It must be a fun time to be a Democrat in Clark County. You would think that with five professed Republicans on the Board of County Councilors (BOCC), it would be exactly the opposite, but it’s not. And things appear to only be getting worse.
It’s not a dynamic unique to us in this corner of the country. Nationally, the same battle lines have been drawn among members of the Grand Old Party, which has actually become two parties in one.
On one side is the more conservative members, who many believe align closer with Libertarians than with Republicans. The other segment of the party is the more moderate members. For the life of me, I don’t understand it, but it’s becoming painfully obvious that the two sides, both locally and nationally, would rather divide and weaken the party rather than find some common ground and strengthen it.
No greater illustration is needed than what is going on in Clark County, and with the five members of the BOCC. Councilors David Madore and Tom Mielke are clearly more aligned with the more conservative Republicans in the area. Jeanne Stewart and Julie Olson represent the moderate members of the party.
Newly elected County Chair Marc Boldt stated in the last election that he has no party preference, even though he was a past member of the Republican Party and was still a Republican precinct committee officer (PCO). Remember, Boldt was censured in 2012 by the party’s executive board for actions members considered out of step with the party.
In the recent election, the Clark County Republicans supported the Write In Liz Pike for County Chair campaign. The moderates formed a coalition and later a political action committee (PAC) to support Boldt’s campaign.
As you now know, Boldt, Stewart and Olson have spent the first month of the new year undoing several recent actions approved by Madore and Mielke in the final weeks of last year, including repealing a 2 percent cut in the property tax revenue collected by the county. There’s little doubt in my mind that the three will soon repeal the previously approved Alternative 4 update to the county’s Comprehensive Growth Plan. I find the actions of the new majority disappointing.
As someone who considers himself to possess a largely conservative ideology, albeit with no ties to either group of Republicans in Clark County, I was hoping the members of the BOCC would find some common ground soon and get some things accomplished before we have another election and the makeup of the council is changed. But, there’s no indication that’s going to happen anytime soon.
On Feb. 6, the Republicans of Clark County PAC will hold a fundraising dinner. For $65, you or I could go and enjoy a steak and salmon dinner, participate in a raffle and silent auction and listen to Master of Ceremony Paul Harris (State Representative, 17th District) and other speakers including Ann Rivers (State Senator, 18th District), Brandon Vick (State Representative, 18th District) and Lynda Wilson (State Representative, 17th District).
Some of you will try to read between the lines of this editorial and interpret which group I’m more aligned with. If you do that, you’re wasting your time. I don’t have a dog in the fight. I’m one of the few people in the area screaming at the top of my lungs for the two sides to shake themselves and stop this holy war and start working together.
A further illustration of why none of us should expect that to happen anytime soon is a letter that was shared with me from Clark County State Committeeman Christian Berrigan to area Republicans.
Berrigan was clear to preface his remarks by saying, “Please note this letter is not making any statement on behalf of the Clark County Republican Party. This letter was written to be from me personally and to republicans or other conservatives who are running or likely to run for office in 2016 and whose districts are in or include Clark County.’’
Forty-six Clark County Republican PCO’s and two others signed on to the letter (dated Jan. 22), which made it very clear that any future Republican candidate that attends the Feb. 6 Republicans of Clark County PAC event will not receive any support from Berrigan in the future.
“I’ve decided not to donate any of my personal time or resources to any candidate or other elected servant who gives support or credibility to any organization so overtly hostile toward the Clark County Republican Party and some republican office holders,’’ Berrigan wrote.
I will confess that my ideology is often very much in line with Berrigan, so I’m not presenting him to be the villain or the only one at fault in this ridiculous situation. But, it’s actions like his letter that are only dividing the party more and thereby weakening it. And, from those who I’ve talked to, it hasn’t deterred any of the moderate Republicans from attending the Feb. 6 event. In fact, it has had the exact opposite effect. Those on the other side of the party are stampeding to get their reservations.
“This shadow party and their agenda is for me, an absolute political adversary,’’ Berrigan wrote of the Republicans of Clark County. “They epitomize the Washington DC establishment mentality now suffering so greatly in the primary polls. They are part of a MULTI-PARTY ESTABLISHMENT which advances liberal agendas regardless of the letter they place after their name. It is only logical that I cannot donate my resources to those who would support an organization which is at such odds with my goals.’’
Unfortunately, it kind of reminds me of the scorched-earth mentality that led to the famous quote from the Vietnam War. “We had to destroy the village in order to save it.’’
Ken Vance
Editor
