Candidates Reject Republican Party in Campbell

 Published October 7, 2011 in the Lynchburg Ledger

In Campbell County, last year’s election is having a profound impact on this year’s election. 

The Campbell County Republican Party (CCRP) has become a dysfunctional political organization after sustaining an overwhelming rejection at the polls in 2010.

The domination of the (CCRP) by the politically active Boyer family has inhibited operation for some years but it came to a head in the 2010 election where Rick Boyer obtained the Republican nomination for Clerk of the Campbell County Circuit Court.  Many Republicans felt Boyer was unqualified for the position and was seeking a paycheck and a base for political activity.

Not one single current or former Campbell County elected official endorsed his candidacy.  Rather, they endorsed the Acting Clerk of the Court Sheila Bosiger.

The citizens of Campbell County overwhelmingly rejected Boyer in favor of Bosiger by a 55 percent to 33 percent margin. 

Under Republican rules, those who are party members and openly support a candidate opposing a Republican candidate are “deemed to have resigned” from the Republican Party.  This happens from time to time in various jurisdictions throughout the Commonwealth.  When it does, the normal procedure is that at the first party meeting following the election, a motion is made to reinstate those who were “deemed to have resigned.”  Those members are normally reinstated and the party goes back to business as usual.

However, in Campbell County, losing candidate Rick Boyer led the opposition to reinstate those members which included two members of the Board of Supervisors and the Commonwealth’s Attorney, all who were elected as Republicans.  It also included me.

It was obvious that Rick Boyer preferred revenge and retribution over reconciliation and restoration.  The motion to reinstate failed by three votes as he actively encouraged a “No” vote.

Additionally, Rick Boyer has presented some very radical views within the CCRP.  For example, he proposed a change to the Bylaws that would prohibit county elected officials from being voting membership in the party.  This was reported to the Republican Party of Virginia which shot down Boyer’s draconian plan.

Boyer’s hand-picked Chairman of CCRP, Will Kirk, has ignored the CCRP Bylaws and Robert’s Rules of Order ever since he took office in 2010. 

For one example, the Bylaws state that the Secretary shall send out the notice of all meeting.  Kirk prohibited the Secretary from doing her duty and notified only people he wanted at the meeting. 

In another example, the meetings are supposed to be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order, but the minutes of the previous meeting have never distributed to the membership and never ratified by the membership.  Consequently, there is no official record of any meeting since Kirk became chairman.

This Chicago-style political operation is completely unacceptable to many political conservatives in Campbell County.  As a result, candidates who would have normally sought the Republican nomination have instead rejected the Republican Party in favor of an independent candidacy.

With the retirement of Sheriff Terry Gaddy and Commonwealth’s Attorney Neil Vener, both elected as Republicans, their chief deputies decided to run to replace them.  Both chief deputies were members of the CCRP but opted to reject the local Republican Party and seek office as independent candidates. 

They are Major Steve Hutcherson running for Sheriff and Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul McAndrews running for Commonwealth’s Attorney.

Shortly thereafter, 5-term Concord District Supervisor Eddie Gunter, also elected as a Republican, rejected the CCRP and filed as an independent. 

Finally, one term Sunburst Supervisor Steve Shockley, elected as a Republican, also decided to reject the CCRP and run as an independent.

In order to support the best qualified candidates for Campbell County, a group of current and former members of the CCRP decided to form a new organization.  The first organizational meeting was held in July where the name of the organization chosen, officers were elected and a committee was formed to draft a set of Bylaws.  A second meeting was held in July at which the draft of the Bylaws were debated, finalized and adopted. 

The name if this new organization is the Independent Conservatives of Campbell County (ICCC) and the mission statement adopted is, “To support and elect qualified conservative candidates with integrity for public office and to advance the outcomes of political issues and legislation.”

ICCC has also filed with the State Board of Elections as a Political Action Committee (PAC).

The ICCC has endorsed:

• Major Steve Hutcherson for Sheriff
• Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul McAndrews for Commonwealth’s Attorney
• Steve Shockley, Supervisor from Sunburst District and current Chairman of the Board, for re-election.
• Eddie Gunter, Jr., Supervisor from Concord District, running for re-election.
• R. Leon Brandt, Jr, School Board Member from Sunburst District, for re-election
• Lorraine Blanks Potter for Supervisor in the new Spring Hill District

The ICCC endorsed the following Republican candidates:

• Robin Jefferson, Treasurer of Campbell County, for re-election.
• Calvin Massie, Commissioner of the Revenue, for re-election.
• C. Matt Fariss for 59^th District Delegate.

In upcoming columns, I will be discussing each contested Campbell County race in detail.