December SCC Meeting

The Iowa GOP Blogosphere is abuzz with discussions about the future of the Republican Party of Iowa. The two most immediate issues being discussed are Kim Lehman and the election for State Party Chair. I want to take a moment and briefly discuss both.

First, Kim Lehman. Krusty has his first post on the issue today. As Krusty points out, there will be a bunch of 2nd District folks at the meeting to call for Kim's resignation or removal. I have made my opinion known on this matter in ths blog.

Krusty is korrect when he says that Kim will not be removed. He references RNC rules but could not find RPI's constitution and bylaws online. I have posted them on my site and you may download the RPI Constitution and RPI Bylaws yourself. As I read the rules, there is no mechanism that allows the State Central Committee to remove a National Committeeperson.

I believe that the SCC will take symbolic action by passing a censure motion. I know that this will not satisfy many in the 2nd CD but it is the strongest action the committee can take. I also know that there is a desire to have a censure motion voted on by roll call. One legislator from my district pointed out that all of the votes they take in Des Moines are made public — good point. It will be up to the committee to determine whether the vote will be a roll call, we'll see.

I agree with Krusty when he says:

... I don’t have any problem with people being upset with Lehman, they need to voice their opinions one last time and move on.

The other issue of course is the election of a new party chairman. Yesterday, Grant Young (aka G$) over at Questions, Comments and Insults, scooped everyone by making public the slate of Gopal Krishna as chairman and Ted Sporer as co-chair.

The candidates I know of are Gopal Krishna/Ted Sporer, Danny Carroll, Paul Pate, Matt Randall and Christopher Reed. As an SCC member, I have been contacted in some form by all of these  individuals indicating interest in running for chair. There are other names out there but at this point none have lobbied me either directly or through surrogates. One notable name about which I have been hearing rumors is current chairman Stewart Iverson, no one has approached me yet but I have heard this indirectly from multiple sources.

I think G$ is correct in saying that the top contenders are probably the Krishna/Sporer slate and Danny Carroll. Paul Pate is probably the dark horse candidate.

Now the question of the day is, with all the secret meetings is this a done deal and will we have a new chairman on Saturday. There has been some discussion on the blogs about whether it is even possible to elect a new chairman this week. Initially, I thought it was not possible but I was probably relying on bad memory. As I search RPI constitution and bylaws, I do not see a 10 day notification requirement for elections. There is a notification requirement for meetings but not specifically for elections. So, unless I am missing something there could potentially be a new chair on Saturday.

I am not sure at this point that anyone has sufficient votes to run the table — but I could be wrong. In case there is an election Saturday, I will reiterate a promise I made on this blog in July.

As long as I am an SCC member, there will be an honest reporting of votes for chair/co-chair. Since it take a unanimous vote to hide the results, I will always dissent. When we next elect a chair and co-chair for our party — I will report the results and the vote count on this blog.

Comments

[Tim]

David, the practice of secret meetings jumped out at me from your post. We need restored credibility to RPI and this sequence of events unfolding before our eyes is exactly what I didn't want. You had my vote for SCC because I trust you'll always do the right thing. Please make mention of this practice at SCC and remind the group that this type of conduct will only hinder the new chair, be they deserved of the position or not. We need a chair with enough wisdom to craft a plan, enough credibility to raise funds and most of all, enough respect to mobilize volunteers.

“A nation which makes great distinction between its scholars and its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done by fools.”
Thucydides,460 B.C.

[Todd Versteegh]

David,

Quite frankly, I would think the strongest measure the SCC could take would be to pass a vote of "No Confidence" in Lehman and publically communicate to the RNC that the SCC of the Republican Party of Iowa feels she unable to properly represent Republicans in this state.

As you stated in the past, she has proven that she can not wear both hats as our National Committeewoman and as IRTL Chair.

The point that I hope comes across to other members of the SCC is this--Kim Lehman has completely shredded her credibility as a leader in our party. She CLEARLY stated at the State Convention that as National Committeewoman she would support all Republican candidates..and then she publically and falsely attacked a Republican nominee 20 DAYS out from the general election.

In a time where we need to REBUILD our party, our crediblity is VITAL in order to properly do so. People want to see we're committed to changing the way we do things..that we're not simply re-arrainging the furniture to make it "look" different.

Holding leaders accountable is the first step towards showing that credibility. Lehman NEEDS to be held accountable for her actions.

It needs to made CRYSTAL CLEAR to Ms. Lehman that she burned a bridge that can't be rebuilt. Activists in this state no longer trust her to be a leader that can represent ALL Republicans.

