Article I: Five Guiding Principles
The current chairman of the Summit County Republican Party views politics in terms of transactions and deals. Republicans have a right to expect their party will be guided by and promote the following principles:
- Common Sense
- Fiscal responsibility and lower taxes
- Personal responsibility and individual freedom
- Stronger families
- Safety and security
Article II: More Participation, More Inclusiveness
Power within the local party is held by a small group of people hand-selected by the current chairman. Republican clubs are even considered a threat to the chairman’s central control. More Republicans have a right to particpate in the party:
- We will change the party rules to allow the whole duly-elected Central Committee to elect the party chairman.
- The Summit County Republican Party will not endorse candidates in primary elections, unless an incumbent officeholder is challenged. In that case, a majority vote of the duly elected Central Committee is needed to endorse.
- All judicial candidates will be screened by a Judicial Screening Committee, selected by the Central Committee.
- We will encourage the creation of more Republican clubs and organizations throughout the county in order to strengthen the grassroots organization and develop candidates.
- We will conduct an annual performace review of the party that will include feedback from the bottom up.
Article III: Tight Fiscal Accountability
The current chairman is using the party as his own personal ATM machine. Republicans have a right to make the following changes to clean up this mess:
- Conduct full independent audit of all party funds and make the results public.
- Require that all party expenditures over $500 must be approved by majority of a Board of Control, consisting of three members selected by the Central Committee.
- Financial records including statements, receipts, accounting books etc. will be made available to anyone upon request.
- All loans made to the party must be backed up by bank documentation proving the loan was made.
Article IV: Clean Leadership Republicans Can Be Proud Of
The current chair of the county party has used the position to enrich himself, sometimes by creating conflicts of interest. In addition, the local party is not considered a positive force in the community. Republicans have a right to clean up the leadership with the following changes:
- The chairman of the Summit County Republican Party may not be a lobbyist.
- The chairman of the Summit County Republican Party may not use the position for personal financial gain and may not be owner, partner, or a shareholder in any entity that receives business from the Party or it's endorsed candidates.
- The party leadership, Republican officeholders, candidates, and developing candidates will be encouraged to become active in community organizations and to be a positive force in the community.
Article V: Better Service for Candidates and Officeholders
Republicans have a right to qualified candidates we can all be proud to support and a right to a party that helps, not hinders our candidates in elections:
- We will spend more money on election campaigns and less on operational overhead. The current $600,000 allotted for "overhead" is outrageous.
- We will create a position of Finance Chairman, a person devoted solely to leading the party's fundraising effort.
- We will make available one-stop shop campaign services and consulting to all Republican candidates competing in general elections.
- The party will make every effort to field qualified candidates in all races on the ballot.
- We will provide legal counsel as it relates to Ohio Election Law, Ohio Campaign Finance Law, Ohio Ethics Law to all candidates and officeholders.
- Party activists will be treated with respect, dignity, and appreciation for all they have done to build the party.
- No candidate, officeholder, patronage employee, or party activist will be asked, coerced, or forced, to violate any laws of the State of Ohio or the United States.
