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The Tennessee Conservative [By Kelly M. Jackson] –
On odd numbered years, every county GOP organization in the state of Tennessee must hold a convention where they have an election to choose the members of that county’s Republican Executive committee.
This year, not only has there been what appears to be an inability to get the basics of organizing a meeting like this managed, but it appears there have also been some intentional efforts to thwart what is possibly a complete shellacking of the Establishment GOP who currently hold power.
This would be delivered at the hands of the local grassroots movement, who over the past 3 years have been steadily growing in their reach and influence, their efforts underscored by the events of the Covid 19 pandemic and the usurpation of the people’s power by state and local government officials and politicians.
Politicians who, all while expatiating conservative platitudes, violated the laws and rights of the people who put them in office. The local GOP Party organizations, instead of holding those politicians accountable, aided and abetted their actions providing cover and of course, plenty of money.
It’s often said that “local politics is all politics”, and nothing reflects this more than the county level party organizations who are charged with choosing what candidates will have the ability to appear on a ballot representing their values, their platform.
The current bylaws of the Tennessee GOP state that in order to have any input in how the party is constituted, one must be a “bona fide” Republican.
This is defined as:
1.) Any individual who is actively involved in the Tennessee Republican Party, his County Republican Party, or any recognized auxiliary organization of either; and resides and is registered to vote in said county; and either
2.) any individual who has voted in at least three (3) of the four (4) most recent Statewide Republican primary elections; or
3.) Any individual who is vouched for in writing (to the satisfaction of the decision makers defined herein) as a bona fide Republican by an officer of the TRP or a member of the CEC, excluding SEC members, of the County and/or District where said individual resides. Persons who have voted in any statewide Democratic primary will be ineligible for a voucher following the 2026 election. The decision makers defined herein may require additional verification that said individual is indeed a bona fide Republican.
This is a very important rule, since it was this rule that caused several people who wished to run as Republicans in elections in 2022, to be kicked off the ballot forcing them to run instead as independents if they were able to run at all.
When accused of weaponizing this rule and only applying it to candidates that the TN GOP found distasteful or inconvenient, the various county GOP organizations insisted they were only trying to stick to the rules because sticking to the rules is the “right thing to do.”
Fast forward to today, and Williamson County’s local GOP Reorganization.
The bylaws of the party also have set rules (remember those things the local GOP have said are sacrosanct and cannot be violated for the sake of “democracy”) that establish the manner in which a reorganization convention SHALL (not may, but MUST) take place.
1.) that is to be held between January 15th and April 15th of each odd numbered year;
2.) No changes or waivers for changes to this meeting can be applied after February 28th; and
3.) that in order to cast a vote you must be an afore mentioned “bona fide” republican.
Additionally, at least 10 days before the reorganization takes place, a county party must submit their details to Tennessee Republican Party website for display and transparency to ensure maximum participation.
The Williamson County Republican Party broke every single one of those afore mentioned rules. The convention originally scheduled to take place on March 30th, was moved to April 18th, the waiver to allow for that and other changes was granted by the State GOP Chair Scott Golden on March 22, some 3 weeks after the February 28th deadline, and finally a person for the purposes of voting at the convention will now only have had to vote republican in 2 out of the last 4 primaries instead of 3.
In addition, the TRP website did not have any details posted to the website before the date was moved from 3/30 to 4/18.
One might be asking themselves, “but why would a party so committed to the rules and doing what is “right” be so flagrantly violating their own bylaws”?
The reason could be that between 3/18 and 3/22, when the emergency rule bending meeting of the SEC took place, there was an effective and coordinated combined grassroots communication effort that, based on their data, caused a tsunami of convention registrations the likes of which have never been seen in Williamson County.
Historically, the highest number recorded for attendance has been 400. Currently, last count was 600 pre-registered and now with the convention being pushed out an additional 3 weeks the estimate of attendance is 1,000-1,200.
Either the Republican Party has suddenly become much more popular than ever before in their state history, or the grassroots organizations in their combined efforts to communicate the need to overhaul the party one county at a time is resonating with voters. And in a big, big way.
In addition to more rules being broken than can almost be counted, there has been a noticeable lack of communication in an timely manner to proliferate any and all changes to the convention, even the most basic information like when, where and how you participate that can then be shared with the public.
As this saga continues, we will be sure to share any new details as we are able to obtain them.
At current, the Williamson County GOP will be holding their reorganization meeting on April 18th, at The Factory in Franklin. Doors open at 4:45 pm and will be closed to any more entering by 5:45 pm. See the flier for more details and the slate of candidates the grassroots groups are endorsing.
About the Author: Kelly Jackson is a recent escapee from corporate America, and a California refugee to Tennessee. Christ follower, Wife and Mom of three amazing teenagers. She has a BA in Comm from Point Loma Nazarene University, and has a background in law enforcement and human resources. Since the summer of 2020, she has spent any and all free time in the trenches with local grassroots orgs, including Mom’s for Liberty Williamson County and Tennessee Stands as a core member. Outspoken advocate for parents rights, medical freedom, and individual liberty. Kelly can be reached at kelly@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
In a some counties the SEC committeeman and committeewomen are refusing to considering any vouching whatsoever. They have told the county officers that they will accept no vouching, will approve of no one who has not voted in 3 out of the last 4 primary elections. There are examples of vouching letters being presented and they publicly stated that they will refuse them all regardless of the circumstances and the evidence of the person’s Active Republican status.
They claim that they can do this because the TN GOP bylaws say that the vouching must be to the SEC member’s “satisfaction”.
They then state that they are only satisfied with 3/4 primary votes and will not approve Any vouching whatsoever no matter how much that person has been involved. For example, if someone became heavily and faithfully involved in their county GOP or state GOP for the last several years but missed a vote or only became involved the last 2 years, no matter how faithful, they refused to allow them to be voting members.
If the bylaws did not allow for vouching – fine.
But the bylaws do allow for vouching as an alternative when 3/4 is not met.
For the SEC members to refuse part of their own bylaws and insist on only accepting 3/4 is undermining the local efforts to grow the party and is an embarrassment.
Elections are won with addition not subtraction. We need to grow as a party but have infighting and exclusion that is lead and instigated by the SEC.