SOLUTION? SIMPLE. FOLLOW THE RULES

GE&P was inundated with telephone calls this past weekend. It seems a large number of Berkeley County Republicans are concerned about some issues. All of the callers knew our reorganization meetings are being held this Thursday, March 5th. All knew the individual precinct meetings are being held at the regular voting locations in each precinct. There was no confusion on that level. But, all of the callers were totally confused about the make-up meeting and the county convention. They were calling for a clarification on the wording of the SC Code of Law and the SCGOP Rules pertaining to reorganization.

According to both sources, a make-up meeting must be held in order to address unfinished business left over from the original reorganization meetings. This process gives people who were unable to attend the original meetings, the ability to participate in reorganization. According to the Law and the Rules, this make-up meeting must be held in a central location. For the benefit of the leadership and any parliamentarians reading this post, this means there has to be a make-up meeting and the meeting has to be held in one place with any or all precincts attending.

It seems all of the callers had heard that the chairman, Wade Arnette, had decided not to hold a make-up meeting. Also, they heard Mr. Arnette said that if the meeting was held, it would not be one collective meeting with all precincts attending. Instead, it would be individual meetings held at their polling place in each precinct exactly like their original meeting.

GE&P decided to clarify the confusion by going directly to the horse's mouth. We contacted the chairman, Mr. Wade Arnette. We asked where and when the make-up meeting is scheduled. Mr. Arnette said he had not decided whether or not a make-up meeting would be held. GE&P reminded Mr. Arnette that the Law and Rules dictate such a meeting. Mr. Arnette informed us he knew the Law and the Rules and did not need us to tell him what they are. We told Mr. Arnette GE&P was not suggesting he did not know the Laws and Rules. Our question was whether or not he intended to follow the Laws and Rules.

Then, Mr. Arnette asked how we could expect him to tell anyone where the make-up meeting would be held when he didn't even know where the county convention was to be held. At that point, GE&P sadly realized we had come to the proverbial hen house for wool. It is blatantly obvious that the only solution to this disregard for Rules and Law, this total lack of organization and planning, and this unprofessional behavior is a polar shift in leadership for the Berkeley County Republican Party organization.