Republican Party of Garland County
Minutes of the County Committee Meeting
December 1, 2011
Meeting Place: First Church of the Nazarene, 3804 Central Avenue, Hot Springs.
Call to order: 6:27 PM by Alan Clark, Chairman
Invocation offered by (not recorded).
Pledge to the American Flag offered by (not recorded).
Quorum established via sign in and proxy. Forty five (45) members present [thirty seven (37) required].
1 Special Speakers
▪Judge Jake Looney, Circuit Judge 18th West Judicial Circuit, and candidate for Arkansas Court of Appeals, address the committee on his personal history and service within the state, the types of cases he has presided over, and his campaign for the appellate court.
▪State Representative Loy Mauch, candidate for reelection to District 26, delivered an address on his personal history, service as a State Representative, his views on right to life, 2nd amendment, taxes, and his conservative approach to government.
▪Mike Jones, Candidate for State Representative, District 25, addressed the committee describing his personal history, the reasons he is running for office, his views on the death penalty, 2nd Amendment, state rights and entitlements.
▪Ronnie Dunn, Candidate for Sheriff, addressed the committee on his personal history, the reason he is seeking office, and his views on crime in our community.
2. Election of New Members & Nominations for Membership
▪Election
During the November meeting Michael Jones was nominated for membership in the Republican Party of Garland County (RPCG). The rules require the membership be voted on during the December meeting.
A motion by Barbara Dueschle to elect Michael Jones as a member of the RPGC was seconded and passed unanimously.
▪Nominations
No nominations for membership were made.
3. Memorial for Ron Treaster
The Chair announced that one of our members, Ron Treaster, had passed away and explained that it has been the policy of the RPGC to donate a conservative book to the Garland County Library in the name of the deceased member. He added, that the Executive Committee had recommended that the Committee honor Ron by donating a copy of the new Pat Buchanan book to the Garland County Library in Ron Treaster’s name. A motion was made by Larry Bailey to follow the recommendation of the Executive Committee, was seconded, and passed unanimously.
4. Setting Filing Fees for 2012
The Chair announced that the filing fees for 2012 were in need of attention and needed to be set prior to March 2012. He explained that he felt that the fees needed to be set in December so that candidates would know the fee amounts as early as possible, and that he favored the RPA recommendation of increasing the fees from their current level. He noted that several individuals he spoke to in preparing to address this issue felt that the fees should be set as low as possible, thus accommodating as many people as possible who may seek elected office.
At this point, the Chair recognized Drew Clark, who made a motion that all filing fees be set at $0.00 dollars for 2012. The notion was seconded, allowing further significant discussion, as well as questions from the committee members. The Chair explained the history of filing fees, both in theory and application, and how the funds were used. Much discussion was given to the level of the fees at all office levels, and the possible impact of having no or low filing fees. Upon a call for the vote from the floor, the Chair moved forward on the vote, which resulted in the motion failing.
Following the vote, general discussion continued, during which the Chair passed out a Schedule of Filing Fees for 2012, while explaining that the fees presented have been reviewed by the Executive Committee and approved for presentation to the County Committee. The fees presented in that schedule are as follows;
County Judge & Sheriff – $2,000.00
County Clerk, Circuit Clerk, Tax Collector, Assessor, and Treasurer – $1,500.00
Coroner – $750.00
Quorum Court – $500.00
Constable – $100.00
County Committee – $50.00
Following some additional discussion, a motion was made by Larry Griffin to approve the Schedule of Filing Fees for 2012 as presented. The motion was seconded, allowing further discussion which centered on the Filing Fee for the County Committee and the timing of the increase. These discussions resulted in a motion by Tim Stockdale, that the current motion be amended to change the effective date of the new fees from 2012 to 2014.
The motion to amend received a second, allowing further discussion which was general in its content and lengthy. At the point when discussion ceased, the Chair moved forward on the vote for the motion to amend by changing the effective date to 2014. The vote on the motion to change the effective date of the new fees to 2014 failed.
Following this vote, discussion returned to the fee for County Committee. This resulted in a motion by George Pritichett that the Schedule of Filing Fees for 2012 be approved with a change in the Filing Fee for County Committee of $35.00 rather than $50.00. The motion received a second, allowing further discussion which pointed out the positive and negative impact of increasing the fee from its current level of $35.00 to $50.00.
Following this discussion, the Chair moved forward on the vote to approve the schedule of fees with a change reducing the County Committee fee from $50.00 to $35.00. The vote on the motion to approve the Schedule of Filing Fees with a reduction of the County Committee fee failed.
Following this vote, the Chair restated the original motion and asked the committee if there was any further discussion. Being none, the Chair moved forward on the vote on the original motion to approve the Schedule of Filing Fees for 2012 as presented. The motion carried approving the new Filing Fee Schedule for 2012.
5. Search Committee
Chairman Clark noted that knowing of his pending resignation he had appointed a Search Committee, made up of Susan Childs, Aubrey Vaughn, Chuck Chatham and Brad Smith, who had identified and approached Ben Bancroft about the possibility of him serving as Chairman. Finding Ben agreeable, and realizing that Ben currently serves as District Committeeman, the Search Committee then under took the identification of an individual to fill Ben’s position should he be elected Chairman, and approached Jerry Neal, who has agreed to serve in that capacity. He further noted that the recommendations were presented to the Executive Committee, who voted to make the recommendations to the County Committee. Lastly, he noted that once his resignation takes effect, December 5th, the First Vice-Chairman, Brad Smith will serve as both Chairman and First Vice-Chairman, who along with the secretary will call for an election to be held at the next regular meeting of the RPGC, January 5, 2012.
6. Republican Headquarters and Pledges
The Chair noted that we have entered our second year of occupancy at the Republican Headquarters, and that several of the members had pledged $10, $20, or more on a monthly basis toward the rental of that office and, should any member wish to make a pledge toward our 2011/2012 rental obligation, they could contact Larry Raney. In addition he noted that we are currently conducting search for another office location, and that anyone with any ideas or thoughts on available office space could contact Larry Raney.
7. Approval of Minutes
The Chair noted that we have before us the minutes for both August and November 2011 which need approval.
In response to the Chair asking for a motion of approval, a motion was offered by Tommy Thompson to approve the minutes of the August 2011 meeting, as presented. The motion was seconded, and passed unanimously. Additionally and in response to the Chair asking for a motion on the November minutes, Ben Bancroft made a motion to approve the November minutes, subject to a change in the spelling of Doody Keet’s name. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
8. Old Business
No issues were discussed.
9. New Business
No issues were discussed.
10. Reports & Announcements
In addition to the announcements published Chairman Clark announced……….
a. The next meeting of the Executive Committee will be held on Thursday, December 29th, at 5:30PM in RPGC Headquarters, Spencer’s Corner, 801 Central Avenue, Suite 35.
b. The next meeting of the County Committee will be held on Thursday, January 5th, at 6:15PM, at the First Church of the Nazarene, 3804 Central Avenue.
c. That he is holding a campaign kickoff reception for his campaign for State Senate, District 13, in the Grandview Room of the HSCC on Tuesday, December 13th, between the hours of 6:00PM and 8:00PM, that there is no charge to attend, and he extended an invitation to all.
11. Drawing for Door Prize
The winning ticket for the Door Prize was held by George Pritichett who won a pocket knife donated by Chairman Clark.
12. Special Announcement
The Chair announced that due to his candidacy for the Arkansas State Senate, he will resign his position as Chairman effective Monday, December 5th, 12.00Midnight.
12. Adjournment
On a motion made and seconded from the floor, the meeting adjourned at 7:57PM
Larry Raney, Secretary RPGC
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