Prologue: The below is re-posted from what I wrote on my own blog. Many on the OJ Blog have lampooned CRA for some dubious endorsements rendered by suspect units. The “Contract with the CRA” slate which won the April 2011 officer elections were all about rooting out and dealing with CRA endorsement fraud and then rebuilding the organization with real CRA units.
Many political insiders in the California GOP were watching closely today to see what was going to transpire at the CRA Board Meeting. There were numerous emailed attacks sent from the Capitol Resource Institute Email list server accusing us of perpetrating all sorts of heinous acts before the board meeting even happened.
Recap – there were 17 units put up for expulsion and 8 CRA members put up for expulsion.
Please note that all unit Presidents were attempted to be reached with phone calls, emails and certified letters. Only two unit Presidents responded while three of the first seven individuals put up for disciplinary action responded.
The following is what actually occurred.
Alpine Heights RA – De-chartered unanimously
Camp Pendleton RA – only 2 objections to unanimous consent to de-charter
San Diego RA – De-chartered unanimously
Stanton RA – De-chartered unanimously
Please note that three of these four were de-chartered with a unanimous vote suggesting that even members of the opposition to the “Contract with the CRA” supported these moves.
The Citrus, Circle City, Corona Hills, Norco, Rimpau, South Corona, Temescal Valley and West Corona RA – known as the “8 Coronas” were de-chartered with the Charter Review Committee given direction to re-organize a new CRA unit in Corona (or maybe 2). CRA VP Bob Kowell was also placed in charge of handling chartering the new unit(s) in Corona.
This action also received unanimous approval from the board.
(Please also note that any CRA members displaced by the actions of the Board will be sent a letter informing them that they can join another CRA unit or remain as a CRA member at-large.)
The Ladera Ranch RA was placed in Jeopardy status due to the fact that the unit’s President responded to contact and asked to be allowed to join up with CRA officers to clean up any issues with the unit. Since he responded in such a manner – the Ladera Ranch RA was given a second chance and will likely become a 100% legitimate CRA unit.
The Mid-Empire RA was de-chartered – only three objections to unanimous consent. The main reason for this will be described below when I cover Tom Rogers in the individual actions.
The South Butte RA was the subject of about an Hour of Debate. Ultimately, the unit was placed in Jeopardy – largely due to the fact that the unit President responded and asked for mercy. Mercy was given.
The Yolo RA was de-chartered – only three objections to unanimous consent. No one spoke in its’ defense as the evidence of fraud was overwhelming.
The Yuba RA was de-chartered – only three objections to unanimous consent. Again, no one spoke in its’ defense.
There was a movement away from lifetime bans for individuals due to a sentiment to show some conciliation and mercy. The board ultimately decided to follow past precedent in terms of disciplinary actions.
Only Rick Marshall attended to speak in his defense. Tom Rogers and Tim LeFever responded via e-mail. Scott Viogts spoke with several in CRA directly himself.
Paul Dillon was given a 5-year removal from CRA, with a provision to re-apply to the board at the end of the 5-years. He did not respond nor did he accept the certified letter sent to him. No one spoke out, communicated or emailed on Paul’s behalf. (Only 2 objections to the motion.)
Karen England was given a 10-year removal from CRA with the same re-application provision – the three attack emails sent from the Capitol Resource Institute E-mail platform (her employer) in this past week and her conversations with some about attempting to de-charter CRA from the State CRP motivated a stiffer penalty. No one spoke out, emailed or communicated on her behalf. (Only 2 objections to the motion.)
Tim LeFever was given a 10-year removal from CRA with the same re-application provision. Mr. LeFever emailed on his own behalf explaining his right to sue CRA and issuing what were perceived as veiled threats in his communication. (Only 3 objections to the motion.)
David Reade was given a 10-year removal from CRA with the same re-application provision – due largely to his role in committing fraud on a major scale inside of CRA. No one spoke out, communicated or emailed on David’s behalf. (Only 2 objections to the motion.)
Tom Rogers was given a 10-year removal from CRA with the same re-application provision – Mr. Rogers emailed on behalf of both Mid Empire RA and himself. Like LeFever, he explained his right to sue the CRA and the email was replete with communication perceived as veiled threats in his communication. (only 2 objections to the motion.)
Mark Spannagel was given a 5-year removal from CRA with the same re-application provision. No one spoke out, emailed or communicated on his behalf. Like Dillon, Spannagel also refused the Certified letter sent to him. (only 2 objections to the motion.)
