After slating out more than 100 delegates in a Mass Meeting attended by Democrats and Republican opponents, is John “Slater” Ferguson changing his tune in his first public appearance?
John “Slater” Ferguson
Ferguson granted an in-studio interview, introducing himself as the new Republican Chairman in Campbell County. He attempted to address the accusations that have dogged him since the controversial Mass Meeting. The most serious accusation is his open invitation to Democrats to overthrow the Republican committee.
Before the Mass Meeting, Ferguson’s campaign literature, sent to traditionally Democrat strongholds, read:
You will be asked to sign a paper declaring your “intent” to vote Republican…. However, this pledge is absolutely nonbinding, and there are no candidates selected at this time.
(Emphasis added.)
After the Mass Meeting, however, Ferguson’s understanding of the loyalty oath’s significance has changed:
Brian Weigand (radio host): …was this election swung by people who were not actually Republicans?
John Ferguson: Well, *sigh* I, I can’t speak for, uh, [pause] I can’t speak for them. They, they were all Republicans. Bot-, bottom line is that the, uh, the leadership that was in charge of the Mass Meeting at the start had made, uh, everyone sign, um, a pledge saying that, that, they would support Republican candidates, and, uh, that, that, from this, that point on, that, they were Republicans, so, I mean, as far as I’m concerned, everyone in there was a Republican.
Before the Mass Meeting, John “Slater” Ferguson’s campaign literature repeatedly blasted the only Republicans on the County Board of Supervisors for being “extremist.” His flyer read, “Let there be no doubt, your children, grandchildren, and other loved ones will pay a price!”
Ferguson Campaign Literature – Click to Enlarge
Our Supervisors’ crime? Proposing to trim less than SEVEN TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT of the budget.
After the Mass Meeting, the other radio host, Mari White, read his campaign’s unfounded accusations, asking him if he really believed they were true. Ferguson avoided answering, merely calling for everyone to work for the “greater good of Campbell County.”
Ferguson: Well, *sigh* we, we, we definitely need candidates and, um, elected officials who, who, who’ve got a good understanding of all the issues. … So, what I, what I will do is work with, um, right, right now there’s, there’s, there’s three official members of, uh, Republican members on the Board of Supervisors. I will work with them, um, and I will work with my supporters, and um, m- matter of fact, the opp-, you know, my opposition’s supporters, so we’re all on the same page, and that’s working for the greater good of Campbell County.
Ferguson masterminded one of the most contentious and exclusionary Mass Meetings in the history of the Fifth District GOP. Now, after the Mass Meeting, Ferguson evidently considers himself a magnanimous unifier.
Weigand: Do you worry that there could be any sort of long-term schism in the party?
Ferguson: *deep breath, sigh* Well, I, it’s gotta start somewhere, you know, it, it, it takes, it takes someone, uh, being the big, the bigger person and stepping forward and saying hey, let’s work together, let’s put, put, put aside our differences. It’s gotta start somewhere.
During the Mass Meeting, Ferguson did not just remove many long-time committee members (including elected Republican officials) and eager participants. He also requested people to join and assume control of the local Republican unit whose public political involvement prior to the Mass Meeting was to REPEATEDLY, PUBLICLY OPPOSE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES *AND* SUPPORT, ENDORSE, AND CAMPAIGN FOR DEMOCRAT-ENDORSED CANDIDATES. This was an all-out attempt to eviscerate the historically conservative Republican base in Campbell.
Now, after the Mass Meeting, have conservative Republicans have become his most sought-after company?
Ferguson: Well, the, the main thing, that, the two main things we need to be focusing on and that I’m gonna focus on in the next two years is getting good local people involved, getting good, uh, conservative, uh, Campbell County Republicans involved in the party…
And, in response to an earlier question:
Um. Our, our, our main objective, uh, should be winning elections. And, and that, that means finding, uh, good conservative, uh, Republicans in Campbell County to run for office as, as well.
