Ada County Republican Party committee resignations show need for open primaries | Opinion
Open primaries
The recent resignation of six officers from the Ada County Republican Central Committee should give voters a key to understanding why supporting the open primary ballot measure is vital for our state’s political future.
The resigning officers state “the IDGOP no longer trusts the 575,000 registered Republican voters’ ability to choose candidates in primary and general elections” and warns that the Idaho GOP is moving to a situation where the vetting or endorsement process is “done by small groups of party insiders.”
Further, they warn, “the state party no longer embraces grassroots voters and candidates but has created a new oligarchy that values control, ‘purity testing,’ and bullying tactics that are un-Republican.”
Whether the ex-officers support the open primary initiative or not is unknown but also immaterial. If the initiative qualifies for the ballot, their words make clear that the vote will not be a question of whether candidates will be chosen in open or closed primaries but whether candidates will be chosen in open primaries or by Idaho Republican Chair Dorothy Moon.
Adam E. Graham, Boise
Caldwell school board
Why on earth would we vote for three partisans now collectively pushing to bring only their political agenda onto a fully functioning Caldwell school board? Have they spent years attending local school board meetings, becoming familiar with the facilities, staff and student needs, let alone with the needs of the community of Caldwell itself? Do they believe in a free public education as enshrined in Idaho’s constitution? I don’t believe so. Remember months ago when state Sen. Chris Trakel’s unruly conduct forced a shutdown of a school board meeting because he wouldn’t even follow the rules of addressing the board! Look how devastating that kind of misconduct has been to the West Bonner School District and the North Idaho Community College and student bodies! It will take years to repair the damages done to those communities by political hacks elected to school boards.
Vote to reelect the current non-partisan school board members, who bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and a positive attitude to the present board. Thank you for supporting Caldwell from the ground up!
Tom Newton, Caldwell
Republican Party
On Thursday night, six elected officers of the Ada County Republican Central Committee resigned, just a few moments before the regular October meeting was to begin. They issued a press release blaming the resignations on problems they have with both the state party and elements within the Ada County Republican Central Committee.
Media reports have said that the Ada County GOP is now in turmoil and chaos. Anyone who witnessed the meeting on Thursday night would disagree. Despite the unexpected resignations, the committee came together and persevered. The secretary opened the meeting according to Robert’s Rules of Order and the body elected someone with experience presiding over meetings as chairman pro tempore.
The evening lacked much of the tension and hostility that had plagued recent meetings. The committee came together to take care of party business. It was a pleasure to witness civil and respectful discussion.
I trust the remaining leaders of the Ada County Republican Central Committee to weather this minor speed bump and continue moving forward.
It’s unfortunate that the former officers decided to air their disagreements in such a public manner. Nevertheless, I am convinced that the committee will continue its work of promoting faith, family and freedom.
I am a former Ada County precinct committeeman.
Brian Almon, Eagle
Conservatives
I grew up in the 1950s and ’60s. Conservatives were warning against Communism and their policies of telling people what medical procedures they could receive, what books they could read, who they could marry, and what rights they would allow us to have. It appears to me that the Republican conservatives have adopted these policies and act like the Communist Party that they feared.
Allen Wenger, Boise
