UPDATE from Jess Franz, Ohio State Central Committee District 5
THANK YOU!!!
Thank you to everyone who supported my run for State Central Committee! It was a hard-fought race! I couldn't have it done it without God's provision of strength & endurance and without your prayers & support. Thank you to the voters and our supporters for your sacrifice of time & energy that you poured into our grassroots campaign. I am blessed to have had the opportunity to meet so many inspiring conservatives who are committed to working to preserve our God-given rights and conservative values. I am excited and ready to go to work for the people of District 5!
What is the State Central Committee?
The Republican State Central Committee is the board of directors for the Ohio Republican Party. The board is made up of 66 members - one male representative and one female representative from each senate district. Members are elected for terms of two years by direct vote at the primary held in an even-numbered year. Committee members manage the affairs and direct the general policy of the Ohio Republican Party. Committee members are to act as the liaison between the Ohio Republican Party and the Republican voters, local party organizations, candidates, and elected Republican leaders in their districts. Additionally, Committee members are to communicate frequently with constituents and to actively promote the messages, accomplishments, services, and goals of the Ohio Republican Party. Official duties of the State Central Committee member are to elect officers of the committee, establish policies and bylaws that govern the operation of the party, adopt an annual budget and oversee its compliance, attend committee meetings, participate in party leadership events scheduled throughout the year, and communicate with constituents and encourage their involvement in the Ohio Republican Party.
Why did I decide to run?
My Journey
I often get asked why I decided to run for Republican State Central Committee. As a homeschooling mom, small business owner, and active volunteer, I wasn’t looking for more to do. Like most people when asked how they’re doing, I’d often answer that I was busier than I cared to be.
And like most people, the direction of my life took a dramatic shift during the height of the Covid pandemic.
For two years following the advent of the Covid pandemic, I had a front row seat in witnessing the carnage that unfolded.
Soon after Governor DeWine declared a state of emergency, schools and businesses were closed, gatherings were limited, and stay-at-home orders were issued…I decided to volunteer for an organization called Ohio Stands Up. During a time of great confusion, fear, and uncertainty, people were looking for help and for answers. I took calls from parents, students, teachers, the elderly, healthcare professionals, and business owners suffering under the heavy-handed approach taken by the Ohio governor. Time and again, I heard heartbreaking stories of hardworking Ohioans being deprived of their liberties with no due process, with no equal application of the law, and with little to no help from their legislators. Many legislators turned a deaf ear to the plight of their constituents while allowing the governor to suspend constitutional law during an emergency—a power that belonged solely to the legislative branch.
Under the watch of Republican legislators, the governor was tacitly permitted to choose which businesses were deemed essential and non-essential. They watched as he welcomed unvetted immigrants and sat in silence while riots broke out in Columbus. They watched as he made a video supporting BLM after the Statehouse was ransacked and suggested that Ohioans were systematically racist. Ohioans were instructed to blindly trust the state-science of the pandemic, while on the other hand, they were encouraged to ignore the science when it came to gender.
I began to ask myself how this could happen with Republicans in charge? They had the power to stop the path toward progressive socialism—but they failed to do so. Who was to blame?
What I discovered through research and asking the difficult questions was that the fallen condition of the Ohio Republican Party could be directly traced to the failure of the Republican State Central Committee. These are the 66 individuals who run the Republican Party (aka, the board of directors of the Ohio Republican Party).
Sadly, the State Central Committee has not reflected the will of Republicans for some time. Instead, it reflects the special interests that control Ohio politics. For years, Republican voters have been asked to blindly support Republican candidates endorsed by the State Central Committee. The heart of the problem is that the the party lacks a state platform to vet candidates and hold them accountable. The candidates are given no direction for the type of reforms that are necessary to make Ohio a prosperous, thriving state once again. Hence, we end up with moderate, pastel purple candidates instead of bold red conservatives, who are committed to passing conservative legislation that is reflective of the values of Republican voters.
One silver lining in the cloud of darkness over the past two years was that a number of conservatives have now awoken to the realization that their State Central Committee representatives were not speaking on behalf of Republican voters, but rather, on behalf of the political elite and special interest groups. This resulted in many conservatives banding together to demand better of their State Central Committee through the implementation of party reforms. Grassroots organizations such as Ohio Promise Keepers and Grassroots Freedom Initiative were instrumental in recruiting conservative reformers committed to returning the party to the people.
After learning that my own elected representative voted to endorse DeWine before the primary and despite the cries of opposition from her constituents, I made the decision to run against her. I realized that if we were ever going to get back to engaging everyday Republicans and not just the political elites, reforms would need to be made. I could not sit back and allow the total disenfranchisement of district 5 voters.
IT WAS TIME TO RETURN THE PARTY TO BEING ACCOUNTABLE TO REPUBLICAN VOTERS.