Who’s the REAL “Slater” Ferguson? Ask more than 100 loyal conservative Republicans he ruthlessly slated off the GOP committee and the state and district convention delegations, with the help of scores of Democrats – the first time in the history of Campbell County that slating ever occurred. His definitions of “conservative” and “unity” will come as a real surprise to them.
Sources:
Lynchburg Morning Show, Ferguson radio interview is available at: http://lynchburgsmorningshow.podomatic.com/entry/2014-03-28T07_52_43-07_00
Former Campbell County GOP chair Rick Boyer’s called-in response to the Ferguson interview is also available at: http://lynchburgsmorningshow.podomatic.com/entry/2014-03-31T02_47_01-07_00
21 comments
[…] too much to say about local races in NoVa, so I found a tidbit from Campbell County. It appears John “Slater” Ferguson, the former Republican, lost his bid to be on the Campbell County Board of Supervisors (sigh of […]
[…] readers will recall John “Slater” Ferguson, who helped engineer a takeover of the CCRC in March, 2014, by openly inviting Democrats to attend […]
[…] more background on the Campbell County slating and the subsequent appeals, look here and here and here, and here. Long story short: some Campbell residents were upset at the budget cutting and […]
The Campbell County Republicans Web Site is does not exist. After this meeting “one” of the Campbell County republican Facebook page stated that the party had been taken over by “elitist scum”.
Just what negative person posted this, Mr. Ferguson or the poor leadership in the opposing party that lost.
This story states that the party was taken over by Democrats.
Where is the proof that these people voted Democrat or were previously declared themselves as Democrats.
Didn’t Boyer lose ” enormously ” in a Campbell County Clerk election.
Maybe some ” true conservatives ” in our area do not like Boyer and the powers behind him.
To bad Boyer didn’t stand hand in hand with conservatives in Brookville supporting the “Consumption Tax” that would have funded these schools. He allowed this ” Consumption Tax ” to be on the 2012 General Election ticket.
Don’t Republicans preach of innovations in increasing revenue such as ” Consumption Tax “.
The true issue here is this area boast many home schoolers , they feel that they should not foot the bill of our fine ” conservative school ” . Our property taxes were increased because of lack of funding.
The ” consumption tax ” was the prior alternative.
Lets end this narrow minded leadership once and for all.
Campbell County Schools is 51% of our budget , lets give people like Boyer a 51% property tax credit
until their last residing child reaches the age of 18.
I bet Boyer does not know and has no concern how many conservative students come out of these schools and voluntarily enlist give up their freedoms to protect his , only to be called a Democrat , Liberal , or elitist scum.
Campbell County BOS has 3 individuals that come from the same educated environment as Boyer.
How come ” next door ” in Lynchburg , Va. they have taken prophylactic measures to stop licensed Building contractors from conspiring with unlicensed contractors / illegal aliens in the delivery of contracting services . { Statutes 54.1-1100 Prohibited Acts section } What kind of Lawyer is Boyer ?
Doesn’t he work at the Law office of another Republican State Senator ?
Election Results Governor 2013 Campbell County:
Republican K. Cuccinelli 70.5% = 11,129
Democrat T. McAuliffe 23.5% = 3709
Lib. R. Sarvis 6.0% = 939 We will let Boyer post the numbers from Brookville precinct .
This means that according to the claims of Democrats taking over the party is false.
What impeccable grammar this article has!
[…] http://thebullelephant.com/slater-ferguson/ […]
It just goes to show that the tea-party is not dead, because Mike Thomas and Eric Cantor are scared to death. To have to bring democrats to the meeting to over throw the folks who have been working together for years is a disaster, and it seems the corruption goes to the highest levels of power in the country. I hope all you readers are sharing this information with your family, because you are not going to read it in the Richmond Times Dispatch or see it on TV.
