Kurt Michael: I’m still the chairman

By Bob Stuart

Published: April 17, 2008

Embattled Augusta County Republican Committee Chairman Kurt Michael insists he is still in charge, and tonight, he will seat county delegates to both the 6th District and Virginia Republican conventions.
Michael plans to do the delegate business on the steps of the Augusta County Government Center at 7 tonight.
Michael’s assertion comes despite a vote at last week’s Augusta County Republican Mass Meeting that had Larry Roller of Mount Sidney winning the chairmanship 141 to 103.
“I’m chairman. If Larry Roller does not believe it, he needs to appeal,’’ Michael said.
Roller said Thursday he was submitting a petition to 6th District Republican Chairman Fred Anderson confirming he is chairman by virtue of the initial 141-103 vote that elected him last week.
“Those who have signed the petition declared I won the election,’’ said Roller, who said he had 28 signatures on the petition Thursday afternoon.
The signatures on Roller’s petition include those of the Augusta County treasurer, commissioner of the revenue, circuit court clerk, four members of the board of supervisors, Sen. Emmett Hanger and Del. Steve Landes.
Michael’s assessment that he is chairman is not shared by 6th District Republican Chairman Anderson.
Anderson said the question of who is chairman must be settled by the 6th District.
“As far as I’m concerned, Augusta County elected two chairmen,’’ Anderson said.
But Michael disagrees, and cites numerous issues with the conduct of last week’s mass meeting.
Michael said the meeting was not properly adjourned according to Robert’s Rules of Order and said there was also still business to conduct when temporary chairman Jim Bailey adjourned it.
That business included seating delegates to both the 6th District and state convention.
Michael said there were other issues including the suspension of both the mass meeting rules and Augusta County Republican bylaws.
“You can’t suspend the bylaws,’’ Michael said.
Michael said mass meetings also require a secret paper ballot when there is more than one candidate.
This this meeting did not have a secret ballot, Michael said.
Those voting had to submit voting passes and index cards with their choice of a chairman written on the card. He said many of the voting passes had the voter’s name on them.
When Michael took over the meeting, he said he did so to make sure delegates from Augusta County would be seated for both the 6th District and state conventions.
And after a second vote for the county GOP chairmanship, Michael won 57-2.
Michael sought to hold his final delegate meeting today inside the Augusta County Government Center.
But Augusta County Administrator Pat Coffield said a public meeting room could not be used for two reasons.
First, Coffield said he did not want to allow use of a meeting room until the 6th District certifies someone as chairman.
“I do not want to get caught in the middle,’’ he said.
Also, Coffield said meeting rooms at the government center are used Monday through Thursday when there is staff on duty at night.
On Fridays, the government center closes at 5 p.m. Michael had asked for use of a room tonight.
“I’d have to bring in staff and pay time and a half,’’ Coffield said.
Hanger has been at odds with Michael since last year when the chairman supported Hanger’s GOP primary opponent, Scott Sayre.
Hanger has said in recent months that the local party needs new leadership.
And he said Thursday that the issue might have been settled in a less contentious environment.
“If there were not completely diverse viewpoints and warring factions this could be resolved in a reasonable way,’’ Hanger said.
Michael said last week’s meeting did not boil down to a battle of him versus Hanger.
He said it was the “rule of law or the rule of the mob applying.”