We believe that Ohio is truly capable of great things; but - endorsement engineering by the Ohio Republican Party is holding us back. We truly believe that we can produce outstanding conservative candidates that will put Ohio on track to leading the nation and the world. Unfortunately, the powers that be want the Ohio Republican Party to endorse and support pastel purple candidates instead of bold red conservatives.
This is why Ohioans leave Ohio every year for greener pastures and greater opportunities.
While the Republican party has been very successful in winning technical majorities, it has done very little to move important conservative issues forward.
The Ohio Republican Party has an unnatural concentration of power in pastel purple elitist leaders who prevent bold red candidates from getting party endorsements. Ohio lacks sufficient competition among our Republican candidates. Though an "R" may win a race, the quality of that "R" lacks the proving ground of competition. The party fosters no competition and debate for candidates to earn endorsements. Endorsements are more given as favors. The worst side effect is that candidates that do win don't have to be accountable to their constituents.
Ohio has many weak County Parties. We feel these parties must be strengthened. We must also strengthen the process by which candidates get endorsed so we have freedom of choice!
Strong County Parties and a central Weak State Party means that political power is more evenly distributed and that the voice of a majority of Republicans is not drowned out by an elite minority. This is the same Reagan/Friedman philosophy: “Strong State governments and a weak Federal Government.” All Republicans should embrace competitiveness among County Parties and freedom of choice. This helps aid in candidate responsiveness to all constituents -not just a handful.
Campaign finance reform is needed and Ohio laws need to be amended to reduce the ability of parties to unnaturally concentrate political power. We believe:
We need to greatly reduce overall campaign contribution limits. This will reduce the amount of influence the ultra-wealthy have on the party.
Limits on contributions must favor County Parties over the State Party. Limits to County Parties should be double that of the State Party.
County Parties nor their committee members should endorse any candidates (primary or general election) without first having three debates. If the County Parties make endorsements with no debates, then they should expect to be censured by the State Central Committee. Debates are crucial to re-invigorating and building passion for the party. If the County Party does not endorse, it may not support candidates with contributions. If a County Party spends funds on candidates who failed to get endorsed, then they should be censured by the State Central Committee.
A Conservative Reform Platform for the State Central Committee.
Commitment to State Conventions like other states:
North Carolina, Utah, Texas, Idaho, Indiana, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Wisconsin, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Michigan, Wyoming, Virginia, Maine
Adopt a Mission, a Vision, and a State-specific Platform of policy solutions for Ohio.
I.E. eliminating the State Income Tax
I.E. eliminating unAmerican Activities indoctrination in our schools
Adopt New Bylaws that eliminate ambiguity and misinterpretation.
Chairman election by the membership of the State Central Committee.
No party funds or services can be utilized to elect State Central Committee members.
The State Central Committee must not endorse in contested primaries. Conventions may consider endorsements in a primary only if all contested primary candidates have had at least three debates with each other prior to the State Convention and receive a 2/3rds vote at the convention.
In years when there is no convention, the State Central Committee may make endorsements only in unopposed primaries and the General Election and only after three debates.
Adopt a code of ethics for the party.
Adopt a Whistleblower Policy for the Party.
State Central Committee Meetings only on Saturdays or Sundays so the public can more easily participate and build a passion for the party.
The State Central Committee must approve all expenditures not provided for in an approved budget by the State Central Committee. Emergency discretionary spending by the Chairman is not exceeded $5,000 on a quarterly basis.
The State Central Committee must approve a quarterly budget for the Chairman and GOP management.
The party’s finances shall be professionally audited by a CPA firm every two years.
All County and State Central Committee members must make available an email and phone number for constituent contact. Failure to do so will result in censure.
Why a State Convention?
State Central Committee members should not fear a State Convention. A State Convention is an opportunity to engage with the public and build a passion for the party. Republican conventions are held every 2 or 4 years in at least 20 states. Prior to 1980, Ohio Republicans held State Conventions. As soon as the law was changed to make party State Conventions at the discretion of the State Central Committee - Ohio Republicans have not seen another convention.
A State Convention helps to allow Republican voices from all over the State to be heard. A State Convention helps to ensure that power at the top does not become illegitimately concentrated. It also produces better ethical outcomes as leadership becomes more accountable and responsive.
What happens at a State Convention?
In Ohio, state law requires that the party adopt a platform and select presidential electors in a presidential election year. A State Convention typically can make changes or replace the State Central Committee bylaws and make endorsements for State Office, State Assembly, Congress, and Senate.
Currently, the State Central Committee endorsements and big-dollar donations by the ultra-wealthy have the most influence on who gets elected. During a State Convention, the influence of big-dollar donors is muted and a more level playing field for competition and choice prevails in determining endorsements.
We want a party that is run ethically and that embraces robust competition - not a party where Kingmakers make deals with wealthy donors to engineer political outcomes.
Is the Ohio Republican party being run ethically?
The Ohio Republican Party is an IRS 527 political non-profit organization. For the purposes of management and Roberts Rules of Order, it is to be run in a very similar fashion as a charitable IRS501(c)4 non-profit. The management of the organization should be taken very seriously by every SCC member and should not be a rubber stamp for the management of the organization.
After watching the above video would you conclude that:
Chairman Paduchik should recuse himself from any actions that concern Governor Mike DeWine and Jane Timken?
The Chairman should have disclosed that his brother now works for Ward Timken, Jane Timken’s husband?
The Chairman should not preside over meetings where items that may potentially affect DeWine's and/or Timken’s campaigns are discussed or decided? (He clearly has a conflict of interest. It would clearly be an improper influence.)
The Chairman cannot legitimately and ethically talk to anyone about endorsements? He should not make discretionary expenditures to campaigns?
We strongly recommend that all State Central Committee members and those concerned about the Republican Party should take the Ohio Ethics Commission course on ethics. It is about a one-hour course and you get a certificate after taking the course!
https://www.ethics.ohio.gov/education/elearning/ecourses.html
The Ohio Republican State Central Committee has at least 10 members on the committee that are either appointees of statewide officeholders or have a spouse and/or immediate family members who are.
Clearly, these officeholders have an improper influence over these SCC members. These officeholders stand to materially benefit if these SCC members are allowed to not recuse themselves from voting on endorsements or other matters related to these officeholders.
Clearly, the Republican party has its problems. We have not even addressed material misstatements in the party’s financial statements. We believe that the Chairman and many SCC members have acted unethically. This is why we believe that the Ohio Republican Party needs to have a State Convention consisting of County Party Chairs and 500 County Central Committee members (proportional by county by the last gubernatorial election) in order to address unethical behavior and the engineering of endorsements.
Who are the Good Guys on the Republican State Central Committee?
There are only 11 out of 66 members that are fighting for some type of reform within the Ohio State Central Committee.