Not looking good. His days could be numbered…
I am relatively new to Campbell County, but not to the Virginia Republican Party, it was a very disappointing experience to attend the Campbell County GOP Mass Meeting. Having dutifully pre-filed and paid the necessary fees, I assumed I would have the opportunity to attend the conventions, and continue as a member of the unit committee. Imagine my surprise when my name was not included by the credentials committee. I am very disappointed that Mr. Ferguson proclaimed his Christian credentials, yet instead of “doing unto others as you have them do unto you,” he permitted his associates to “do unto others as you believe they have done to you.” Evidently, he and/or his associates felt they were offended in the past, and now they will do as they supposedly had been done to. I was not even a resident of Campbell County when they were offended, yet because I was not part of their “in crowd”, we were slated off. If the new chairman intends to create unity, so that we can continue to win elections for Conservative candidates, he has a huge chore ahead of him. He has offended a great many faithful, conservative hard working Republican activists.
The Hostile Democrat Takeover is currently being appealed. The disenfranchised 100-plus loyal Republicans from Campbell will pursue every possible appeal all the way to State Central Committee.
Every year for the past five, Campbell County’s Republicans have turned out either the highest or second-highest GOP percentage in the Fifth District for Robert Hurt, John McCain Mitt Romney and Ken Cuccinelli. We were the only county outside of far Southwest Virginia to top 70% of the vote for Cuccinelli, and we gave E.W. Jackson 67% and Obenshain 76%.
Yet RPV first vice-chair Mike Thomas made the trip to Campbell County to serve as parliamentarian and coach for the Hostile Democrat Takeover. If you know a member of RPV’s State Central Committee, please call him or her and ask that Mike Thomas be removed from office for this travesty. Disagreement within the party is one thing; consorting with Democrats to destroy one of the most effective GOP committees in the Commonwealth is unforgivable.
There is MUCH more evidence on just how bad this was, that will come out as the appeal goes forward. Please stay tuned; the “fat lady” hasn’t sung yet in Campbell County. She’s barely started warming up.
How come Campbell County Republicans are turning a blind eye to illegal aliens working as unlicensed building contractors ? You know these districts are republican if they cannot keep a clean house locally , how can an individual ” with reason ” support ANY candidates that Campbell County Republicans endorse ? Yea Yea I get it Obama stinks I am with you , but what do you have ? Privatization of Liquor C’mon man.
Poor Republican Leadership by you.
As one of the “slated”, I was amazed at the utter lack of engagement by John Ferguson. In reality, it appears that he was used by some to get their way, and he has no answers for the tough questions brought to him.
Even before the vote, he was asked to, for the sake of unity, propose on the floor that we keep all the proposed delegates. He refused.
It seems he, and those who supported him, only want unity if they are in charge. Of course, it is always easier to call for unity when you are the one who controls everything. Real unity, though, begins with real action. Leaders take the first step, not demand it from others.
Unity sounds nice, but like “hope and change” it can also be a mere slogan. Ferguson, it should be noted, is only using this as a slogan because he is in charge.
Now we are finding out that Slater Ferguson is a well-known life-long Democrat among his fellow employees where he works. So that is Mike Thomas’ guy. Go figure.
I pre-filed for the Campbell GOP committee, the 5th District Convention and the State Convention. I listened to John “Slaters” speech about “unifying our party,” and I’ve never heard more meaningless dribble. When the temporary chairman, Neil Vener, had the names read aloud to the committee, my husband realized that more than 100 of us had been excluded for no possible reason. No charges were offered. My husband stood up and offered a substitute motion to accept all lawful pre-filed folks. We were out voice voted according to the chairman. He needs to have his hearing checked. When someone in the audience asked him why we could not be a part of our local committee, he screamed that we would have deal with it and the best we would get is our money back. What exactly did Mr. “Slater” mean about unifying the party? I have personally been a part of putting at least 5 Republican candidates for office in the positions they currently hold on former GOP Campbell Committees.
You can still listen to the WIQO interview with “Slater.” He sounds like President Obama with a broken teleprompter. He did not seem to know how to answer questions without the “sweet nothings” being whispered in his ear from his ICCC friends.
