Committee on Credentials

I arrived in Tampa a few days early to serve as a member of the Credentials Committee. There are 3 committees that serve the Republican National Committee- Credentials, Rules and Platform. Each state delegation elects a man and a woman to serve each committee. My counterpart on the Credentials Committee is Bob Brunjes from King County. Our job is to hear the cases of national delegates and/or alternates whose right to be seated at the national convention has been challenged.

There were 9 challenges from 8 states- the most contests since 1952.

The Washington State delegation was challenged by Ron Paul activists and their complaints involved procedural issues going back to the March 3 caucuses and county conventions. Our committee ruled that the RNC body has no jurisdiction over this matter because their challenge was already heard and ruled on by the state credentialing committee. As a national delegate who was individually challenged let me just say that the materials submitted by the challengers was riddled with false statements. Without a doubt this challenge was without fact and merit. This matter has been rightly decided and buried.

The challenges of 4 other states have either been dropped or settled outside of this body. That leaves 3 states who continued their contests: Maine, Oregon and Oklahoma.

First up Maine: It is clear the Maine state convention was riddled with serious credentialing, ballot and floor security issues. My word, what a nightmare situation! Multiple efforts were made to resolve the dispute and the RNC working with the Maine Republican Party procuded an alternate slate of delegates which includes representatives of both slates that were presented at the state convention. This is a fair and equitable resolution and allows for Maine to be representated on the floor of the national convention.

Vote of the credentials committee on Maine: an affirmative vote to seat a slate of delegates and alternates which constitutes individuals from both state convention slates (BTW: majority Paul delegates).

I sure hope Oregon and Oklahoma will be easier to consider.