For the last several days the City County Observer and the Courier and Press have been addressing the issue of open hostility towards present GOP Chairman Wayne Parke for his actions in the recent GOP primary elections. We have been informed that Chairman Parke has stated he isn’t going to resign his position as Party Chairman. We also are hearing from a few of his supporters that “Republican Party Rules” have no provisions in its bylaws that address the issue of forcing him to resign.  Attached are the official reference in the State Republican  party rules addressing this issue. Please take time and read the attached sections that will tell you how a local Party Chairman can be removed from his position.

This revision contains all changes approved as of September 18, 2013

RULES OF THE INDIANA REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE.  PREAMBLE, To further the rights of its members to freely associate to achieve the goals of the Party, the Indiana Republican Party State Committee adopts the following rules for the organization and government of the Republican Party of the State of Indiana:

ATTACHED BELOW ARE THE OFFICIAL STATE PARTY GUIDELINES TO FOLLOW TO FORCE CHAIRMAN WAYNE PARKE REMOVAL AS CHAIRMAN OF THE VANDERBURGH COUTNY REPUBLICAN PARTY.

Rule 3-42. A meeting of the County Committee may be convened at any other time upon call of the County Chairman, or upon written notice signed by not less than twenty-five per cent (25%) of the members of the County committee who have been members at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting date (whether elected or appointed). If a meeting is called by members of the committee, it must be called within twenty (20) days from the date the first signature is obtained. A written notice, signed by each member joining in the call, shall be given to every member and officer at least ten (10) days in advance of such meeting. The notice shall state the purpose for which the meeting is called.

Rule 3-43. (a) At a meeting called under Rule 3-42, a member of the County Committee may make a motion to call for a special meeting to consider the removal of one or more officers of the County Committee, who must be specifically identified in the motion. This motion, if seconded, must be taken under consideration immediately by the County Committee.

(b) If the motion is adopted by a majority of those present, the County Committee shall convene at a date, time, and location set under Rule 3-45(b). The County Secretary shall file a written notice of the need for a special meeting with the Secretary of the State Committee no later than seven (7) days after the adoption of this motion.

(c) If the motion fails, the County Committee shall be prohibited from considering removal of the officer in question for at least one hundred and eighty (180) days or until the next reorganization, whichever comes first.

Rule 3-44. If a special meeting is held pursuant to a motion adopted under Rule 3-43, a motion to remove a County Committee officer requires a vote by two-thirds (2/3) of the eligible precinct committeemen and vice-committeemen to be adopted.

Rule 3-45. (a) Except for a special meeting conducted pursuant to a motion adopted under Rule 3-43, the County Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the County Committee.

(b) If a special meeting is conducted pursuant to Rule 3-43, the State Chairman (or the chairman’s designee) shall preside at the meeting of the County Committee. The State Chairman (or the chairman’s designee) shall set the date, time, and location of a subsequent meeting to consider removal of one or more officers in question, and shall provide notice to County Committee members under Rule 3-47 within ten (10) days after the Secretary of the State Committee receives notice under Rule 3-43. The meeting must be conducted within thirty (30) days after notice is provided under this subsection.

(c) Notwithstanding any other rule, an individual may not be appointed or removed as a precinct committeeman or as a vice-committeeman beginning when the motion is adopted under Rule 3-43(a) or when the required percentage of county committee members have signed a written notice under Rule 3-42, and ending at the adjournment of the special meeting.