Scott Voigts went on a major personal PR campaign. He disavowed any involvement in the first amended complaint against CRA. (This was the key point for his defense.) Unlike Tom Rogers and Tim LeFever who extended their middle finger to the CRA – Scott Voigts extended a hand of peace. Voigts was suspended, not terminated from CRA for one year. (the motion was unanimous)
The Rick Marshall expulsion request was rejected by a 24-8 vote as the proceedings there turned in to an extension of the personal issues between Marshall and John Stammerich, the complaintant.
Of further note – a New CRA Unit was Chartered, the Santa Clarita Valley Republican Assembly.
As of the writing of this email – plans are in the works for several new CRA units – please look out for updates on the movement to re-build the CRA with new activist-driven units.
The bottom line is where Mercy was possible, Mercy was given.
“The bottom line is where Mercy was possible, Mercy was given.” How bibilcal of Ms. Grieg and her folks. Kiss the ring, get a pass – for now.
You people are medieval. Or Stalinist. “Mercy was given.”
I can email you a complete copy of the fraud report. You can see for yourself, it would make even the most hardened union hack proud.
The bottom line is – it was dealt with and now it is time to move on.
Also, I missed the report on what happened to Ms. Grieg for her alleged violations of the bylaws, including not informing the secretary when she moved units a while back, being a member of two units at the same time, and refusing to preside over the April 2011 convention. I can only assume that was an oversight and the results of your investigation into Ms. Grieg’s purported flouting of the bylaws will be provided in an update shortly.
I have copies of Celeste’s emails to the units regarding her transfer. She did it right – just like you did when you transferred out of Saddleback RA.
Peggy Mew provided your side with the information on the Chatsworth Northridge Unit – which is in Jeopardy for being short of 11 members. I have spoken with Gary Aminoff, its’ President and he is collecting dues as we speak and should have the unit back in compliance within two weeks.
Any other questions?
I’m always a man of facts, and I’ll take you at your word regarding the emails. Unlike most, I know that both sides are at fault here (and I have always maintained that position). However, I will never agree with the tactics of your side at the convention.
And I do have a question that no one has dared answer – because I think we all know the answer – how can you guarantee the integrity of an election when the Credentials Committee at the convention was either mostly or entirely composed of individuals (from both sides but I believe overwhelmingly on your side) who were running for office? Hence, the people running were picking the delegates who were going to vote for them. I certainly hope that is one of your reforms that you are going to initiate because I defy anyone to tell me how that can result in a fair election.
Newbie – fair question. I can tell you that 95% of the fraud was in support of one side. I did not find any pro-Celeste units with duplicate members, illegal transfers, DTS, non-CRA members submitted as delegates, etc.
I found out after the fact that four tiny units who sent proxies in support of Celeste should not have been able to as they were expired. I only found this out once I got records. Westchester Del-Ray, Riverside, Laguna Beach and Chatsworth Northridge. Those units are all currently in Jeopardy and being given a chance to get back over the minimum number of members. There are 11 other units – 5 that did not participate and 6 that supported Karen – that are in the same category.
That being said – there is a general consensus to separate the Membership Secretary from Credentials in the future. And the membership secretary is not the chair of charter review anymore. For years – Peggy Mew had run both with an iron fist.
Very similar to the Salem witch hunts which was really a battle between two family clans with the prevailing family declaring members of the other family witches and having them burned, the CRA has engaged in its own witch hunt as a way of quelling any opposition dared to be raised against the reigning powers. This destructive behavior leaves the ordinary party member cold, walking away from the poltical process shaking their heads in disbelief. This nonsense only works to the advantage of the seemingly corrupt party leaders such as this story’s author Mr. Park.
Geoff – you never paid dues in to CRA yet were listed as a would-be alternate delegate from Ladera Ranch RA. That is fraud.
When Don Fremming, the President of Ladera Ranch RA was asked about you, he said he didn’t know you – but there is your name on the delegation list from that unit for the April 2011 convention.
Talk about living in a glass house. Whoops.
I know that you are used to bullying folks with no voice or resources, but you best pick your battles carefully Mr. Park. It is true that I have never paid CRA dues – I have never signed up for the CRA or been asked to pay dues. I was asked to join the Ladera Ranch CRA while away on vacation and I agreed that I was interested. Nothing more happened from this and I certainly never asked nor agreed to be an alternate delegate. Did you put my name on the list of delegates Mr. Park to create this “controversy?”
Geoff – I can send you a copy of the roster that was faxed over from Peggy Mew’s office with your name on it.
I don’t know how you got there – maybe you should call Scott Voigts. The fax has a time stamp and a phone number stamp and we never got the original document, just a faxed copy.
Makes it impossible to fake on our end.
You accused me of fraud – I tell you that I never sought or accepted any offer to be a delegate or alternate delegate – and your defense is that my name is on the paper?
