Roller to appeal to Virginia Republican Party, chairman

By Bob Stuart

Published: May 7, 2008

Just days after the 6th District Republican Committee ruled that Kurt Michael is Augusta County Republican chairman, the challenger to the local party throne is appealing.
Larry Roller, of Mount Sidney, on Wednesday cited a 6th District Committee fact-finding report that says he was legally voted chairman at the Augusta County mass meeting April 10. Roller said he is appealing his case to the Virginia Republican Party and its chairman, John Hager.
“According to the fact-finding committee, I am chairman,’’ Roller said. He said he hopes the Virginia GOP will give him “better consideration” than did the 6th District.
Virginia Republican Party spokesman Josh Noland said Roller’s appeal had not been received. He declined to comment on how appeals are handled.
The fact-finding committee concluded that the first part of the April 10 mass meeting, during which Roller was elected chairman by 141-103 vote, complied with the Virginia Republican Party Plan. In addition, the report said the second portion of the meeting, convened by Michael at 10:30 p.m., was called too late.
“It can be legitimately argued that you cannot start a mass meeting after 10:30 p.m. when the call states the meeting will start at 7 p.m., as the change in starting time will significantly affect the eligible people who might otherwise participate,’’ the report said. “And without a properly advertised call, and the authority it conveys, simply stated, one cannot just go ahead and hold another meeting.”
The full 6th District Republican Committee listened to the report at last weekend’s convention and rejected its findings by a 15-8 vote.
Michael has been at the epicenter of a bitter feud between a virulent anti-tax wing in the GOP and state Sen. Emmett Hanger, depicted by opponents as soft on taxes. Michael endorsed Hanger’s primary opponent, Scott Sayre, last spring. Hanger narrowly defeated Sayre.