We previously wrote about the Fifth Republican Congressional District’s vote of no confidence in RPV Chair Jack Wilson here.
Today the chairman responded in a letter to members of the State Central Committee:
“Dear State Central Committee Member,
I have been active in the Republican Party for over 25 years, first as a volunteer, then as a Unit Chair, and later as a District Chair, before being elected State Chairman last summer. When I stepped forward to run for State Chair, I knew the thick skin I had developed would be needed, and that it would even occasionally be needed because of fellow Republicans.
Earlier this week you received a resolution from the 5th Congressional District Committee regarding the 97th House of Delegates District nomination process. I feel compelled to respond. I do so not because of personal offense, but because attacks on me are being used to spread distorted information and divide our party internally.
It is often said that “everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.” Unfortunately, the primary author of the resolution (who I understand was another State Central Committee member from the 5th) distorted the facts in the resolution and omitted key facts that ran counter to the narrative he wanted to create. I am sure that there will be an appeal or appeals to the State Central Committee regarding the 97th HD nomination. At that time all the facts, not just the distorted ones in the resolution, will be shared. Because of that I will not address the inaccuracies here. However, it is important that you know that I, as Chairman, as well as the RPV staff, have taken no actions or made any statements in the 97th HD nomination process to advance or hinder a particular candidate. They have all been done to honor and enforce our Party Plan as written as well as in accordance with General Counsel opinions and advice. As Chairman, that is my responsibility. We can’t just decide to ignore the Party Plan when it suits our particular purposes to do so. If that becomes the norm we don’t have a party, we have anarchy.
I also want to address a matter of common decency and fairness. At no time prior to its adoption by the 5th District was I formally provided a draft of the resolution by either the 5th District Chairman or any member of the State Central Committee from the 5th District. When I learned informally that a resolution was to be considered I reached out to the Chairman of the 5th District and advised him that if such a resolution were to be considered I would want to attend. He suggested instead that I send a letter outlining my position. Thereafter the Executive Committee of the State Central Committee met to discuss the 97th HD process. After that meeting I personally advised the 5th District Chair that in light of the motion adopted by the Executive Committee I would not be able to speak to any resolution. I further said that it would be patently unfair for such a resolution to be considered when I could not respond. He agreed and assured me that he would take care of it. I guess I misunderstood what he meant since not only did the resolution get presented, it passed. That is not due process and if we are not going to act with common respect and decency we will not be able to unite in the core cause of defeating Democrats and electing Republicans.
We all have work to do together. We must stand united in support of our Republicans in the General Assembly as they fight back against the proposed gun grab by the Governor. And after that we must work together to ensure that we re-elect majorities in the House of Delegates and the State Senate. Continued internal bickering will significantly hinder those goals.
Thank you for all the hard work you are doing.
Jack Wilson
Chairman, Republican Party of Virginia”
