Fight too costly to continue
To the editor:
Some people have called me a quitter for resigning from the Republican Executive Committee (REC). Also, mentioned was Gov. Sarah Palin. I don’t know her reasons for resigning but perhaps her huge legal bills played into her decision.
For those who may have forgotten, or had not heard, I will briefly recount the details of my election last August (which I won with 73 percent of the vote) to be the Republican State Committeewoman from Lee County. I filed by the end of qualifying and signed a loyalty oath presented to me by the Supervisor of Elections. Later I found out that the State Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) Chairman had sent a letter less than a week before qualifying, saying the RPOF loyalty oath had to be signed by the end of qualifying. This decision was mostly unknown except County party chairs could now control who was seated. Actually I signed three oaths in less than two months.
I understand there were approximately 200 winners who were not seated. Most of those affected were Precinct Committee people. Two were State Committee positions – Pastor Brian Longworth from St. Lucie County and mine. Brian happened to live in the same County as the RPOF Asst Treasurer (who would have lost this position if Brian were seated). Brian and I both filed Credential challenges when we were notified that we would not be seated. The Credentials Committee Chair did not notify us of the time when they would meet to discuss our grievance, but they did notify our opponents. The outcome was we were not seated and our challenges were dismissed. I say again that I was elected with 73 percent of the vote.
To add to this information: In Miami-Dade, 19 Precinct Committee people won but were not seated. They filed a lawsuit, won, and were seated. RPOF and the Miami-Dade REC filed an appeal with the 3d District Court of Appeals. On Aug. 26, the 3d District issued their opinion. Both the Majority and Minority Opinions supported the Precinct Committee people. With this precedent, I could move forward with a lawsuit, but the expense would not necessarily be paid for by RPOF with their loss of the suit, and I had heard it would cost thousands of dollars. I think those dollars can be better spent with one of the charities I support.
It’s unfortunate that politics has become less than honorable and anything goes. The adage of power corrupting has never been truer.
Marilyn Stout
Cape Coral