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Local GOP to comply with state bylaws
During a meeting of the committee Monday evening at Gloria's Pour House restaurant in Grove Hill, Chairman Edmon McKinley said he had been directed to increase the number of committee members by state party director Tim Howe. Seventh District Vice President Pierce Boyd was in attendance for the meeting to observe the proceedings. In December, following the November 2006 General Election, a group of Republicans began scrutinizing the practices of the Clarke County Republican Executive Committee concerning what it called violations of the state committee's bylaws and said they wanted to have the current committee revamped or replaced. Billy Dukes, of Jackson, served as spokesperson for the group, which has claimed that several major infractions occurred involving the management of the committee, which falls under the direction of its McKinley. The group alleged that the incorrect number of committee members existed, therefore making the committee itself invalid. "According to the bylaws we should have at least 25 committee members (according to the county's population), and currently we have only 10," said Dukes. McKinley himself was accused of violating the state bylaws by failing to make public the membership of the county committee and not filing a list of its members with the state party as required. He was also accused of not publicly posting committee meetings, which is required under state regulations. Following these allegations Howe said, "Some counties have stronger Republican support than others. Because of this we (the state party) give county committees considerable autonomy. I'm sure there will always be some debate in counties about the practices of their respective committees. I think this is healthy because it is part of the democratic process." At that time, McKinley would only go on record as saying, "If we (the county committee) have any problems I will discuss them with the state party people to resolve them." In January, Dukes and another member of the group Dr. Alan W. Savage, also of Jackson, drafted a resolution citing the infractions and submitted it to the Alabama Republican Executive Committee for consideration. The resolution also called for changes in the Clarke County Republican Executive Committee to bring it into compliance. The resolution requested that it be expanded to the required 25 members by appointing candidates who unsuccessfully sought committee seats during the June 2006 Primary, county Republican candidates from the 2006 election, current Republican officeholders and former Republican officeholders from the past eight years. While the number of committee members was increased to 25 in order to comply with state regulations, none of those who unsuccessfully sought committee seats during the June 2006 primary were appointed. Neither were any of the current nor past Republican officeholders as requested in the resolution. In the past, an additional three committee members at large were appointed by the chairman. The increase to 25 total members adds an additional 12. During Monday's meeting, McKinley said he had asked for suggestions from existing committee members for the 12 that were added. The three at large appointed were Susan Davis, Darin Raybon and Daphne Casteel. The new 12 appointees are Bill Hill, Ivey Griffin, Sharon Jones, Joe DuBose, Sam Houston, Delores Fleming, John Winters, Joe Day, Bob Bumpers, Helen Skipper and Ron Scogin. McKinley said an attempt was made to represent a cross-section of the county's districts with the appointments. None of the leadership positions on the committee were changed. In fact, a vote was conducted prior to the appointments to re-elect the existing officers to their current positions. It passed unanimously.
Dukes, who was present for the meeting, said he was glad to see that the committee had complied with the bylaws by increasing the number of members to the required 25, but questioned why none of the appointments suggested made by the group he represents were made. "Some of those who ran for committee seats in June last year only lost by a few votes," he said. "What does this tell the voters of this county? Does it tell them their votes don't count for anything?"
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