Republican Party of Garland County
Minutes of the County Committee Meeting
February 2, 2012
Meeting Place: First Church of the Nazarene, 3804 Central Avenue, Hot Springs.
Call to order: 6:24 PM by Ben Bancroft, Chairman
Invocation offered by Marcia Albaugh
Pledge to the American Flag offered by Matt McKee.
Quorum established via sign in and proxy. Fifty two (52) members present [thirty seven (37) required].
1 Special Speakers
Tom Hickox, Candidate for Garland County Sheriff, addressed the committee on his personal history, the reasons he is seeking office, and his views on crime in our community.
2. Approval of Minutes
A motion was offered by Marcia Albaugh to approve the minutes of the January 5, 2012 meeting, as presented. The motion was seconded, and passed unanimously.
3. Special Election – Election of 4th District Committeeman
Chairman Bancroft reviewed his resignation of January 5, 2012, as District Committeeman due to his having been elected as Chairman of the County Committee on the same date, thus creating a vacancy in the 4th District Committeeman position.
▪The Chair then introduced the Search Committee which included; Susan Childs, Aubrey Vaughn, Chuck Chatham and Brad Smith, and asked the spokesman, Aubrey Vaughn to present the findings of the committee.
▪Aubrey Vaughn then indicated the committee had identified Jerry Neal as a candidate for the position of 4th District Committeeman. Following remarks indicating Jerry’s qualifications, Aubrey nominated Jerry Neal for the position of 4th District Committeeman. The nomination was seconded from the floor.
▪The Chair then asked if there were any other nominations.
In response to the question, Mary Bournival nominated Chuck Chatham for the position of 4th District Committeeman. Following remarks indicating Chuck’s qualifications, the nomination received a second from the floor.
▪Chairman Bancroft then asked the Committee if there were any further nominations. There being none, the Chair asked for a motion to close nominations. In response, Mickey Gates made a motion that nominations for the position of 4th District Committeeman be closed. The motion received a second from the floor, and passed unanimously.
▪Following a presentation by each candidate, Chairman Bancroft appointed an Election Committee consisting of Susan Childs, Twila Brown, and Barbara Dueschle, who were charged with the duties of conducting the election and announcing the outcome of the election.
▪Following a short recess to allow members to cast their votes, and the Election Committee to tally the results, Twila Brown, spokesperson for the Election Committee announced that Chuck Chatham had been elected as 4th District Committeeman.
4. Establishing Filing Fees
▪The Chair explained that the rules required that Filing Fees could only be set on dates falling between the second Monday in January and the second Monday in February of even numbered years, requiring us to revisit our work of December 2011.
▪Following the distribution of copies of the proposed Filing Fees to the membership, Pat McCabe made a motion that the proposed Filing Fees be approved. The motion was seconded from the floor, opening discussion.
▪Susan Childs indicated that the Filing Fee for County Committeeman/woman should remain at $35.00 each, rather than being raised to $50.00 each. Following a review of the 2010/2011 fees verses the 2012/2013 proposed fees, and much additional discussion; there was a call for the vote.
▪The Chair then asked all those in favor of increasing the Filing Fees to the proposed 2012/2013 level stand, and asked the secretary to count the standing members. He then asked all of the members opposed to the increase stand and be counted. The vote to increase the fees passed on a vote of 36 in favor and 10 in opposition.
5. State Committee Reports
Barbara Dueschle reported the following;
a. The State Republican Committee has a slogan for the 2012 elections which is “Eighteen-Fifty One-Twelve,” indicating that the slogan is intended to make the point that as Republicans we need to hold 18 State Senate seats, and 51 State House seats to have majority control of the State Congress.
b. The Filing Period will start at noon on February23rd and end at noon on March1st, 2012.
c. The RPA is holding an event “Filing for the Majority” on February 23rd, at 6:00PM, at the Little Rock Union Station, 1400 West Markham. Cost is $50.00 per person.
6. District Committee Reports
Marcia Albaugh indicated there was no new information to report.
7. Announcements
▪Larry Bailey reported the following;
a. The 4th District spring meeting will take place on March 3rd, in Magnolia, at the Bancorp South facility, 300 N Jackson Street. He further noted that all four 4th District Congressional candidates, including John Cowart of Texarkana, will be there to speak of their candidacy.
b. He explained that he is putting together a “Significant Date Calendar” including the dates for Filing Periods, required forms, and filing dates for delegates for the District, State, and National level conventions, which will be given to each County Committee.
c. He noted that the next meeting, the 4th District Convention will be on June 9th and that during that meeting 3 delegates and 3 alternates will be selected to go to the National Republican Convention.
▪Twila Brown, Election Commissioner, announced the following;
a. That the new redistricting maps are available on www.garlandcounty.org.
b. Candidates seeking election to any office and county committee members must file for those positions starting at noon February23rd through noon March 1st, in room 200 of the Garland County Courthouse.
c. That Ballot Position drawing will take place on Friday, March 9th, at 11:00AM.
d. That there will be 3 Early Voting places; the Election Commission building, the Community College, and the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, and 26 locations on election day.
▪Chairman Bancroft announced;
a. The YR’s will have a candidate debate at 1:00PM on April 21st at the Convention Center.
b. The Garland County Community College Students will host a Candidate Forum on March 12th in the Frederick Dierks building, time to be announced later.
c. That all four Congressional candidates will be attending our next meeting on March 1st.
d. He asked that everyone who had not yet completed his Republican Committee Survey do so.
e. He extended an invitation to all Committee Members to attend the Executive Committee meetings.
▪Sue Vaughn announced that Mike Huckabee will be hosting a Fundraising Luncheon for Beth Anne Rankin, on Wednesday, February 15th, at the Hot Springs Country Club, from 11:00AM to 1:30PM, and that tickets available priced at $125.00 per person.
▪Bruce Frykman reminded all Committee members of the tax credit available to them regarding contributions to candidates.
▪Mary Bournival indicated;
a. That the National Republican Committee has signed a resolution condemning the United Nations, Agenda 21, and its extreme environmental stance.
b. She has copies of a letter from the Diocese of Little Rock regarding the impact of Obama Care on the Catholic Church regarding abortions and birth control.
8. Chairman’s Comments
Chairman Bancroft indicated that in order to continue with the Door Prize event at the end of each meeting, we needed individuals who would be willing to donate items to be used as a door prize.
9. Unfinished Business (formerly Old Business)
Sue Vaughn reminded the County Committee that we are involved in a search for new office space and will also be looking for a Campaign Headquarters, and asked that any member or guest with any suggestion please communicate their suggestions to the Executive Committee.
10. New Business
Chairman Bancroft reminded the Committee of the resignation of Bernice Bailey as Refreshment Chairperson, and our past discussions regarding the expenditure of up to $100.00 per meeting for refreshments. Following some discussion Martha Coleman made a motion that we do not have refreshments at all. The motion died for lack of a second. Following addition discussion Chuck Chatham made a motion to approve expending up to $100.00 per meeting on refreshments and accepting contributions of both food and money in order to defray the expense. The nomination was seconded from the floor.
The Chair then asked all those in favor of the motion to stand and be counted. He then asked all of the members opposed to the motion to stand and be counted. The vote to approve the motion passed on a vote of 25 in favor and 15 in opposition.
11. Adjournment
On a motion made and seconded from the floor, the meeting adjourned at 8:35PM
Larry Raney, Secretary RPGC
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