May all of you enjoy this season to be with friends and family!
In this issue:
- Change is coming in 2023
- TNGOP December State Executive Committee Meeting
Newsletter Changes
Over the holidays, the newsletter will be reviewed to improve effectiveness. The sidebar that references the judicial elections will be archived and other format changes will be substituted to keep the region’s Republican meeting information as a highlight.
2023 focus will be on the six counties of the 15th Senate district (Cumberland, Jackson, Putnam, Smith, Van Buren, and White), but mention of other meetings and events in the region will continue. If anything is missing for your county, please advise and an update will be sent out as soon as possible. As your elected State Executive Committeewoman, I feel it is my responsibility to do all I can to keep Republicans in the district informed.
December SEC Meeting
Election of TN GOP Officers
The State Executive Committee re-elected Scott Golden as chairman, Charlotte Kelley as vice chair, Scott Smith as secretary, Shannon Haynes as treasurer and Beth Amos as vice-treasurer
Election of SEC members
There were nine vacancies on the committee. Several had no qualified candidates in this past election and one had passed away. The committee considered candidates and elected six committee members. The remaining three vacancies had no qualified candidates identified. These three districts are in the far west region (Memphis). Each of the positions filled by SEC vote will be on the 2024 ballot so that voters in the respective districts can choose their representatives to serve until the next election cycle in 2026.
2023 Budget
TN GOP chair Shannon Haynes presented a budget for the coming year. TN GOP operates on a shoestring budget with respect to personnel with the chairman and three paid staff members. I applaud the efforts to keep funding directed appropriately toward helping Republican candidates succeed!
Resolution pertaining to cancellation of Nashville as potential host for the 2024 Republican National Convention
You likely recall the Metro Council’s petty withdrawal of Nashville as a consideration to host the 2024 convention. Even the Democrat party was in favor of Nashville as the host city, as long as the DNC would receive equal consideration in 2028. The vote of 22 Nashvillian individuals on the Metro City Council precluded Nashville from being considered as a finalist for the event. Milwaukee will gladly receive the economic benefits and tourism as the 2024 host!
I joined the SEC majority vote to pass a resolution outlining the numerous costs and consequences of ditching the RNC. Among the points made:
- Democrat and Republican residents , business and community leaders, TN general assembly from all across the state supported Nashville as the host city for the RNC
- security and safety measures were ensured
- projected revenue for the event $200 million
- The Tennessee Republican Party, when feasible, intends to hold events outside of Davidson County
Request for Legislative Action pertaining to Tennessee Voter Registration
It is the opinion of this body, the Tennessee Republican Party State Executive Committee, that the 113th General Assembly addresses the issue of “cross-over” voting in Tennessee’s primary elections. The current process laid out in TCA to prevent individuals who are not bona fide members of a political party does not adequately address the problem. Therefore, this committee hereby requests that a question regarding political affiliation to a recognized statewide political party be included on the information required to register to vote in Tennessee set in TCA 2-2-116. An option to register as an independent should also be available to voters. It is also requested that an individual must be a registered member of a political party to nominate candidates for public office and therefore these elections should be secured and limited to only registered members of that statewide political party.
Approximately 2/3 of the members present voted in support of this request. I did not. I was expecting this issue to arise, but did not have any notice of it being on the agenda in this meeting. It was presented as New Business for the committee’s consideration.
I have sat in on at least one discussion of this issue at a prior SEC meeting. I did not receive any new insights through the discussion presented. For your reference, you can follow these links to read TCA 2-2-116 and TCA 2-2-117(b)(1).
Here’s my soapbox moment – I voted against the measure for several reasons:
- There’s NO evidence to substantiate the magnitude of ‘cross over’ voting in primaries. It’s easy to find a few anecdotal examples and statements from participants. The problem is in the proof.
- Several statements were made that are not included in the Request as it was presented. I don’t vote in support of measures unless it’s in writing before me.
- The requirement for registration to be declared at least 60 days in advance of the election
- Independents will be allowed to pull a Republican ballot
- For someone motivated to ‘crossover’ vote, there’s nothing that really prevents anyone from faking their party affiliation for the primary and then voting along their true party lines in the general.
- Many people I know will NOT identify themselves as Republicans even though they consistently vote for Republicans. It is my firm belief that forcing political affiliation at voter registration is a losing proposition for Republican candidates and for the party. Many are unhappy with the Republican party. How many times do you hear the term ‘RINO’ leveled at someone that represents the party? How many times do you hear someone declare “I’m NOT Republican – I’m CONSERVATIVE”? I’m sure that some would call me a RINO because I do not support this request. I assure you that I’m a red blooded Republican woman that sees a huge challenge before the Republican party to win over supporters at all levels. Democrats are bent on the destruction of our country and I intend to do everything that I can do fight their takeover. Of all the possible things the State Executive Committee could do to effectively work to promote the values and principals of the Republican party, this would be among the last on the agenda, in my opinion.
Now that you’ve read this far, here’s my standing offer to Republicans in the 15th Senate District. Feel free to let me know your thoughts on this issue. After all, I represent YOU on this committee. We will not all agree on every issue but I promise to work to identify the strongest consensus of those in this district.
Have a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy New Year!