[Andy Cable-]

Guess my read of the Constitution and By-Laws state all SCC meetings are to be public. While I am sure this meeting would be defended as not being an official SCC meeting therefore being public does not apply I think those that called it and attended it are simply side stepping the intent.
It was exactly this type of "backroom" politics that upset so many at the State Convention. It is a power grab behind closed doors that then is publicly denied.
I would have hoped that once certain elements of the party had gained some power they would reach out to unify the party and show true open leadership. However it appears that they can not resist continuing to consolidate their power by such tactics.
It should have been apparent to all when Gopal was voted down by the State Convention and subsequently also stopped in an unbelieveable attempt to backdoor him to the National Convention that he is not a natural leader. Certainly not an accepted leader statewide. His remarks about elephant/ rabbits to a County Chair wanting to go the National Convention were abhorent. His treatment and subsequent remarks dealing with the State Organization Committee were just as bad. If he was such a great leader why did his own Committee vote unanimously to not have him give their report at the State Convention?
Gopal may be great guy - but he has little leadership skills outside of being a dictator and even worse communication skills. Having been removed from the State Central Committee years ago by Kayne Robinson he vowed he would someday be the Chair. He is now apparently "buying" his way to that position.
Mark my words he will destroy the party by lack of grassroots support, be totally unable to reunite it and the fund raising will dry up.

[SW Iowa Republican]

As a SW Iowa Republican in King's district...

This message is for:

Bill Anderson
Reid Houser
Monte Shaw

If you vote for him...I look forward to working my ass off to ensure that you are never elected to anything ever in your life again.

Consider yourself warned.

This I promise you.

[MD]

Mr. Chung, which direction are you leaning toward for the vote? All votes are going to be revealed, but it would be helpful for you to reveal your vote prior to the meeting.

[Michael Ryan]

In my county if Kim is censured or a no confidence vote is passed, there is a county resolution from one of my members to encourage people to not give any money to RPIm plus it would name all the SCC who voted to do so in it and encourage people to vote them out. But as a chairman I am bound to do the work of the committee (per RPI constitution) and if they pass it I will sign it. Besides do you not think Deace will publically call out the SCC members for doing so and further humiliate them in any way he can.
But the funds being dried up. Maybe if Stew and the party didn't spend 1.7 Mil. out of 1.9 in a non election year. Maybe if Leon didn't falsify mileage reports when transporting Steve Rathje around during the primary season. Leon also broke RPI rules when he endorsed Rathje and continued in the endorsing procedure.
As for the current chairman, our county find him a liar. In our committee meeting on June 25, 2008 he said, " there is money coming for Reed from the RNC, but we are going to use it to help pay for support staff." And then he goes on Deace and says he didn't say it. I took some pretty hard and not pleasant phone calls from some members who were present.
Hopefully the SCC picks a chairman and co-chairman my county can trust and inspire us. If not it's the same old boring moderate leadership (top down) leadership that led us to our defeat in 2008.

[HawkeyeGOP]

MD,

You asked whom I am supporting in the race for chairman. Let me say first that I do not believe there will be a vote this Saturday.

At this point I am honestly undecided. I have not spoken to Danny Carroll yet(I'm in Portland Oregon as I write this and I have been traveling quite a bit.) I really only know Carroll by reputation and I intend to sit down with him and talk about his vision for the party before I make a decision.

Matt Randall and I are trying to find a time to talk.

Matt Strawn's name has come up recently and there seems to be some activity related to a possible candidacy on his part. Again, I have not had a chance to hear his vision for the party.

I really am undecided.

[Jonathan]

Michael, Your statement "But the funds being dried up. Maybe if Stew and the party didn't spend 1.7 Mil. out of 1.9 in a non election year." is dishonest. Stew was not chair in 2007. The money was spent before he was elected. I think calling someone else a liar before looking in the mirror is not a good idea.

[IowaFan]

David - I heard you on Deace today, thanks for trying; you certainly did a better job than I could have...

I did NOT vote for Ms. Lehman to start with so we arrive at this destination from different angles.

But Ms. Lehman and Mr. Deace are trying to make this about Miller-Meeks and the potential of nulifying a vote that was taken at the Convention when that is not the case at all. It does show, however, how Lehman lacks total empathy for a large part of her electorate - another reason she should not be in the job she is holding on to so tightly.

What they are telling us is to be quiet - it's not our business - - when it is.

take care and see you tomorrow.

[Todd Versteegh]

Is it shocking Deace would defend Lehman..of course not. He's now out there trying to imply this is going to "cause a civil war"..

Mr. Deace can spare us the drama. This isnt about a "reversing a vote".

It doesnt matter if the candidate involved won or lost.

What matters is is that we have a Republican Party leader who chose to publically denigrate and work against the nominated candidate for Congress in the 2nd District. PERIOD..end of story.

Its completely inappropriate under any circumstances for a elected leader in the Republican Party..a leader who is to represent ALL Republicans in the state and who is OBLIGATED to work for electing Republicans at every level in this state to engage in behavior that is detrimental to that.

