A website calling itself PR Pond re-printed a press release from the Beth Gaines campaign regarding the ElDorado CRA decision to commit their delegates to Beth Gaines.
I was alerted to this by Matt Williams who was irate over the pre-decision:
FYI, I have sent the following to the assorted newspapers of the 4th District:
I just read online at a posting dated January 18, 2011, at “PR Pond Newswire” that “The El Dorado County California Republican Assembly voted to send all 3 delegates to the general assembly where they will cast their votes to endorse Beth Gaines over prior favorite David Allard for the 4th Assembly District seat.” The endorsing convention for the Republic Party is to be held in Roseville on Monday night, January 24, 2011, with each candidate accorded ten minutes in which to make a presentation. I had all intentions of attending until I read this online news and determined that the convention would be a waste of my time. I would like to know how the pursuit of effective, responsive, and responsible government is advanced when a group of delegates from El Dorado County can determine the fitness of any of the candidates for the State Assembly by endorsing someone without first speaking to the candidates or without listening to them present their platforms at the convention? This makes a mockery of the political process. Is this how we want to encourage citizens to get involved in politics? I have been so disillusioned by this episode of politics-as-usual, that I have decided to run for the Assembly seat as an independent.
I take due note that the website missed John Allard’s name.
Is this a case of Beth Gaines’ crew doing their job so well that they successfully alienated another candidate?
Is Matt Williams justified in his frustration?
I just want to add that it was our leadership not the Beth Gaines Campaign that decided to refuse to allow Mr Williams to attend. Which is part of the problem – The leadership not the club decided to hand pick the speakers and we the membership had agreed in our Jan meeting to hear from ALL CANDIDATES – We where not told until the night of the event that our Chairwoman had decided on her own that she would decide who was and was not qualified to be allowed to talk to us??? Not a single paid good standing member of our club agreed to this and in the end it cost Allard the support of the club!! John should congratulate the Chair for costing him his chance and Mr. Williams should direct his anger towards them not us???
I would also like to point out that according to CRA State ByLaws Section 19.03 THE MEMBERSHIP not the leadership is supposed to pick it’s delegates??? The definition of delegate is as follows: a person designated to act for or represent another or others; deputy; representative, as in a political convention. TO VOTE AS PER THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE CLUB!!! Not to hand pick those that support the leadership only?? i.e. Sacramento CRA?? They haven’t even had an organizational meeting yet for Jan But the leadership who openly supports Allard hand picked his own delegates with no input from the membership????? HUM
Rodney – please don’t quote part of the by-laws. You should realize that the same section allows clubs to set their own policy.
Since ElDorado’s deferred to the state by-laws, this is what allowed you guys to override the previous vote. Your comments above are not 100% accurate.
There was no previous vote?? I attend all meetings and we never voted on anything regarding the endorsing convention!!