Below is the Press Release sent this morning by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee. My thoughts will follow.
Mack to headline Lincoln Day Dinner
Vote rescinding former Arizona sheriff’s invite tossed due to forgery
COEUR D’ALENE – Former Arizona Sheriff Richard Mack will be the featured guest speaker, as originally scheduled, at the March 24 Lincoln Day Dinner at The Coeur d’Alene Resort. Mack was slated to headline the event, a fundraiser for the Kootenai County Republican Party, but his appearance was canceled following a vote during the February 28 meeting of the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee.
It was later determined that the deciding vote for disinviting Mack was a forged proxy ballot. The Kootenai County Republican Party has referred the alleged forgery to the Coeur d’Alene Police Department for further investigation.
The Executive Board of the Kootenai County Republican Party met on March 8 and the majority voted to once again invite Mack to be the speaker for Lincoln Day. Mack, who is scheduled to speak at Spokane’s Lincoln Day event a day before Kootenai County’s celebration, has accepted and will headline the event.
Contact: Tina Jacobson, Chairman
Kootenai County Republican Party
(208) 765-8259
Ok, so, as a Republican, it pains me to see the in-fighting over this issue, and it is especially concerning to see it play out on the front page of the newspaper. It diminishes the party.
I know and respect people on both sides of this argument. They each have valid points of view. But let’s look carefully at the purpose of the Lincoln Day Dinner: It’s THE major fundraiser for the local chapter of the Republican party!
If there is such vehement disagreement over the speaker for this event, and half of the central committee does not favor the choice, why upset a big portion of your target market for ticket sales and donations? They may choose not to attend, though I think they still should for the good of the party.
It’s a fundraiser, for goodness sake!
Comment by mary — March 12, 2012 @ 9:29 am
Either way the controversy exists. Once that is in play, it can no longer be a determinate factor. That the CC already paid a non-refundable deposit is an issue, also the integrity of the process matters. The effort to dis-invite a speaker AFTER the contract has been signed was poor form. In a bad situation, this is probably the right call. As far as the forgery question, that the forged proxy was carried by a licensed attorney is troubling.
Comment by justinian — March 12, 2012 @ 9:37 am
It troubles me that so many Republicans are willing to trash the brand name just to win petty battles with fellow Republicans.
Comment by Dan — March 12, 2012 @ 11:19 am
Exactly, Dan. I think this is all basically a spitting match between two people. Not good for the party.
Comment by mary — March 12, 2012 @ 2:17 pm
A “forged proxy vote with the help of a licensed attorney?” Wow, and at this level of the “game” – this is a bit of a concern to us outsiders looking in. Who was the attorney?
Comment by Stebbijo — March 12, 2012 @ 7:09 pm
Stebbijo, I heard it was some guy that practices or did practice in Washington.
Comment by Ancientemplar — March 12, 2012 @ 7:25 pm
Stebbijo, the Press said that Duane Rassmussen, who lives in Idaho but is an attorney licensed in Washington, carried a group of proxy votes to the central committee meeting. I certainly don’t know any of the details of this or other struggles between different groups within the central committee, but I am disappointed they cannot find a way to work out their problems.
Comment by mary — March 12, 2012 @ 11:23 pm
Thank you Mary and Ancientemplar for the update. Even tho, I am not registered for any party, I can understand why some of you might cringe regarding this development. Ugly.
Comment by Stebbijo — March 13, 2012 @ 5:12 am