NSR: Klinger Propose Accountability, Checks and Balances for Summit GOP

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CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH - Carol Klinger, candidate for Summit County Republican Party Chair, today proposed comprehensive rules for the Summit County Republican Party. The rules will be considered when the part's Central Committee holds its organizational meeting this month.

"The Summit County Republican Party has no by-laws or comprehensive rules," Klinger said. "It’s defining rule is a resolution that transfers all power granted by the Ohio Revised code to govern the party from the Central Committee to Alex Arshinkoff’s hand-picked Executive Committee. These Articles of Regulation for the party define procedures and create essential checks and balances for a better organization."

Highlights:

No more petitions to run for Central Committee
Petitions are a hassle and are unnecessary. Ohio law allows parties to have Central Committee candidates file a simple form at the Board of Elections. (Article I(b))

Fair and open elections for party officers and slates
Requires nominations to be made from the floor for officers and allows them to be nominated as a slate to save time in the meeting. Requires secret ballots in contested elections. (Article II(a))

No outside influence on Central Committee at meetings
The Central Committee is the governing committee of the party having been elected by the people. Clarifies that nonmembers do not have rights to the proceedings unless unanimous consent is granted. (Article II(h))

Central Committee Officers must be committed Republicans
Ensures that officers have a record of Republican voting and registration. (Article III(a)(1), (b)(1), (c)(1), (d)(1), (e)(1))

Officer accountability with removal process
Provides for the removal of Central and Executive Committee officers. (Article IV, Article VIII)

Balancing power between Central and Executive Committees
Provides for direct election of Executive Committee officers by the Central Committee. (Article V1(f))

Requires secret ballot when more than one slate is nominated for Executive Committee and for officers (Article VI(a),(f))

Maintains endorsement function with the Central Committee (Article VI(c)(2), Article IX(b))

Accountability for the party chair
Prohibits Executive Committee Chair from doing business with the party or candidates for public office. (Article VII (a)(1))

Prohibits Executive Committee Chair from lobbying in the State of Ohio. (Article VII (a)(2))

Requires Executive Committee Chair to file annual ethics report with the party. (Article VII (a)(3))

New primary endorsement policy
Prohibits party from endorsing candidates in primary elections, except to endorse an incumbent Republican who is being challenged. (Article IX (c))

Prohibits party from endorsing candidates for Central Committee. (Article IX (d))

No more free rides for Democrats
Binds the party to attempt to recruit and support Republican candidates in all partisan and judicial races on the ballot. (Article IX (e))

"Even the local garden club has by-laws," Klinger added. "Adoption of these rules is essential too turn our party around, clean up its finances, and begin winning again."

A copy of the proposed Articles of Regulation are attached, and the text appears below.

SUMMIT COUNTY REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE ARTICLES OF REGULATION
Updated 4/10/08

ARTICLE I. MEMBERSHIP

(a) The Summit County Republican Central Committee shall, in accordance with 3517.03 of the Ohio Revised Code, consist of one member from each election precinct in the County of Summit who was elected at the primary in the even-numbered years.

(b) Each person desiring to become a candidate for election as a member of the Summit County Republican Central Committee shall file a Declaration of Candidacy at the Board of Elections as required in 3513.05 of the Ohio Revised Code. Candidates are not required to file a Petition of Candidacy.

(c) Central Committee members shall be elected to two (2) year terms.

(d) Vacancies on the Central Committee shall be filled by a vote of the Central Committee following recommendations by the Central Committee Chair. Any appointee shall not be eligible to vote at the same meeting the appointment is approved.

(e) No nominee can be named to fill a precinct other than the one in which he or she resides.

(f) Any member of the Central Committee who votes in a partisan party primary other than a Republican primary, automatically ceases to be a member of the Central Committee.

(g) Any member of the Central Committee who permits his or her name to be used, or his or her campaign committee to be used on behalf of or solicits or gives support to or for any candidate other than a Republican candidate in any primary, or permits his or her name to be used, or his or her campaign committee to be used on behalf of or solicits or gives support to or for any candidate than a Republican candidate in any special or general election shall automatically cease to be a member of the Central Committee.

