Tensions Erupt Again in Saline County GOP
Chair refuses motion to replace vacant 3rd vice chair
The commotion began this time at the very last of the January 4 Saline County Committee meeting when a member moved “to have an election in February” to replace the Committee's vacated 3rd vice chair position.
Chair David Gibson immediately rejected the “improper” motion and called on his parliamentarian, Drew Martin of the Saline Co. Young Republicans (and 2nd GOP Congressional District 1st vice chair), who agreed.
Martin quoted the Republican Party of Arkansas (RPA) Rules — that don’t define a 3rd vice chair position on a County Committee’s Executive Committee — and insisted “we’re not allowed to have a 3rd vice chair” because the County Committee does not have local Rules that add that position.
Clearly ready for the topic, Martin also discussed “precedent” — the Saline County GOP Committee has had a 3rd vice chair in the past; that individual has traditionally been responsible for fund-raising. However, Martin explained
… precedent is very shaky until someone decides to not keep precedent going. All you have to do is say, “I no longer recognize the precedent.” And so, we’re going back to the way the original Rules are structured.
So, it’s the pretty much perogative to decide if we have a chair through, uh, through our perogative of going through and making sure if we, uh, keep the main positions that the Party allows us…
Gibson added
…filling the third vice chair’s position is not going to make us stronger, it’s not going to cause us to spend money better. Filling the third vice chair has absolutely zero value at this moment in time.
And I have no intentions of filling it. I will not put it on the next agenda.
Why? My focus is staying red in 2024.
After Gibson ignored the concerns and calls for rules clarification from some of his Committee members, the room erupted in confusion and several members walked out when Gibson abruptly, without a vote, tried to adjourn the meeting.
Instead — because the attempt at adjournment was incorrect (roll call requests were ignored) — a member continued the meeting after several moments and some clarification from Jennifer Lancaster (Saline Co. GOP 1st Vice Chair and GOP 2nd Congressional District Chair).
Discussion resulted in a unanimous, affirmative vote to hold an election for the vacant 3rd vice chair in February, per the original motion, as Gibson and Martin could be seen up front talking with different attendees.
This is yet another incident where certain members of some GOP County Committees are getting major pushback from fellow Republicans for what seems to be pretty straight-forward requests to handle party business and continuing to grow the base.
What’s it to Gibson if his members wish to elect a designated Executive Committee member who traditionally (and probably will in the future) spearhead fund-raising? What’s there not to like? Isn’t that one of the Party’s major goals — fundraising and getting Republicans elected? Yet Gibson says that has “absolutely zero value at this point in time…” How does that work when the Republican Party is facing the most consequential election year in our history?
As Courtney Roldan of Lonoke County GOP (and 1st District Representative to the Appointee Recommendations Committee) rightly observed: “The behavior by some of our county committees when they may think others won't hear about it is embarrassing. Do better. Follow the rules.”
We’ve observed similar shenanigans at other County Committee meetings over the last couple of years. It seems 2024 will be no different. Take a look for yourself: