings and discussions about the way forward for our convention. This is an important step to ensuring transparency, trust, and confidence from all sides throughout the process. It is vital that the next RPV Chairman be elected in a timely fashion by a majority vote and in a process that is indisputably fair, ensures the chairman’s legitimacy, and moves our party forward with all deliberate speed in restoring itself and winning again.
Sincerely,
Michael H. Schoelwer, Candidate for Chair Republican Party of Virginia
Richard L. Anderson, Candidate for Chair Republican Party of Virginia