When the dust settled after the August primary, the State Central Committee had gained nearly a dozen reform-minded conservatives committed to reforming the party through restoring the trust of Republican voters through reforms that will foster accountability and transparency. While this is not a comprehensive list of reforms that need to be made, many candidates (myself included) took a pledge to advocate for the following reforms if elected.
Promise to Ohio: Reform of the ORP (Ohio Republican Party
First Meeting. First Test.
Who will follow the law? Who will follow the whims of the Chairman?
Thanks to Chairman Bob Paduchik, the newly elected body of the State Central Committee will be placed in the unenviable position of choosing between following Ohio law and the ORP bylaws or Mr. Paduchik’s directive at our first organizational meeting on September 9th.
On August 10th, newly elected members received a welcome letter from Mr. Paduchik notifying them that the first meeting on September 9th would be a “reorganizational” meeting. While there is language which provides guidance for the first “organizational” meeting for newly elected State Central Committee members in Ohio Revised Code 3517.04, there is no language for a “reorganizational” meeting.
Denoting the meeting as “reorganizational” was no accident. Mr. Paduchik deliberately chose this language as a slap in the face to new committee members. In using this term, he is refusing to recognize that the new members have a right and a duty to follow the statute for an organizational meeting as clearly defined in ORC 3517.04, which states that:
“The members-elect of each major political party state central committee shall, except as otherwise provided in this section, meet following the declaration of the results by the boards of elections of the election of members of the state central committees, at a suitable place and time to be designated by the retiring chairman of the committee in accordance with party rules. In the case of a county central committee, the meeting shall be held not earlier than six nor later than fifteen days following the declaration of the results by the board of elections of the election of members of county central committees in that county. Notice of any meeting held pursuant to this section, giving the place and time, shall be sent to each member-elect by the retiring secretary of the committee by mail and a copy of the notice shall be posted in the office of the secretary of state or board of elections, as the case may be, at least five days prior to any such meeting.
The meeting shall be called to order by the retiring chairman or secretary or if there is no such officer, or if such officer is absent, then by a member of such committee designated by the secretary of state in the case of the state committees, and by a member of the board of elections of the same political party, designated by the board, in the case of county committees.
A temporary chairman and secretary shall be chosen and the committee shall proceed to organize by the election of a chairman, vice-chairman, treasurer, secretary, and such other officers as the rules provide.”
Furthermore, Mr. Paduchik is requiring that new members violate the ORP bylaws which clearly state in Article I, Section 2:
“At the first meeting of the State Central Committee following the election and qualification of its members, all of its officers, the chairman and co-chairman of the Ohio Republican Finance Committee, and the National Committeeman and National Committeewoman, shall be nominated and elected to the State Executive Committee, which shall then be merged into the Republican State Central Committee.”
And….Article V, Section 1 states:
“Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 3517.04 or any successor provision then in effect, notice of the first meeting following election of committee members must be sent via regular mail with a copy posted in the Secretary of State’s Office.”
What does the word “first” mean to you? Webster’s dictionary defines “first” as:
FIRST (adjective): preceding all others in time, order, or importance such as:
a: EARLIEST She won first prize. his first girlfriend
FIRST (noun) 1: one that is number one in a series
I may not be an attorney, but I do know how to read and I do know how to count and I’d like to think I know what the phrase “first meeting” means. It means…well…the first meeting.
Since this is the first meeting following the election and qualification of its members, as provided for in Article I, Section 2— would it not follow that the “first meeting” would be the meeting where we elect a temporary chair and secretary who will preside over the meeting and the election of new officers?
Furthermore, the term “members-elect” is used in ORC 3517.04. What does member-elect mean?
The National Conference of State Legislatures defines Member Elect as follows:
MEMBER ELECT: Member who has been elected, but who has not yet taken the oath of office or who is not yet officially serving.
The chairman and the parliamentarian (who also happens to be the legal counsel for the ORP) maintain that the September meeting is just a “reorganizational” meeting. They assert that Article I, Section 2 is simply “describing the functional [ongoing] process for the Committee’s previously elected officers” and that the election of new officers is specifically provided for in Article II, Section 1, which states:
“During the month of January of each odd-numbered year, the Committee shall meet and elect its officers by a majority vote of the seated members of the Committee (but not including vacancies in the Committee).”
There are a few problems with holding the organizational meeting in January.
It wouldn’t be an organizational meeting as an organizational meeting as defined by ORC 3517.04 is when the “members-elect” meet “following the declaration of the results by the boards of elections of the election of members of the state central committees.” We would not be members-elect in January as we would have already taken our oath of office at the September meeting and we would officially be serving on the committee.
Article I, Section 2 states that it is the “first meeting” following the election & qualification of members in which the committee would elect a temporary chairman & secretary and proceed with the election of “all of its officers.” If we met in January to elect officers, it would be the second meeting. Not the first.
