Republican Candidates For Precinct Chairmen: Fill & Download for Free

I literally grew up in politics. I come from a very active political family. I’ve been a political and community activist personally for 40+ years. My family were typical “Eisenhower” Republicans although today I would describe them more like Tea Party Conservatives.Nevertheless, when I first got involved in politics, I was in the military. I registered as a Democrat. At one point, I even volunteered as Congressional Aide for a Far Left Congressman (I dealt with medical review boards). Later, after military service, I returned home. My mother and other relatives were still quite active with the GOP. I would help out with the occasional campaign, but I remained a Democrat and soon got involved with the local party.I found myself helping a longtime Democrat Congressman with his campaigns. I helped people write “letters to the editor”, did “dialing for dollars”, put out and picked up yardsigns, and whatever else was needed. Later, I became involved with various local Democratic clubs, usually serving as an officer or on a executive board. I would do voter registrations and eventually was appointed to the local party’s executive sub-committee for candidate recruitment. I was also a precinct captain.I did that for about 20 or so years when I was asked to run for the newly created Metro Council, which resulted from a merger between our city and county governments. The local party repeatedly urged me to run and promised all sorts of support (my district’s seat was one of about five which were newly created. The rest came from the old Board of Aldermen). Several politicians—-friends who’ve I repeated helped and donated to—stepped up and urged me to run as well. In fact, they strongly urged me to me! In addition most all of the counties Democratic LD chairmen and their vice chairs asked to run plus the Young Democrats and Women’s Democratic Caucasus.Several unions also asked me run as well and promised me their support (my wife was active in her union and I was an associate member. Many individuals in both our families were long time union members). So, I did. However, party politics came into play. The Governor at the time was wanting to get involved in our local election while his close friend, the former mayor was planning on making a comeback (he was also a key architect of the merger which gave the mayor’s office lots of power).However, a meeting was held in the state capital with the key players, including the Governor and former mayor. They were evaluating candidates. Former aldermen were to be left alone while the newly created seats were up for grabs. When they got to me and my seat, the Governor asked if I would “do as he’s told?” I’m told that he was told that why I’d listen, I would do what I thought was best for the district. His response was “That won’t do. Find me a flunky”, and so they found a Republican who had no political or community experience and got him to change parties.To make a long story short, while I far outworked and out raised my “opponent”, the Governor sent in people to bully, threaten, and intimidate folks who supported me, including unions, LD’s, and politicians (especially those who were long time friends). In short, they dropped me. Only one union stood with me—-the Teamsters. Bounties were placed on my signs and mailers were pulled out of mailboxes, I received threats against me and my family, my employer was harassed, and I was sent computer viruses, etc. Meanwhile, in the election, there was widespread voter fraud but I couldn’t get anything done about it. So, I lost.I continued to be harassed because I wouldn’t “endorse” my opponent for the General. Things just changed afterwards. I lost all respect for many of these people I had been friends with for 20 or so years, gave money to, etc. About six months later, the local GOP chairman contacted me and wanted to talk. They knew what had happened—-in detail—and confirmed all most all of it. They wanted me to switch and run against a long standing Democratic House Representative (I knew the individual well. He used to be good but for the last 12 years literally did nothing. He was staying in to get a second government pension).I meet with State Party chair and several leading members in both the House and Senate, as well as several lobbyists. They promised money, party support, including “name” individuals to come and walk with me, etc. After about a year of some very high level courting, I finally relented (I didn’t keep any of this a secret from my few remaining Democrat friends. All of them encouraged me to take the offer and promised me their full support). It was with the understanding that none of my positions would change.Up until the two months, I was handily beating the incumbent by every measure, then something changed. I started hearing rumors that Republicans were urging key individuals not to support me. No money materialized. No party support. No help. Nothing. The last week of the race, we started being followed. On one occasion, I got to confront the individual and was hit; sent head over heels down a embankment (and I’m a disabled veteran as it was). I lost, but it was very close; much closer than it should have been for an incumbent with about 30 years.What had happened was the incumbent chaired a couple of committee that the GOP was trying to get some bills through and he wouldn’t support. So, they promised him “an opponent”—me. About six weeks before the election he agreed to support the bills if they would do something about me, so the State GOP started actively working against me. Meanwhile, the GOP LD chair announced in a executive meeting that he was retiring and wanted me to replace him. They agreed. About a week later, he died (he had cancer which no one knew).Months went by and no appointment to LD Chair despite my inquiries. Finally the local party chairman said that they had no intentions of appointing me despite their public promise to do so. At that moment I became an Independent and never looked back. I remain active in political issues and as a community activist.When I left the Democratic Party, I had a few people get mad at me; a few refused to ever have anything to do with me (including two people I worked with). However, because everyone knew what had happened to me, no one could blame me. They were disappointed of course, but any anger was directed at the party and those who betrayed me.When I walked away from the Republicans, I did so in the same fashion. I refused to keep secret what had happened even though I was warned to. I wasn’t going to get screwed and cover it up for them. Most of the GOP loyalists who ran the party refused to have anything to do with me and still do. As an aside, the local party “leadership” is basically a wealthy clique centered in one part of the county; it acts more like a social club than a active political party.However, other folks actually seemed proud for me standing up to them. Many of them had been used and abused too but didn’t have the backbone to speak out. In fact, I made a few new friends as a result and earned a lot of “street credit”. My family and real friends on both sides were mad at how I was used and lied to. The guy who I lost to as a Democrat ultimately was removed for embezzlement I was told.As for me, I love being an Indie although is irks to see the party do the same thing to others (and yes, I constantly warn new comers at every opportunity). I went to serve as a State union chairman for about four years and served on the local Labor Council, and while I had served on numerous other board positions in leadership positions, those were withdrawn. I suppose it was a form of punishment. I also started a candidate training school and started writing a non-partisan political blog exposing the BS as and when I find it. I hope that answers your question.