Please correct your misstatement that I was involved in a fraud.
Geoff – you have no idea how you got on the list? I take you at your word!
If that is the case – I DO apologize! Do you remember who you talked to? – this is important…
You see, this is the kind of stuff we are dealing with en masse with a lot of units. There are about 10 names in your category – some knew and some did not.
I do appreciate your apology – people can call me a lot of things and that doesn’t bother me, but question my integrity and that goes to my core beliefs.
I had email correspondence with Newbie who I have spoken to and he says that he does recall talking to me about joining but that he has no idea how my name got on a list and that he certainly had nothing to do with it.
These kinds of issues are why Ladera was not de-chartered as it became obvious that Newbie and Don Fremming were not involved in the irregularities.
I am literally dealing with around 200 names – most of whom were added to rosters without their knowledge or consent. There are another 40-50 people listed as members of multiple units, there are 3 non-Republicans that we know of, and it goes on and on and on…
If you come across Vern Nelson, that should also not be there.
ROFL!!!!!!! I’d have spotted that from a mile away!!!
Right. I’m actually into conserving things. Like the environment, the atmosphere, open spaces, public property, our social compact, civil liberties, democracy, the Constitution, fiscal balance, an even shake for all Americans. So I wouldn’t qualify as a modern “conservative.”
@Newbie and Geoff – your unit, Ladera Ranch RA was given a second chance because of the integrity of Don Fremming being willing to step forward and clean it up.
That starts with Newbie serving as a delegate to the April 2011 convention with expired dues and with Geoff Willis being on Ladera’s delegation list – but never having been on the official CRA roster. And yes, Newbie I know your identity with 100% certainty – but in respecting Vern’s wishes, I am not publishing your name.
In the case of Geoff – it is fraud, in the case of Newbie, he needs to write out a check to get his CRA dues current.
Mr. Park, you are 100% incorrect on your assertion that my dues are late and I can prove it. I was at an SRA meeting in November or December 2010 (when I was still a member of that unit) and I noticed my name was not on the roster. I asked Matt Corigan’s wife (I believe she is the secretary) and told her that I had paid my dues to Scott Voigts when I signed up for the CRA earlier that year at the Lake Forest Snow Day. She told me that that was not correct and that I had to pay her for my membership in SRA specifically. I immediately paid her cash for my membership; thus I am paid up through November or December of this year. Please feel free to check with her, but I assure you I am current on my dues. I have a witness to swear to it if you would like, or maybe a blood oath. So, you might want to check your facts or work on that shoddy paperwork (if it doesn’t reflect my current status) before you accuse a member of failing to pay dues (in fact, I double paid for several months because my dues were not up when I paid SRA).
Newbie – you could be another of Peggy Mew’s victims. Could you send George an Email so he can update the CRA’s records? You show expired 10/1/2010.
Will do.
Aaron, your gestapo tactics really should stop. I was asked to join the Ladera Ranch unit while away on vacation and I indicated that I was interested. I was interested because my “natural” unit, the Saddleback Republican Assembly is a terribly run unit that, much like your statewide tactics, systematically excludes those with opinions different than the majority. I never asked or agreed to be a alternate delegate and how not intention of attending the statewide convention. You have accused me of fraud and unless recanted I will bring legal action since I have taken NO action that constitutes fraud. Be careful of how you throw around words Mr. Park, I know that you are used to being the 500 pound gorilla tossing around those without resources, you are up against a very different animal this time.
Geoff – I can send you a copy of the roster that was faxed over from Peggy Mew’s office with your name on it.
I don’t know how you got there – maybe you should call Scott Voigts. The fax has a time stamp and a phone number stamp and we never got the original document, just a faxed copy.
Makes it impossible to fake on our end.
Please review the following:
http://www.rightondaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/941755611.pdf
This was received in our Efax 3/26/2011.
You simply are too dense to get this Aaron. I am not disputing that my name somehow and improperly got on a list. I am saying that I did not give you, or anyone else, permission to put my name on that list. This is your goof not mine and I don’t appreciate the accusation.
Geoff – you have no idea how you got on the list? I take you at your word!
If that is the case – I DO apologize! Do you remember who you talked to? – this is important…
You see, this is the kind of stuff we are dealing with en masse with a lot of units. There are about 10 names in your category – some knew and some did not.
Aaron Park, Chief fraud investigator and shake down artist. You and your cronies have turned the CRA into a sham organization. It is a sad day when you eliminate 7 stalwart conservative and 17 units just so you and your mafia can control the organization with an iron fist.
Read all about Aaron at http://www.cratruth.com/park.htm