While the Committee can choose to hold a second meeting in January and a second election of officers, the bylaws do not trump Ohio Revised Code, which dictates that members-elect (who won’t be members-elect in January. See definition) meet following the election at a meeting called by the “retiring chairman” to select a temporary chair and temporary secretary who will preside over the election of new officers.
Article I Section 2 contains language that is supported by ORC 3517.04, Article II, Section 1 does not.
Chairman Paduchik is demonstrating to the new committee just how far he will go to retain his position as chair by ignoring Ohio Revised Code and the ORP bylaws. For those who have been following Mr. Paduchik’s actions on the committee, this should come as no surprise. If we study the history of Mr. Paduchik’s leadership of the party, we can expect him to yet again attempt to silence those seeking to hold the committee accountable to its own bylaws at the September 9th meeting.
Party management has argued that the January election of officers is what has always been done. This would beg the questions: Does tradition/precedent trump Ohio law? Is tradition/precedent a good reason to continue breaking the law and bylaws? These are the questions State Central Committee members will need to address on September 9th.
Ohio Republican Leadership disgraces the Republican Party
The Ohio Republican Chairman is destroying the credibility of the Party
The Question of Bryan Williams
The Brewing Internal War
Bryan Williams, the current Vice Chair of the ORP, sent out a press release on August 28th announcing his candidacy for Chairman.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Bryan C. Williams
August 28, 2022 ORP Vice Chairman
(614) 359-4846
ORP Vice Chairman Bryan Williams Announces Candidacy for Chairman
Akron, OH – Ohio Republican Party Vice Chairman Bryan Williams announced his candidacy for Chairman at the September 9, 2022 Organizational Meeting of the Ohio Republican State Central Committee today. “I am running for Chairman because I want to unite and ignite our party to a successful November General Election. For the past two years, Bob Paduchik has routinely marginalized the conservative base of the Ohio Republican Party through numerous swamp-like maneuvers creating harmful division.” Williams said.
“Paduchik’s numerous ORP bylaws violations, designed to thwart the governing authority of the elected State Central and Executive Committee, have divided the party and weaken our ability to engage all Republicans in winning. The election of a dozen pro-Trump reformers at the August 2nd Primary Election demonstrates the need and demand for a leadership change at this time.”
“Ohio Revised Code 3517.04 and the Article I Section Two of the ORP bylaws require the September 9 meeting be an Organizational Meeting for the purpose of electing officers. I hope retiring Chairman Paduchik will not stand in the way of allowing the ORP State Central and Executive Committee from conducting this meeting in accordance with Ohio law and ORP bylaws.”
You can read more at the following news links:
Commentary: Question Remains If Ohio Republican Chairman Paduchik Plans to ‘Unlawfully’ Deny a Vote That Could Replace Him at September Meeting
Ohio GOP Vice Chair Williams Announces Bid for Chair, Voices Concern About ‘Unlawful’ Vote Postponement
Ohio Republican Party faces leadership challenge months before November election
Conclusion
Decisions. Decisions. Decisions.
One thing that everyone can agree on is that the newly elected State Central Committee members are going to have some tough decisions to make on September 9th. Will we follow Ohio law and our bylaws or the leading of Mr. Paduchik? Will we support Bryan Williams as the new chair? I believe there are a few questions that we need to ask ourselves as we consider our options. What are our short-term goals? Long-term goals?
First and foremost, SCC members need to recognize that we will be taking an oath to uphold Ohio law, the Constitution, and the ORP bylaws on September 9th.
Secondly, laying aside the organizational/reorganizational meeting argument for a minute, we need to recognize that the bylaws state in Article II, Section 1 that “the officers shall serve at the pleasure of a majority of the seated members of the Committee…” The chair works for the party and serves at the pleasure of the Committee— and not the other way around.
Thirdly, Article III, Section 2 states that “the Vice Chairman shall perform the duties of the Chairman in the event of the Chairman’s absence, death, removal from office, resignation, removal from the state of Ohio, or inability to act, until a new Chairman is elected and qualified. In such case, the Secretary shall call a meeting of the Committee within 30 days for the purpose of electing a new Chairman.” This means that in the event Mr. Paduchik were removed from office, Mr. Williams would be serving temporarily in his place until the Committee calls for a new meeting within 30 days to hold an election for a new Chairman.
Finally, I would ask my constituents to pray for wisdom & guidance for each SCC member on Friday, September 9th. I welcome your comments and feedback. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your concerns and suggestions.
God bless you!
Sincerely,
Jessica Franz
Ohio Republican State Central Committee District 5
JessFranz@ORPSCC5.com
(937) 499-4435
Thank you for the details of the meeting. I had received only pieces until reading this.