improperly
conducted. Read complaint and follow up correspondence below regarding the
directive to conduct a new organization meeting under the supervision of the
MCRC.
Complaint
LaFaro received Mon. morning, Nov 24: Subject: Re: LD16
1. Chad Heywood conspired
w/ Deborah Miller (both state officers, Deborah was a
candidate for Recording Sec on their slate.) Mara Benson and Taylor
McArthur to create a fraudulent election. Deborah Miller w/the
assistance of Chad and Mara took over Credentialing. (she was a candidate). I
had found volunteers W/ election experience and training to handle
credentialing they were thrown out. Even my complete proxy was not excepted by
Deborah.
2. Incomplete proxies were accepted (a couple were seen) but
Deborah allowed no one to see the proxy count or validate. All w/the assistance
of Chad and Mara acting as Chair. The proxies and all were taken w/ no one to
oversee but Deborah and Chad.
3. The meeting was adjourned w/out all elections results being
announced.
4. I want Deborah and Chad removed from their positions
and a new election called. -- Jerry E. Clingman - LD16
Chairman
An
Open Letter Responding to Accusations of Fraud in the LD16 Leadership
Election
From
Deborrah Miller, Assistant Secretary of the Arizona Republican Party
"There
is an old saying that if you say a lie long enough and often enough people will
start to believe it is true."
For the past few days I've seen attacks on
my character and allegations made and assumed that people would know they were
bogus. Unfortunately, I'm finding that some folks will lie and malign without
regard to facts or due process if it means holding on to a little power, and in
a large state and county, people aren't sure what the facts were. You have only
read one side of the story, and it is factually incorrect and offensively
defamatory.
For new PCs who may not know me, I am a grassroots
conservative who's been involved in the party for two decades. I've given my
life to this party. You have elected me as your assistant secretary of the state
party twice unopposed. I served under Tom Morrissey, was actively involved in
the party under Randy Pullen, and have served the past few years under Chairman
Graham. I have been there counting petitions on controversial issues like the
McCain censure. At all times I've acted with integrity.
Some other
names you may not know -- Sharon Giese is our elected National Committeewoman
and has served in that capacity with Randy Pullen, Tom Morrissey, and Chairman
Graham. She has also served as the RNC's elected Parliamentarian. Chad Heywood
is the Executive Director of the Arizona Republican party. George Khalaf is the
Political Director of the Arizona Republican party.
Jerry Clingman, the
chairman of LD 16, did not attend his own meeting to stand for re-election.
Jerry was in Wisconsin on a hunting vacation, and he's still there now! That he
speaks as if he were a witness to events at the election is a joke. Here are the
facts of what happened at the LD 16 meeting, as will be attested by myself,
Sharon Giese, Chad Heywood, George Khalaf, and MANY LD 16 PCs who were eye
witnesses to the entire process.
Jerry Clingman asked 1st Vice Chairman
Mara Benson, a candidate for re-election, to chair the meeting in his absence.
Mara asked me for assistance because she knows my background and integrity with
the elections process.
Jerry had failed in his duty to appoint a
Credentials committee before he left on vacation. Seemingly at the last minute,
he asked his live-in partner, Kay Reardon, a candidate for Corresponding
Secretary, to manage credentials. It soon became clear to Mara and me, and many
other members present, that Kay was in no way prepared for this duty.
1. Kay had asked volunteers who were not Precinct Committeemen to
help with credentials. This is against LD 16 by-laws. I informed Kay that this
could not be allowed.
2. Kay had no plan to validate proxies on signing
in or to determine the right amount of ballots for each PC based on proxies
carried.
3. Kay did not bring a ballot box. It makes you wonder if she
even realized we were having an election.
Kay's lack of basic
preparation put Mara in a bind as the presiding officer. In order to ensure a
smooth and fair election, she asked me to observe and help with the process.
Chad Heywood and George Khalaf from the state party were also there to observe.
Maricopa County had sent no representation.
Credentials and
Proxies
Neither Chad nor George checked anyone in at credentials. Chad
simply gave his perspective when asked about disputes.
Jerry Clingman
claims that his proxy was rejected. It was not. I questioned Jerry's proxy
initially because it was a fax, not an original. I consulted with Chad Heywood
and Sharon Giese; on their recommendation, I approved the proxy and ensure that
his assignee, Kay Reardon, received a ballot for him. Apparently AJ LaFaro's
main witness and information source doesn't even know whether or not he cast a
vote at the meeting! (Hint, Jerry: You did.)
Nobody disputed the
credential process. There was a motion from the floor to accept the credentials
report, and it was passed without questions. Nobody was turned away. Credentials
were approved by the body at the meeting and NOT ONE PERSON AT THE MEETING
QUESTIONED IT. Not even Kay Reardon.
Kay sought to invalidate two proxy
forms because they did not provide the witnesses' phone numbers. Her argument
was that if you don't have a witnesses number you can't verify them so they
should be thrown out. Take a look at the official proxy forms in the MCRC and
AZGOP bylaws, and you'll see that there isn't even a place on the forms for a
witness phone number.
I concluded and communicated that a proxy form is
valid if it includes the correct information and signatures. You can't throw out
a proxy because a witness who is not a voter in this election doesn't have a
phone number. Not even voter registration requires a phone number! Just as the
affidavit for becoming a PC asks for email and phone number, but does not
require it. The legal counsel to the state Republican party who has served in 3
different chairmen's administrations agrees with me on this. Mara as the
presiding officer accepted the proxies.
Two proxies were thrown out
because they did not include the name of the person who was carrying the proxy.
Senator Dave Farnsworth was carrying them. Dave understood it was an effort to
play by the rules and respected the judgment whole-heartedly. He is a good man.
AT ALL TIMES KAY WAS PART OF THE PROCESS and JERRY CLINGMAN THE ACCUSER
WAS NOT IN ATTENDANCE! Michelle Ives who was in attendance sat at the proxy
table and viewed what was done. I understand that there can be differences of
interpretation, but when that is the case, the chair of the meeting makes the
final judgment and the chair of the meeting was Mara Benson.
Ballot
Box
Brian
Orner grabbed an open crate at the school to be used for a ballot box because
Kay did not bring one. Chad Heywood asked Spencer Pearce, a candidate for 2nd
Vice Chair and a nephew of Russell Pearce, to observe the box as ballots were
cast because he knew that Spencer was a friend of Kay and Jerry and Spencer's
integrity was without question. George Khalaf from the state party also viewed
the ballot box to make sure it was observed at all times.
Ballot
Counting
Chad
Heywood invited Representative Kelly Townsend to observe the vote counting as an
act of transparency. Kelly had endorsed and spoken for Jerry Clingman who was
not there for his own meeting. I believe that Chad invited her to observe so
that Jerry's supporters would feel confident in the fairness of the process. In
the room counting votes were Spencer Pearce, Chad Heywood, myself, Michelle
Ives, and another PC whom Jerry and Kay had asked to help with the process.
The state committeeman nomination process began, and voting began for
the state committee. Mara the chair then read the results of the officer
election.
The results were:
Of the 108 eligible PC's, 33
attended by proxy and 52 were present for a total of 85 voters. 79%
turnout!
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