In the last paragraph of my post covering the Recall of Josephine County Republican Party Chair Joseph Rice, I said, “We haven’t heard the last of this story–probably not by a long shot.” This is my first update to it.
I have no intention of keeping up with an “inside baseball” breakdown of a local political war on these pages, and yet I feel some responsibility to–now that I’ve embarked on covering an event–to provide as fair a representation as possible of that which is keeping two sides of the local Republican Party at war with itself.
In addition to hearing from Joseph after writing it (comments under the original article), I also heard from Bill Kronert, one of those appearing behind Joseph during his Josephine County Courthouse response to Joseph’s Recall. Bill has been a resident of Josephine County since 2009, and is the Publisher of the blog A Voice Within, in which he writes about topics that matter to him, including local politics.
Bill contacted me after my original post was published, and he was pretty disgusted, believing I was not objective enough in my post, and did not have all the facts. Actually, I’d only gotten involved with this story when I heard that Joseph Rice would be making a statement regarding his Recall at the Josephine County Courthouse.
So I recorded Joseph’s announcement and posted it to my YouTube Channel. But that wasn’t the end of the story, or course!
I then felt I should hear the other side for some balance, which I did, and linked to a video from Jordan Mortenson and a statement from Josephine County PCP Member (and Grants Pass City Council President) Victoria Marshall. These links are available in my original post as noted at the beginning of this article.
But then my post started to feel a bit weighted to the side of those who Recalled Joseph. Oh boy… balancing those scales is not so easy!
I gave full disclosure in my original post to my sense (as a casual observer of the local political scene–I’m not a Josephine County Republican Party Member, though I AM a registered Republican) that Joseph did not seem to do much to support / defend the Josephine County Commissioners, Andreas Blech and Chris Barnett, once they were Recalled. I’ve never pretended to be unbiased, and of course we all have our point of view, it’s just that many people in the media don’t disclose that POV.
In any case, this has become a long way of explaining that I feel it’s fair to create a new post, so that those who backed Joseph are clearly heard. My transparent goal here is to hopefully find some reconciliation between the “warring” Republican Party factions, in the interest of the Party ultimately becoming stronger, and fulfilling the mission of WINNING elections against the Left-wing Democratic Party and its (IMO) destructive prescriptions for Josephine County, and all of Oregon.
Well, let me add a goal that is much more important than that: to help build a better, safer, and more prosperous Josephine County for EVERYONE.
JCRCC: Quorum of One? Not Possible?
I have spoken to several other friends and acquaintances since my original post came out. As one can imagine, some loved it and others hated it, depending on their point of view. I am not here to try to make everybody happy, in fact, in the end, I may make VERY FEW happy!
Here is one of Bill Kronert’s latest posts, JCRCC: Quorum of One? Not Possible and Not Legal. This, or course, deals with the minimum number of voting members who must be present before any official business can take place.
Another recent, related post is Questions of Legitimacy and Ethics Surround the Josephine County GOP Chair Recall.
Someone “above my pay grade” may have to sort this all out. So far, the entity that I’d think would have the authority to do so is the OREGON Republican Party, and what they HAVE done is produce this letter, which I also posted in my original article.
Dear Josephine County PCPs,
I want to take a moment to personally address the recent confusion and public statements regarding the status of the Josephine County Republican Central Committee (JCRCC).
Despite some claims to the contrary, the Josephine County Republican Party is not unorganized. The JCRCC remains organized and functioning under its own bylaws and the bylaws of the Oregon Republican Party (ORP).
While all the officers have recently resigned, one member of the Executive Committee remains duly elected and in office — Delegate Matthew Robinson.
Under Articles IX and XVI of the JCRCC Bylaws, when vacancies occur, the remaining Executive Committee member(s) — including ORP Delegates — are required to appoint temporary (pro tempore) officers until a new leadership team is elected.
Delegate Robinson will promptly appoint temporary officers in order to schedule an election meeting of the Central Committee, where PCPs will elect new county officers and conduct any necessary business. This ensures that the JCRCC retains local authority to function, hold meetings, and continue its work on behalf of Josephine County Republicans.
