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Last week I received a check from the Republican Party of Cuyahoga County literally cashiering me out of the party’s Executive Committee. The check came in response to a request I made of the party’s Chair Rob Frost that he reconsider his chairman’s compensation package in light of the fact that he lied about his commitment to work as a full-time chair and instead now has three very time consuming jobs (Party Chairman, practicing attorney and member of the County Board of Elections). I suggested that should he decide not to reconsider that I (along with my fellow committee members) should get a refund of our dues. The answer came in the form of that check and a letter indicating that the party had accepted my resignation from its Executive Committee.

While I don’t agree with their assessment that I tendered my resignation, I do understand that the cashing of the check will serve as my acceptance of their assumption. After some thought and more discussion than I cared to have, I’ve decided that I’ll be cashing that check. Even though I’ll no longer be an Executive Committee member, the reality is that I retain my seat on the party’s Central Committee (whose rules are less malleable to the chair’s whims) and I’ll continue to voice my opinion whenever I deem it necessary (or at least until they try to ex-communicate me).

I’m disappointed that it’s come to this, but as things progressed last year during the Commissioner’s race, it was obvious to me that the party leaders and I had conflicting agendas. Those in power have promoted a consolidation of power to an ineffective leader who has nothing to show for his tenure. A bigger budget and swankier office space has not translated to attracting, supporting or promoting local candidates. While we hold a few mayor’s offices and city council seats in the suburbs, not a single county office or City of Cleveland seat belongs to a Republican. I’ve often asked what the party plans to do about this, and have been greeted with blank stares and silence. This Republican party will continue to fail as long as the status quo remains acceptable.

For those interested in making the party better, I suggest you start with the money. Find out how much has really been raised, how much has been spent and find out why it was spent in that fashion. I think what you’ll find is that very little is being done that actually wins elections. I find it incredibly ironic that this party’s leadership felt it appropriate to spend money on a preferred candidate’s contested race for the State Central Committee (which she ultimately lost) instead of channeling the funds into activities designed to defeat Democrats. I find it abhorrent that the party funnels all of it’s fundraising dollars through a contracted vendor that takes a cut of the take off the top (for every dollar that’s raised by the party, a portion of it ends up with the fundraiser - regardless of the fundraiser’s actual involvement in the process). I find it obscene that this party chairman committed to serving as a full-time chair where he would focus all of his energies and instead receives two other paychecks beyond the extraordinary compensation that our party currently provides. The fact that he has chosen not to reconsider his original compensation package with the party in lieu of his broken promise only exacerbates the questions of financial mismanagement. Finally, it breaks my heart to recognize that these financial shenanigans have been allowed to flourish because constructive requests for answers and change go unheeded or are (as in my case) squelched.

So, I’ll be cashing that check, but they won’t be able to get rid of me so easily.

I want to say thank you to all of you who chose to let me know your feelings about this situation. I appreciated the comments from those who pointed out that I was being somewhat disingenuous in asking for a refund and yet refusing to accept it’s implications - you were right. I also want to thank all of you who called and emailed to privately give me input (if I haven’t gotten back to you yet, I’m sorry - the inbox was a little full and I’ve been busy working on a couple of projects that have left me little time for correspondence… please know I’ve listened to and read your messages and your kind thoughts have strengthened my resolve). Last, but not least, I want to acknowledge those in the blogosphere who have written some very kind words about me and this situation. Whether one is on the left or right, we all share a bond of speaking up for what we believe and your posts have meant the world to me.

So let’s move on (well that may have been a poor choice of words, but then again, perhaps not)…

By the way, if you have any ideas about what I should do with the $100, I’d love to hear your suggestions.