ARTICLE II. MEETINGS

(a) The organizational meeting of the Central Committee shall be held as provided by law at which time the Central Committee shall by majority vote elect from their membership a slate of candidates for the offices of Temporary Chairman and Temporary Secretary, and Chairman, First Vice Chairman, Second Vice Chairman, Treasurer, and Secretary. Nominations of said slates shall be made from the floor. If more than one person is nominated for an office, or more than one slate nominated, the vote shall be conducted by secret ballot.

(b) All meetings of the Central Committee shall be called by the Chairman of the Central Committee, or in his absence or disability by the First or Second Vice Chairman following the chain of command, or upon written request to the Chairman of the Central Committee by one-hundred (100) or more members, whose request shall designate the time, place, subject matter, and proposed agenda of the intended meeting.

(c) Written notice, accompanied by the subject matter and proposed agenda of all meetings shall be sent by first-class mail postmarked at least ten (10) days before the stated time of the meeting to each member at the addresses listed with the Secretary of the Central Committee.

(d) A majority of the members present and voting at any meeting shall determine all questions voted upon at such meetings, provided however, that all actions to reconsider, repeal, or annul any previous action of the Central Committee shall be by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present.

(e) No vote by proxy or delegation shall be recognized.

(f) Except as otherwise provided herein, all matters and procedures shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order, Revised.

(g) A quorum shall be defined as fifty (50) percent of the membership of the Central Committee plus one (1).

(h) No one except members of the Central Committee may attend or participate in any meeting of the Central Committee unless granted by unanimous consent.

ARTICLE III. CENTRAL COMMITTEE OFFICERS

(a) CHAIRMAN - The Chairman of the Central Committee shall preside at all meetings of the Central Committee and at the first meeting of the Executive Committee, shall have the right and power to create and appoint special committees and to define their duties, shall have the right and power to appoint a Parliamentarian with usual functions and duties of such officer, and shall have such other rights and powers as from time-to-time determined by the Central Committee to be necessary to promote the Summit County Republican Party.

(1) No person shall be nominated for Chairman of the Central Committee unless the person has been a registered Republican, as indicated by the Board of Elections, for at least four (4) years preceding their nomination.

(2) This officer must be a member of the Central Committee.

(b) FIRST VICE CHAIRMAN - The First Vice Chairman of the Central Committee shall act in the absence or disability of the Chairman and shall have such other duties as from time-to-time assigned by the Chairman of the Central Committee.

(1) No person shall be nominated for First Vice Chairman of the Central Committee unless the person has been a registered Republican, as indicated by the Board of Elections, for at least four (4) years preceding their nomination.

(2) This officer must be a member of the Central Committee.

(c) SECOND VICE CHAIRMAN - The Second Vice Chairman of the Central Committee shall act in the absence or disability of the First Vice Chairman and shall have such other duties as from time-to-time assigned by the Chairman of the Central Committee.

(1) No person shall be nominated for Second Vice Chairman of the Central Committee unless the person has been a registered Republican, as indicated by the Board of Elections, for at least four (4) years preceding their nomination.

(2) This officer must be a member of the Central Committee.

(d) SECRETARY - The Secretary of the Central Committee shall keep a record of minutes of all Central Committee meetings, shall keep such records as from time-to-time are determined necessary by the either the Central Committee or the Chairman, shall give or cause to be given the required written notice of all Central Committee meetings, shall have such other duties as from time-to-time assigned by the Chairman of the Central Committee.

(1) No person shall be nominated for Secretary of the Central Committee unless the person has been a registered Republican, as indicated by the Board of Elections, for at least four (4) years preceding their nomination.

(2) This officer must be a member of the Central Committee.