Seems to me that truth flows easily out of ones mouth, but carefully choosing words to hide the truth require lots of stammering. This infiltration and takeover is simply unacceptable.
wow. just wow.
This turd Ferguson needs to never be anywhere near the levers of “republican” authority again. The RPV needs to take action against both Ferguson and Mike Thomas.
To not take action is to send a clear message that the RPV rules mean nothing, and that anarchy rules the day. Everything is acceptable at all costs? Ok, we operate under those guidelines as well.
Hello Shaun Kenney? How about sending a clear message from the RPV that it won’t tolerate rule-breaking? That is, if you can pull yourself away from meeting with extremist racist immigration radicals like La Raza. You know La Raza, which directly translated means “The Race”.
In this district we have a ” Christian University ” who’s motto is Training Champions for Christ.
Many graduates of this University work in these county schools , to our thanks I will add.
Many families of Campbell County Public Schools are attending the Church that conceived this University.
Some in the Campbell County Republican Party are hell bent on a sub – standard funding of these schools.
Therefore we have issues in Campbell County.
Mr . Eric Grane the Campbell Republican Party has been lacking in Leadership long before Deputy Ferguson.
We have All Republican Delegates and Senators down here .
Why are ALL these Republicans Complicit in Illegal Aliens violating Statutes 54.1-1100 and the Va. Employment Compensation Act ?
I wonder does Deputy Ferguson know how Republicans could have Administratively stopped this form of ” organized crime “.
Why did these Republican Representatives produced a Budget for Democrat Governor McAuliffe to sign that funds” Building trades” education in Va. Schools when they are ” complicit ” to illegal aliens working as unlicensed contractors in violation of many State and local laws.
MR. McGrane why did the previous Va. Republican lack the intellect to detect this or enforce the laws for which they took an oath to do ?
How come these Republicans ” aborted ” enforcing the law ?
When you are elected to lead and enforce the laws and you do not is this a ” perversion of representation ” ? Isn’t Shaun Kenny in bed with La Razza ?
After having scoffed at the accusation he wasn’t a Republican in his campaign speech, John “Slater” Ferguson proceeded to eliminate Republican Delegate Matt Fariss and Republican Supervisors Mike Rousseau and Eric Zehr from the delegation. After preaching unity, John “Slater” Ferguson threw outgoing chairman Les Williams, the man he’d just defeated, off the GOP committee. After touting his Liberty University degree, he banished Liberty University’s College Republican Chairwoman, Sarah Kimball. Last but not least, he forced Mark Lloyd, who is running for District Chairman, out of the delegation. Mark Lloyd CANNOT EVEN VOTE FOR HIMSELF AT THE DISTRICT CONVENTION. More than 100 others, many long-time volunteers who have contributed their time, effort, and money into getting Republicans elected, suffered the fate of “Slater’s” chopping block. Who is “Slater” kidding??
I was slated for NO other reason than my conservative activism in our local unit. I am former GOP chair (2010 – 2012); I have staffed polls, passed out literature for EDO operations, walked neighborhoods, made phone calls, placed 4X4’s and yard signs for years!!! My goal? elect liberty minded, small government, low tax CONSERVATIVES! I have NEVER opposed a GOP candidate–even when I disagreed with guys like Robert Hurt, I still worked for him, and the proof is in the pudding. BTW: Hurt has NEVER attended a GOP Campbell function, never made a phone call or sent a letter of thanks to our unit. Campbell County had a bigger slice of the vote in his election than Robert got in his own home county. Our reward from HURT? a slap in the face because he works with moderate fringe groups, like SLATER FERGUSON”s ICCC PAC, who have DONE nothing for his campaign.
This operation is way bigger than “Slater”. He simply lacks the insight or the mental muscle to orchestrate such a move. He’s a pawn at best. He takes his orders from guys like Mike Thomas RPV who takes his orders from Eric Cantor. Folks, they are trying to shut out the conservatives and tea party activits–make no mistake about it.