The Loudoun County Republican Committee (LCRC) today released the following statement by Chairman Paul Protic:
As I indicated at the March 26 LCRC meeting, I have determined that it is in the best interests of the Party, our candidates, our delegates and principles of fundamental fairness to pursue my prerogative as Unit Committee Chairman to appeal the March 23 ruling of the General Counsel of the Republican Party of Virginia (RPV) invalidating the 2007 LCRC Convention Call.
However, it is not in the best interest of any of the parties to litigate this appeal in the media. So rather than releasing the full appeal, I am providing this summary of our key assertions:
A General Counsel Ruling is not an appropriate vehicle for this challenge, and under the applicable provision of the RPV Plan of Organization ("Party Plan"), the time for an appeal has past.
Neither the LCRC nor affected candidates and delegates were provided notice of the Ruling or an opportunity for a hearing.
The LCRC complied with the Party Plan's new provisions for shortened published versions of a Call and provided adequate notice of qualifications for participation.
Language in the Call relating to conduct of the Mass Meetings does not conflict with the Party Plan, which allows for flexibility in operating those Meetings.
The requirements to reissue our call and re-open the filing process are expensive, burdensome and unfair to the LCRC, the candidates and delegates in comparison to the minor and technical nature of the alleged violations in the Call. No showing of harm to current or potential candidates or delegates has been shown.
The RPV Counsel reviewed the Call in question and similar Calls for other Units without raising the objections cited in his Ruling, and the Ruling would invalidate Calls with similar language submitted by other Units across the Commonwealth.
I am confident that we took the right step in challenging this Ruling invalidating our Call -- which produced more than 1900 delegate filings and the addition of more than 150 new LCRC members -- and equally confident of our prospects on Appeal. And I am equally confident that we will emerge from this challenge stronger and more united as a Party and better prepared to win in November.