(e) TREASURER - The Treasurer of the Central Committee shall keep a true and accurate account of all organizational funds coming into the Central Committee and all disbursements thereof, shall make a report at each Central Committee meeting which includes the financial condition and the financial activities of the Central Committee since the last report. The Treasurer shall render an annual audited report to the Chairman of the Central Committee and a copy of such annual report shall be available to any member of the Executive Committee and the Central Committee upon request. All such funds shall be deposited in the name of the Central Committee and shall be disbursed by check, cosigned by both the Chairman of the Central Committee and either the Treasurer or his designee.

(1) No person shall be nominated for Treasurer of the Central Committee unless the person has been a registered Republican, as indicated by the Board of Elections, for at least four (4) years preceding their nomination.

(2) This officer must be a member of the Central Committee.

ARTICLE IV. VACANCIES AND REMOVAL OF OFFICERS

(a) The elected officers of the Central Committee may be removed or recalled for cause by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Central Committee preset at a meeting called for that purpose with a quorum being present at such meeting of the Central Committee. Notice of intent must be delivered to that officer or officers by certified mail not less than thirty (30) days prior to such meeting.

(b) The written request to the Chairman of the Central Committee for such meeting shall contain the specific alleged grounds for removal, signed by one-hundred (100) members of the Central Committee. The request shall designate the time, place, subject matter, and proposed agenda of the intended meeting.

(c) A copy of the written request with the required one-hundred (100) signatures must be mailed by first-class mail to all members of the Central Committee at least ten (10) days prior to such meeting.

(d) Upon death, resignation, or removal of the Chairman of the Central Committee, a new slate of Central Committee officers shall be chosen from among the members of the Central Committee in a manner set forth in Article II (a), at a meeting called for such purpose.

ARTICLE V. AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES OF REGULATION

(a) Upon adoption by majority vote of the members of the Central Committee of the Articles of Regulation, such Articles of Regulation shall remain in full force and effect until otherwise amended in accordance with paragraph (b) hereinafter.

(b) These articles of Regulation may be amended as follows:

(1) Any proposed changes of these Articles of Regulation shall first be submitted to the Articles of Regulation Committee for its consideration and recommendation.

(2) The Articles of Regulation Committee shall report its recommendation to the Central Committee.

(3) Any change of these Articles of Regulation shall be by affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members present at such meeting, with a quorum of the Central Committee present.

ARTICLE VI. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

(a) The members of the Executive Committee shall be elected by slate by the Central Committee by majority vote of the members present, with a quorum of the Central Committee present. If more than one slate is nominated, the vote shall be conducted by secret ballot.

(b) The Central Committee may from time-to-time delegate specific powers to the Executive Committee as the Central Committee may approve. Any powers not specifically delegated in these Articles of Regulation, or otherwise, to the Executive Committee shall be reserved by the Central Committee.

(c) The Executive Committee shall have the following powers:

(1) Management of the Summit County Republican Party on a day-to- day basis, conducting fundraising programs, expending monies for the conduct of campaign efforts, operating and staffing headquarters and conducting such other business as necessary to carry out routine operations;

(2) Recruit and recommend candidates for public office for Central
Committee consideration, as the Central Committee is the endorsing body of the Summit County Republican Party.

(d) Any member of the Executive Committee who votes in a partisan party primary other than a Republican primary, automatically ceases to be a member of the Executive Committee.

(e) Any member of the Executive Committee who permits his or her name to be used, or his or her campaign committee to be used on behalf of or solicits or gives support to or for any candidate other than a Republican candidate in any primary, or permits his or her name to be used, or his or her campaign committee to be used on behalf of or solicits or gives support to or for any candidate than a Republican candidate in any special or general election shall automatically cease to be a member of the Executive Committee.

(f) The officers of the Executive Committee shall be elected by slate by the Central Committee by majority vote of the members present, with a quorum of the Central Committee present. If more than one slate is nominated, the vote shall be conducted by secret ballot.

