Lucas County Republican Party discourages candidates, donors
To the editor,
As is well known by now, the Lucas County Republican Party is in disarray, as evidenced by the June 11 reorganization meeting. As background, I am the 59-year-old grandmother knocked to the ground by “security” at that meeting. While that incident is interesting, what led up to it is what’s important.
It started early when party Chairman Jon Stainbrook’s people were checking in central committee precinct people. Observers and other duly elected central committee people (other than his) were barred from entering the building. Fortunately, TV cameras showed up and that practice ended.
When checking in central committee representatives, some people (Stainbrook’s friends) received orange lanyards. I did not receive a lanyard. I asked Meghan Gallagher and Kelly Bensman why I did not get a lanyard and I was subjected to more verbal assault by their security people and threatened with being thrown from the building.
After the meeting was called to order, things started to go downhill fast. New rules were introduced without the opportunity to review them. The new rules were read aloud by the chair, Gallagher, who only recognized “orange lanyard” committee people to speak and ignored the rest of the assembled central committee folks.
Our voices were strategically ignored. Did we get loud? Yes, what else could we do to try to represent our districts if we were excluded from participating? It was at this time that some longtime officeholders, Rob Ludeman, Lynn Olman and probably a dozen other prominent Republicans, left in disgust, some of them tearing up their certificates saying they couldn’t be a part of the fiasco.
The “security” consisted of really big guys in tight black T-shirts designed to show off their muscles. But that wasn’t enough; they also openly carried guns, Tasers and handcuffs. I believe they were there to intimidate the central committee people without the lanyards because they only harassed those of us who did not get a lanyard. I believe that was also part of Stainbrook’s strategy. Some of the security folks said they were only following orders when questioned as to why they were acting as they were to those of us without lanyards.
From the beginning, I was targeted by security. I was pushed around and told to shut up and sit down, even as the lanyard people were free to do as they pleased. I was repeatedly threatened with being thrown out of the building. I was told there were restricted areas I could not be in even though “orange lanyard” central committee people were there. I was threatened verbally all night long. I was pushed forcefully on more than one occasion. At one point, Central Commission Vice Chairman Jonathan Anderson slapped my cellphone out of my hand. It landed 3 feet away on the floor with the cover knocked off of it.
After Stainbrook had won his vote, I left the meeting for a couple of minutes and went outside for a breath of fresh air; when I attempted to return to the meeting, I was met by Alex Rivera and three big guys with guns. I showed my credentials, explaining (yes, loudly, because they were shouting in my face) that I had not only the right, but also the obligation to my precinct to be in that meeting. Then I was gang-pushed to the door and knocked to the ground. Another gentleman, even though he was following orders from “security,” was pushed to the ground as well. All of this is documented on videotape. Police and EMT were called. You can see this at http://www.lcrp2014.com/.
I am relatively new to politics. I am only doing this because I think my grandkids deserve better. I am shocked at the way this unfolded. I did nothing to deserve being treated that way. The people of Lucas County deserve better.
So what’s the solution? More people have to get involved. We need more people to stand up against this kind of politics. We do not have to settle for politics as usual. There are simple ways to help change the status quo: get involved as a precinct person and get active in a local Republican club. Stay informed by getting on the Northwest Ohio Conservative Coalition email list at www.nwohiocc.com.
While all of this is interesting, and might be dismissed as in-party faction disagreements, I believe the most important part of the meeting was when Ludeman and the others walked out because they do not want to be part of this lawless organization. It’s not just a faction in the party dispute.
The bottom line is this: Amid this turmoil, why would good people be inspired to run for office as a Republican? Why would donors contribute money?
Diana Skaff
Jerusalem 1 Precinct
Lucas County Republican Party