The SCC may not have the authority to remove here..but a very strong message must be sent to Ms. Lehman, David.

The SCC must state in no uncertain terms that what Ms. Lehman did was out of bounds and that it has no place within our party. If she can not seperate her work at IRTL from her work as National Committeewoman--the only course of action for her is to choose one or the other.

[Kent Sorenson]

I am a newly elected member of the Iowa House. I have no personal issues with any of the other people running for the state chair, but I am a firm believer that one person stands out far above the rest.

Danny Carroll is the person that I feel is the best man for the job at the time and condition the party is in. I have been reading threads all over the web and there are people that clearly do not understand how a race is run. So they want to come out and bash Danny for losing this year. Well first of all in my district the Obama campaign hired 4 full time people beginning in June to canvass the area. There is NO WAY a State House race can afford to do that. Danny won on election day and lost with absentee ballots. So he understands that we need to address this area. Second of all there are alot of people that have said that Danny didn't fund raise enough. Well that is another area where people should get there facts straight. Danny out fund raised any other candidate that was facing an incumbent.

I am not here to bash any other person seeking the spot. And I think that the best way to get the party moving forward is to do this in a productive matter. Danny played a very big part in my race behind the scenes. He was a great sounding board and really provided us with a lot of key advice that helped us in our victory in a district that was not even in play according to the leadership of the party.

My district is 36% D's 34% I's and 30% R's I ran against an incumbent that was seeking his 4th term In a year that was a democrat year.An incumbent that defeated a well known State Senator that left the Senate to run against my opponent in 2006. I don't blame the party for not thinking I had a chance in fact there were very few people who did, but every time I had a discouraging moment Danny was right there encouraging me and giving me advice.

I do believe that is exactly the type of person we want in this role. We need someone that has experienced the political arena and not compromised there core beliefs.

There are two type of leaders there's the ones that step out because they believe they are leaders and then there ones that are called out because others feel they are leaders. Well Danny was called out because in a time when the party is so fractured we needed someone that can fill the shoes to heal the party. There are a lot of names being thrown around but if you give everyone three or four name and tell them to choose two Danny Carroll is the only one consistently in one of the two. That should speak volumes. I am going to rest my case there.

Thanks
Kent Sorenson

[I'm not Yoda, but I have his underoos]

Kent congratulations on your victory! Question for you though, do you know the other candidates? Or is Carroll the best candidate that you personally know?

I think you would like Paul Pate and not just because he's infinitely more qualified.

[Michael Ryan]

Todd,
This whole Lehman situation does have the ability to start a civil war in our party. Look at the reactions from my county to the second district. I have people in my county calling the second district people complaining about this "sore losers" because Kim won. While I do not agree all the people complaining are sore losers, but there is an element out there that no one can deny.
The other side is that the people who are upset with Kim thinks she is being arrogant by not bowing down at the feet of MMM and the second district complainers and kissing up and apologizing for the remarks. Either way it will get resolved, yes there will be some hard feelings but that is the way its going to be.
The challenge is when this all done and we have elected a new chairman/Co-Chair, we have rebuilding to do. This is the chance to get back on course. The point of the Republican Party is more than just to elect Republicans, but it to defend freedom, capitalism, life and the pursuit of happiness. That is what makes me a Republican.
Just some thoughts, and have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Todd.

[Chung Has Balls as Big as Church Bells! :)]

Iowa GOP censures leader
By James Q. Lynch
The Gazette
DES MOINES — The Iowa GOP State Central Committee on Saturday censured one of its representatives to the Republican National Committee.
The committee, which oversees the state party’s activities, voted 8-7 to censure Kim Lehman, citing a conflict between her role in the party and as head of Iowa Right to Life.
Although some wanted to oust her from party leadership, the Central Committee had no authority to remove a national committee member.
Central Committee member David Chung of Cedar Rapids made the censure motion. He said he was satisfied with the result.
“The issue is closed at this point,” he said after the committee met in Des Moines. “We have work to do as a party and we need to move on. I think people are ready to move on.” At issue was a pre-election flier distributed by Iowa Right to Life criticizing the 2nd District GOP U.S. House candidate Mariannette Miller-Meeks. The group said she should get the “Great Pretender Award” for her statements opposing abortion.
Second District Republicans said Lehman had conflicting roles and had damaged her credibility in the party.
Division remains, however, according to Linn County GOP Chairman Jim Conklin. County GOP leaders want to create opportunities for fiscal conservatives and libertarians to play a more active role, he said.
The committee deferred a decision on a new party chair until January. Chairman Stewart Iverson, a former state senator, resigned.
Several names have been mentioned as successors, including former Cedar Rapids Mayor Paul Pate, a former state senator and Iowa secretary of state, and Christopher Reed of Marion, who unsuccessfully challenged U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin in November.