ARTICLE VII. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OFFICERS

(a) CHAIRMAN - Except as provided for in Article 3 (a) of these Articles of Regulation, the Chairman of the Executive Committee shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Committee, shall have the right and power to create and appoint special committees and to define their duties, shall have the right and power to appoint a Parliamentarian with usual functions and duties of such officer, and shall have such other rights and powers as from time-to-time determined by the Executive Committee to be necessary to promote the Summit County Republican Party.

(1) The Chairman of the Executive Committee shall not be owner, partner, or shareholder in any entity that receives business from the Summit County Republican Party, nor from any candidate for public office in the State of Ohio.

(2) The Chairman of the Executive Committee shall not engage in the
practice of lobbying in the State of Ohio.

(3) The Chairman of the Executive Committee shall file a comprehensive statement of all sources of income received during each calendar year with the Secretary of the Executive Committee no later than the first day of May each year.

(b) FIRST VICE CHAIRMAN - The First Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee shall act in the absence or disability of the Chairman and shall have such other duties as from time-to-time assigned by the Chairman of the Executive Committee.

(c) SECOND VICE CHAIRMAN - The Second Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee shall act in the absence or disability of the First Vice Chairman and shall have such other duties as from time-to-time assigned by the Chairman of the Executive Committee.

(d) SECRETARY - The Secretary of the Executive Committee shall keep a record of minutes of all Executive Committee meetings, shall keep such records as from time-to-time are determined necessary by the either the Executive Committee or the Chairman, shall give or cause to be given the required written notice of all Central Committee meetings, shall have such other duties as from time-to-time assigned by the Chairman of the Executive Committee.

(E) TREASURER - The Treasurer of the Executive Committee shall keep a true and accurate account of all organizational funds coming into the Executive Committee and all disbursements thereof, shall make a report at each Executive Committee meeting which includes the financial condition and the financial activities of the Executive Committee since the last report. The Treasurer shall render an annual audited report to the Chairman of the Central Committee and a copy of such annual report shall be available to any member of the Executive Committee and the Central Committee upon request. All such funds shall be deposited in the name of the Executive Committee and shall be disbursed by check, cosigned by both the Chairman of the Executive Committee and either the Treasurer or his designee.

ARTICLE VIII. VACANCIES AND REMOVAL OF OFFICERS OR MEMBERS OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

(a) The elected officers or members of the Executive Committee may be removed or recalled for cause by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Central Committee present at a meeting called for that purpose with a quorum being present at such meeting of the Central Committee. Notice of intent must be delivered to that officer or officers by certified mail not less than thirty (30) days prior to such meeting.

(b) The written request to the Chairman of the Central Committee for such meeting shall contain the specific alleged grounds for removal, signed by one-hundred (100) members of the Central Committee. The request shall designate the time, place, subject matter, and proposed agenda of the intended meeting.

(c) A copy of the written request with the required one-hundred (100) signatures must be mailed by first-class mail to all members of the Central Committee at least ten (10) days prior to such meeting.

(d) Upon death, resignation, or removal of the Chairman of the Executive Committee, a new slate of Executive Committee officers shall be chosen by members of the Central Committee in a manner set forth in Article VI (a), at a meeting called for such purpose.

ARTICLE IX. GENERAL

(a) The Executive Committee may establish by-laws not inconsistent or in conflict with these Articles of Regulation.

(b) All endorsements of candidates for public office shall be made at a properly noticed meeting of the Central Committee call for that purpose by majority of members present and voting.

(c) The Central Committee shall not endorse candidates in primary elections, unless a challenger has filed against an incumbent Republican public officeholder in said primary. If the Central Committee elects to act, the endorsement shall go to the incumbent.

(d) Neither the Central Committee nor the Executive Committee shall endorse nor expend funds for candidates for Central Committee.

(e) The Summit County Republican Party shall attempt to recruit and support candidates in all partisan and judicial elections.

(f) The Articles of Regulation Committee is a permanent and standing committee of the Central Committee whose membership shall be determined by the Chairman of the Central Committee.

(g) The Finance Committee is a permanent and standing committee of the Summit County Republican Party whose membership shall be determined by the Chairman of the Executive Committee.