HAZEL: Speaks for many

Christa Hazel, in her My Turn article titled, “Where did the GOP Go?” shares an experience many other conservatives have had with the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC) leadership.

Back in 2010, Melanie Vander Feer, precinct committee officer for Precinct No. 3, in her own My Turn article, made it publicly known the elitists of the extreme right intended to take over control of the KCRCC. She stated the Republican Party is being cleansed of people who are not true Republicans. She further spoke of plans to take over the Central Committee precinct by precinct. This objective has been achieved. So, do we now have a Central Committee acting out of touch with long-standing Republican values? Many believe so.

Sadly, speaking from my own personal experience, the current leadership of the KCRCC promotes division among Republicans, rather than unity. For me, as a lifelong conservative Republican, being in the presence of the committee’s leadership, rather than being warm and welcoming, has been cold and alienating. Their truth, it seems, is the only truth worthy of recognition and consideration. I suspect they are either conveniently oblivious to the frustrations and the concerns of many Republicans in our county, or they simply don’t care to recognize the validity of the differences among the ranks. I have found the current state of this political committee discouraging rather than inviting. I’ve been called a liar for publicly sharing documented, unflattering and factual information about a primary candidate the committee’s leadership chose to endorse. I was threatened with a lawsuit for sharing this information. I’ve also been accused by those in a leadership role of saying things in public forums I never said.

If you are a Republican in Kootenai County, I highly encourage you to make the effort to attend at least one Central Committee meeting. The next meeting will be held at the County Administration Building on Aug. 22 at 7 p.m. Your precinct committee persons are acting as your representatives. As a voter, you are responsible for being well-informed. Are they representing what you truly value? I know many Republicans who state this committee does not reflect what is important to them, and what they believe the Party represents. You may well be disappointed and moved to action by what you hear at these meetings.

DEBORAH ROSE

Kootenai County