[Yoda]

David,

I am profoundly honored to have you as my state central committee representative. I need not remind you that you are a volunteer and sacrifice a great deal so that we in the 2nd district may be adequately represented. You far surpass that standard and have broken the mold for how we can hope to repreented by any others in the future.

Thank you my friend. And of course, May the Force be With You... Always.

WAR "I'm not just pro-life, I'm prolific"

[IowaFan]

Yes, thank you David - you did a great job yesterday with your firm but measured response.

We cannot thank you enough, and yes, let's move on.

[Todd Versteegh]

David, I told you this yesterday..but I'm going to say it again. Thank you for standing up for our nominees.

I think it was made very clear yesterday that our State GOP leaders indeed have a duty to support our party's nominees.

As I stated at the meeting..our candidates have enough to worry about while running for office.

The SCC sent a very clear message to Ms. Lehman that what she did was clearly in the wrong..and that as the resolution stated..she should resign.

I hope that she does the honorable thing and steps down of her own accord. However, its doubtful that will occur.

[Andy Cable-]

M.R.
Please explain what happened to the Straw Poll funds- you seem to have some inside information. Iverson did not take over as Chair till 2008 and the previous ED who was in charge of the funds stayed on as ED for a few weeks after Iverson took over. The money was gone at that time. Certainly not on Iverson's watch.
In fact if you look into the funds used this year to run RPI you will find it was largely due to the work of Iverson and Darrell Kearney.
As far as Leon "breaking RPI rules" dealing with endorsements please show such a rule? My By-laws and Constitution do not seem to have any such information.
And as to the 2008 defeats I believe there is plenty of blame to go around thoughout the party and this continuing finger pointing and name calling dealing with the past from all sides will do no good.
It is time for us learn from the past and find away to use our common ground better in the future.

[Michael Ryan]

Andy,
Two things, first I stand CORRECTED on my assertion that Stew Spend 1.7 Mil out of 1.9. Secondly this Leon did drive Rathje around and claimed in the miles in his own expense report. He later was told to stop doing so, and payed the committee back the money, (talk to the Treasurer about that, he has records in black in white to show it).

Now unto new things, I disagreed with the censure vote, but the matter at hand is done. I also talked to the individual in my county and talked him out of submitting a resolution censuring the 8 individuals who voted to censure National Committee Woman Lehman.

My concern is that all this going to the press about Kim, and how Grassley wasn't a delegate is stupid. When Stew lied to us about money that he said was going to Reed, and said he was using to pay the RPI support staff and then goes on Deace and says he didn't like it that was quite concerning. Now however I didn't go and call Yepson and the papers looking to make him look bad. I talked to my central committee members on the State about it.

My only concern is now, my county is going to build a Republican's Ladies group (with the help of Kim), plus we are going to do a database of people to alert when bad legislation is being put up. Plus to see if we can build on our county going Republican and seeing if we can get 80% in our county for Latham (he had 72%) in our county. I just hope we get a good State Chair. I personally have had no bad dealing with Gopal so I wouldn't mind Gopal being the chair.

Michael Ryan

[Steve]

I want to know who those 7 pathetic losers were that voted for Kim Lehmen yesterday.

Lets go after them.

Thanks Chung for your support of taking out Lehmen the Loser.

[Andy Cable-]

Thank you Mike for the acknowledgement that Stew was not responsible for the money from the Straw Poll. Why though were you so quick to make such assertions and who told you that? My guess is they also lied to you. And while we are at it where did those funds go?
You also did not address my question as to your second assertion that Leon broke a rule by backing a primairy candidate. Please in the future double check your "facts" before you print them. Otherwise you loose much credibility.
And under what premise would you censure those SCC members who voted to censure Lehman? and who would you propose to vote on such a censure? It simply sounds as if it would have only been a tit for tat revenge tactic. The SCC has complete jurisdiction in their meetings.
I do not know the true facts of Stews "lies" you report but I have known and worked with him in the past and it sounds a little suspect to me. Coupled with your first two "facts" and their questionable basis I am so inclined to question the complete accuracy of this story.
Having been on two committees with Gopal I have had several bad dealings with him. The last time was backed up by a unanimous vote of the committee he Chaired to not allow him to even present their report at the State Convetion.
But we do agree I believe this should be left in the past and our efforts should be aimed at building our grassroots base through the counties. I have been on the County Central Committee since the 80's and the chair the last few years so I understand the importance of building from the ground up rather than by edict from the top down.
We need change in the RPI - not of values nor beliefs but rather how we do things. We need to develope 21st Century technology to promote communication statewide at all levels - and in all directions.
Continued in fighting, half baked allegations and name calling is totally non productive.
Mike I would enjoy taking such discussions off line at your conveninence anytime.
Respectfully
Andy Cable