Conservative Input Virtually Shut Out of Last Two Meetings
“Establishment” Republicans are now clearly in charge of the County Executive Committee. With the election of Attorney Chad Groover chairman, in a matter of months, Tea Party presence that one year ago had a strong presence in the Executive Committee has been driven out or quit in protest. The remaining few have been silenced by the chairman.
Veteran party leaders who have worked to keep Greenville County out of the clutches of RINOs (Republicans in Name Only), are becoming discouraged .
The current chairman and first vice chairman are attempting to “grow the party.” Their intentions are sincere, however veteran observers see a disastrous result down the road.
During the December 1st meeting, it was announced that it had been decided that precinct reorganization would no longer be held at the local community precinct, but at four central locations in the county under the direction of a “precinct captain” designated by the chairman.
The reasons given for the change were to reduce the workload on party officers and enlarge the party.
Former chairman Stephen Brown said where this centralization has been used has resulted in less, not more participation. Such comments were given no consideration. The decision had been made. No further discussion.
County Councilman Fred Payne was not on the agenda, however he was allowed to speak to the Executive Committee and use up all the allotted time for new business and prevented any motions from the floor for the second meeting in a row. In fact Payne apparently congratulated Groover on his conduct of the previous meeting when a resolution to oppose the proposed sales tax hike was blocked due to time constraints.
This revelation was obtained by fitsnews.com in Columbia through the Freedom of Information Act and published.
The published copy of the email dated the day after the last meeting when a vote was not allowed on the anti-tax resolution has Payne thanking the Chairman.
“Thanks for providing cool, calm, leadership in the storm last night.”
The chairman responds:
“Thanks for the kind words, Fred. Glad we didn’t have to vote on Josh Cook’s resolution. Good luck.”
“This type of hypocrisy infuriates me,” Josh cook told Fitsnews.
Former GOP First Vice Chairman of the Greenville County Republican Party who resigned his Executive Committee position in protest earlier this year had this to say, as published by Fitsnews.
“If you want to defeat the largest tax increase in Greenville County History, you must fight not only the RINO elements of Greenville County Council, but also … the behind the scenes RINO elements of the Greenville County Republican Party.”
Whether positive or negative, progressive or regressive, the Greenville County Republican Party is being changed.
