I published John Taylor's email concerning his efforts to become Madison County Republican Party Chairman this morning. Bill Billingsley sent out an email this afternoon that I think deserves equal time:
Friends, I am taking advantage of yet another mass e-mail to try and communicate with as many you as possible, so please forgive the impersonal nature of this message. The message itself is the important part - not the method of delivery.
We all have an opportunity Saturday, April 28 to get involved with the process that ultimately determines the laws and regulations by which we live our daily lives. Madison County Republican voters meet at 10:00 in the morning (try to be a little early) at their regular voting precincts to pick delegates to the Madison County Republican Convention, which will be held at 3:00 Saturday afternoon at the county courthouse in Canton. One delegate and alternate will be chosen from each precinct, and at the county convention they will elect the county party's Executive Committee as well as delegates and alternates to the state Republican Party convention in May. Needless to say, these elections are important and I hope all of you will participate in your caucuses and attend the county convention, even if you're not chosen as a delegate. The more people that want to be involved with the future of the party, the better for Madison County and all concerned. I would like to serve on the Executive Committee and would appreciate your vote if you become a delegate, and I encourage anyone else to offer themselves for service as well.
The Executive Committee's chief role is to run the county Republican primary elections. It's a very labor intensive job and requires the coordinated effort of many people, and it's important that the EC members involved are well trained and ready to perform this task. Ample opportunities for training are available through the state party, and plenty of local Republican activists are experienced and willing to help guide new members, so don't worry if you haven't done it before. Outside of running the elections, which occur every four years when county officials are elected, there are many other functions the Committee performs. Important among these is fundraising, and our county has always had generous contributors to Republican causes. We have to raise money to pay for the workers in the primary elections, but there is much more that we can do if the fundraising can support it. Finally, there are other party building activities that need to be done - member recruitment, candidate recruitment, communication, voter registration, campaign work for Republican candidates...the list goes on, and dedicated workers are needed to perform these vital functions.
I also believe that it's important to involve the next generation in building and running party operations. I would like for us to reach out to the twenty- and thirty-something Republicans among our number and invite them to be more involved in the party. Members of the older generation, like myself, are extremely lucky to have such bright young people to pick up the work we've been doing. Senator Will Longwitz is the first Republican state senator from Madison County in many years. Russ Latino, a popular local conservative talk radio host, is a brilliant attorney who has done yeoman work for county Republicans in the redistricting fight last year, and might be the person most responsible for setting the stage for the Republican takeover of the House of Representatives. Cory Wilson, another great attorney who was involved in the redistricting fight as well, is well known for his conservative columns in the Madison County Journal. Grant Callen is a tireless worker for conservative causes at the Mississippi Center for Public Policy. Spence Flatgard has done years of legal work for the county election commission and the board of supervisors, and is well versed in the political process. We are lucky that all these and many others make their homes in Madison County, and I encourage any of you who find yourselves as delegates to the county convention to consider these and other young men and women for a position on the Executive Committee and for further leadership positions as applicable.
Finally, I would like to encourage you to support full inclusion of all areas of Madison County in your choices for the Executive Committee. While there are three statutory seats from each supervisory district on the committee, the at large members have generally been from the southern part of the county. We have great leaders in Ridgeland and Madison, but we also have dedicated and bright Republicans in Canton and Flora and other areas of the county. I would like to see more involvement from Republicans who live in the Democrat supervisory districts so we can begin to convert as many as we can to our way of thinking.
Let's have a good turnout tomorrow and continue to move Madison County and our Republican Party to the prominence we deserve!
Bill Billingsley
Friday, April 27, 2012
Equal time for Bill
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11 comments:
dont know either, but billingsley presents far better argument--
Will the Issaquena County Republican convention get this much coverage?
Billingsly hasn't served on the executive committee. He hasn't worked an election. The poll workers don't know him. He has no experience. Let him serve on the committee and build up some credentials with the party.
Have all those names he dropped officially endorsed him? Since Mr. Billingsly frequents this site, why not let him speak to this?
Can anyone tell me who in the Madison County Republican Party leadership supported "go-along-get along" Greg Harper, over a proven leader - Charlie Ross, who gave Mississippi the Castle Law?
The irony of this is that these folks go nuts over the MCREC when they might get some recognition. You know, state convention and the national convention. BUT, during down years, the MCREC has little interest and if you want on the executive committee all you have to do is attend 2-3 meetings and express an interest. Very few of these folks are in this for the right reasons. I think Billingsley might shake it up a bit. Good luck Bill.
Why drop the names of all the bloodsucking lawyers who are looking for a pay check?
I haven't served on the EC, although I have been to meetings and participated in the activities. I haven't run an election, although I've been involved in many aspects, from candidate recruitment to poll watching to witnessing the Resolution Committee after the election. I have not sought this office, although I would like to serve on the committee. I have, however, responded to the people who asked me to allow my name to be submitted for election to the Chair by telling them that if nominated I'll be glad to run and if elected I'll be glad to do my best in the position. I believe the things I said in my e-mail, and I think the Madison County Republican Party will be well served with new leadership.
The "bloodsucking lawyers" mentioned by 7:40 are all good men who have worked long and hard for the betterment of the Republican Party and Madison County, and I'm proud to have them as my friends and fellow activists. Bill Billingsley
The poll workers are generally retirees as the general public cannot take off an entire day from their job to ask a voter to sign their names beside the registry. The poll workers' position has zilch to do with Mr. Billingsley "building credentials".
Mr. Billingsley has frequently offered his opinion, based on intellect and experience, on this informative blog.
>>Anonymous April 29, 2012 8:23 AM
You are mistaken. The chairman of the party is responsible for holding all the primary elections. He/she recruits, trains, hires and communicates with those poll workers. Those poll workers are usually Republican voters too and are the ones who are faithful to always help the party chairman. Their relationship with the chairman is very important. I'm quite certain they would think their views matter and that someone with experience in elections would be helpful.
April 27 5:33PM:
I would be one of that number, and proudly so. My experience is that a person governs like they campaign. That's why GH is the best man for that job. He gives everyone an audience even if he doesn't agree with you. Maybe your argument, whatever it is, isn't quite that convincing? Or maybe your of the ilk that would prefer to take your ego more seriously than your ideas. Representation, whether it be in Congress, or on the Madison County EC, is about moving forward, not backward and not sitting still. Some of us believe conservatism offers a true path forward and that our candidates and party need not allow the blindly ambitious to rule the day.
By the way, Bill deserves a great deal of credit for being the man to heal a worried and split EC on Saturday. It was he who nominated John Taylor, and seconded the motion to close the nomination immediately. Now we can move ahead doing the work that needs to be done . . . together as a group.
Rankin County GOP has allowed the election commissioneers to hire and train the poll workers.
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