The Oregon Republican Party has reviewed this matter carefully. ORP Parliamentarian Christina Buehler has confirmed that the Josephine County Republican Party remains organized and empowered to operate in accordance with its bylaws.
Please know that the ORP does not take sides in county-level disputes. Our role is to ensure that all counties follow proper procedure, protect members’ rights, and uphold fairness, transparency, and integrity in Party operations. We will continue to provide procedural guidance as requested.
This is a challenging moment, but also an opportunity — to reset, rebuild trust, and reaffirm what unites us. The work you do as Precinct Committee Persons is essential to our shared mission.
Your dedication, integrity, and commitment to conservative principles are what sustain this Party at every level.
Thank you for continuing to serve with honor and purpose. The Oregon Republican Party stands beside you as you move forward together — stronger, organized, and ready to lead.
With appreciation and optimism,
Connie Whelchel, Chair, Oregon Republican Party
So Where Does This Leave Us?
I do think that Bill’s post brings up at least two legitimate questions: One: was a legal quorum established for the vote?
And two: Out of the existing 174 Josephine County Precinct Committee Persons (PCPs), how many of those are actually in favor of RECALLING Joseph vs. how many are in favor of KEEPING Joseph as Chair?
The bottom line, to me, is that, in the interest of Party unity and strength, the Josephine County Republican Party should get this internal war resolved, which does not necessarily stop at who is in the “legal” right.
It may involve both sides being willing to eat some “humble pie” and finding a way to come together again. After all, there are decent people on BOTH sides of this fight. I’m not saying that everyone would be amenable to this, and I do think that going forward, anyone intent on keeping the war alive should NOT be involved in the Party’s future.
In other words, Unite and WIN, or Divide and LOSE! It shouldn’t be complicated! (at least at establishing an overriding GOAL!)
Okay, Josephine County Republican Party Members, the ball’s in your court!
Patrick Rooney is the Founder of OldSchoolUs.com. He promotes natural health, success, and freedom during chaotic times.
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I am so sick of hearing the words community and united this or that…yet there are almost nobody willing to even be human to the other side respectively either side it’s pathetic the lack of decency…yes I get trashed all the time and often end up looking like crap for trying but better that than this mess…when it’s over all that will be left is the five or six people that braved the other side and would not be deterred…boo hiss on everybody else
Patrick,
Unity is something we all ostensibly value, but like all values, it has limits when it clashes with other values. Take honesty, for example. One should not remain in union with a dishonest person. So those Precinct Committee Persons (PCPs) who chose to continue representing their neighbors and remain in the party now have an opportunity to UNIFY AND WIN–and that is just what we are doing. The new volunteers who have been pouring into the Republican office in Grants Pass in the last two weeks–both as a direct result of the mass exodus of 35 members (officers, staff, and rank-and-file) as well as the advent of the no-gas-tax petition drive–are breathing new life into the party. Our member count has grown to 140 and rising daily, and our office hours have increased to 35 hours/week, with over 20 staff volunteers manning the front desk. We have elected all new officers and they have hit the ground running. It’s a new day for the JoCo Republican Party! Come on down and join the fun, have some coffee and good conversation!
To clarify: not everyone who left the party is dishonest or unethical. Some were good folks, and we hope they come back someday when the dust settles.
Sorry for the delay in posting your reply, Arden, I did not see it for a time. I wholeheartedly agree with your main point about unity. And I must admit that since the previous Chair of the Party was Recalled, and the Party has brought on many new members, Party activity–as you say and I have observed with my own eyes–has exploded. And though I am not a part of the Party (other than as a Registered Republican), this is a problem I noted from the sidelines of the past leadership–I didn’t see much going on. Now, I understand that they may have been doing a lot of re-organizing or rebuilding, but as far as VISIBLE activity to either defend the County Commissioners under Recall, or advance other big initiatives in the county, I just didn’t see it–meaning paying attention to Facebook, “word on the street,” etc. Action = results. And I could see the Party on the defensive, not the offensive.