What is a Republican? When filing paperwork to run as an elected official for a partisan office, the candidate simply decides which political party box to check. Checking the Republican box does not mean that the candidate is endorsed by the Republican party or even believes in the Republican party platform. In the past, the local Republican party has not endorsed candidates until after primary elections take place. Once a candidate wins the primary, that candidate is then endorsed in party literature regardless of whether their values align with the Republican party platform. This way of doing political business has allowed establishment Republicans to reign for decades, as well as having allowed numerous Republicans in Name Only (RINO) to infiltrate the party.
In August 2022, a new generation of Ottawa County Republican party precinct delegates was elected that have been transforming the party back to its traditional platform. During the February 15, 2024, Ottawa County convention, these delegates passed two resolutions that will make it more likely the candidates they endorse in the future are true Republicans, and that future Republican office holders are held accountable to the county platform.
The first resolution instructs the Ottawa County Republican Party (OCRP) Executive Committee to hold a convention in May 2024 for the purpose of endorsing candidates. This should assist the public with identifying true conservatives. The resolution reads:
Resolution for Ottawa County Republican Party to Host a County-wide Delegate Endorsement Convention for the 2024 Election Cycle
WHEREAS, the Ottawa County Republican Party (OCRP) believes in the founding rights of the nation solidified by the Constitution and Bill of Rights; and
WHEREAS, the OCRP is an organization of like-minded individuals who organize on the basis of shared morals, values, and character; and
WHEREAS, the OCRP believes the First and Fourteenth Amendment protection to free speech and assembly grants this body a constitutional right to associate with others for the common advancement of political beliefs and ideas; and
WHEREAS, the OCRP wants candidates to achieve nomination through shared values, morals, and character, rather than who can spend the most money; and
WHEREAS, the OCRP wishes to exercise their voice in the upcoming primaries of 2024, through an endorsement convention of contested primaries.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the OCRP delegation directs the Ottawa County Executive Committee of the Republican party to host an endorsement convention for the 2024 election cycle; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the OCRP delegation empowers the OCRP Executive Committee to construct standard rules for such convention (to be approved that day by the delegation), dictates the convention must be held in the month of May, 2024, dictates that all Precinct Delegates of Ottawa County be invited, and that the vote be made on paper; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the OCRP delegation directs the OCRP Executive Committee to create a specific 2024 watermark and endorsement letter, to be distributed to the endorsement convention victors, however, no funds shall be dispersed by the OCRP to any contested candidate in a primary until after the open primary in August is held; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, LASTLY, the OCRP delegation dictates that endorsements may be used on all campaign material for the 2024 campaign season, reserved solely for candidates who win at the May endorsement convention.
*If MIGOP passes a delegate caucus, that will take the place of the endorsement convention.
The second resolution summarizes the Republican Party Platform and instructs the executive committee to hold elected Republicans accountable to the platform. The resolution reads:
Resolution to Hold Republican Party Candidates and Representatives Accountable
WHEREAS, the Republican party is the party of We the People, the US Constitution, and the Declaration of Independence within the confines of intent articulated by our United States of America founding fathers; and
WHEREAS, the Republican Party is the party of integrity honesty, principles, and ethics; and
WHEREAS, the Republican Party is the party of America First, a position of servitude; and
WHEREAS, the Michigan Republican Party is the party of Michigan First, a position of servitude; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, candidates, election workers, and anyone representing the party shall represent and promote, the principles of the US Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the tenets of the 2016 Republican Party Platform including, but not limited to the following;
First Amendment: Religious Liberty under our Judeo-Christian foundation
First Amendment: Freedom of Speech
Second Amendment: Right to Keep and Bear Arms
Fourth Amendment: Liberty and Privacy
Fifth Amendment: Human Life from conception to natural death
Fifth Amendment: Private Property
Fifth Amendment: Intellectual Property Rights
Ninth Amendment: The People’s Retained Rights whereby the enumerated rights of government shall not infringe on rights retained by the people
Tenth Amendment: Federalism as the Foundation of Personal Liberty limiting the government to only the powers enumerated to it by the Constitution, specifically in Article 1 Section 8
Election integrity through honest elections counting one vote per US citizen
Combat human trafficking with every resource available and prosecute violators to the fullest extent of the law
The foremost institution in American, the nuclear family, including parents as the first and foremost educators and their parental rights
Gender as endowed by our creator at conception: male and female
Marriage between one man and one woman
Health Freedom including patient rights and controls, individual conscience in healthcare, and tort reform
The free-market economy including, but not limited to, reducing governmental debt, balanced budget(s), free and transparent markets, minimized regulations, and the overall protection of small business and entrepreneurship
A simple tax code that leads to the dismantling of the IRS
Trade without deficits
American energy independence
Educational freedom including school choice
Criminal justice and prison reform
Peace through strength through our military, national guard and reserves, veterans, and local law enforcement; and
NOW BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the delegates of the Ottawa County Republican Party hereby commission the OCRP Executive Committee or designated sub-committee to investigate any party candidate or representative, elected or otherwise, who demonstrates flagrant and pervasive disregard for the tenets of the United States Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Republican Party Platform, and Republican values of integrity, honesty, principles, and ethics; and
NOW BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, if found guilty, by a majority vote of the Executive Committee, of flagrant and pervasive disregard of these principles, the delegates of the Ottawa County Republican party commission the OCRP Executive Committee to present reports of malfeasance to the public regarding any candidate or elected representative, or to reject and demand removal and replacement of the election inspector, poll challenger, poll watcher, or any other partisan role processing an election.
Ottawa County citizens and the precinct delegates they elect are working to ensure elected officials represent their constituents and not the donors who fund their campaigns. Many elected officials that ran under the platform did not stand for the platform. Why have a platform if members and representatives do not uphold the principles?
If you have not yet connected with the Ottawa County Republican Party, I recommend clicking on this link, browsing their website, and signing up to receive their newsletters.