Citizen Tom

On Saturday, the Republican Party will convene the Eleventh Congressional District of Virginia Republican Committee.   Amongst other things, this group will elect its representation to the State Central Committee, the group that decides policy for the Republican Party of Virginia.  Wiith respect to that subject, I just received an email from Denny Daughtery, a respected member of the Prince William Republican Committee.  He has good advice for those attending the 11th district meeting.

A wise man once said, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
 
We in the 11th district have been greatly blessed to have been represented the last several years on the state central committee by Rick Hendrix, Patsy Drain and David Ray.  Rick, of course, has been an active member of our Prince William Co. GOP committee and its parliamentarian.  Although they live in Fairfax County, Patsy and David have also regularly attended our PWC GOP meetings and have been very responsive to our needs.
 
These stalwarts face very formidable opposition at this Saturday’s convention because of their support for nominating our U.S. Senate candidate by convention, rather than primary.  They did so to insure that our nominee is selected by Republicans and not by non-Republicans. 
 
That did not endear them to our powerful congressman, Tom Davis, who badly wanted a primary in which to run for this seat.  When the convention method of nomination was chosen, he pulled out of the race.  Now he is backing an alternate slate at this Saturday’s convention. 
 
I want state central committee members who think for themselves and do not take orders from elected officials.  We need state central committee members who will put first the needs of the party as a whole and the desires of the rank and file members, and who will stand up to candidates or public officials when their personal agendas conflict with the party’s best interests. 
 
This is going down to the wire.  Please make sure to attend.  And when you do, cast your votes for those who have faithfully represented the conservative majority of the party’s grassroots workforce–Rick Hendrix, Patsy Drain and David Ray. 
 
Denny Daugherty

Do we want the Republican Party to be a political party that serves its members?  Conventions allow the party’s rank and file to select candidates who will stand for the ideals that party members support.  Primaries dilute the vote of the party’s rank and file.  That allows the party’s label to be highjacked by candidates who can at best be counted upon to pay lip service to the party’s ideals.   Thus the choice is clear.  Vote for Rick Hendrix, Patsy Drain and David Ray.