The Tea Party relationship to the REC has become confusing…..
The Saint Augustine Tea Party (SATP) greeted Republican Executive Committee (REC) members as they arrived for their monthly membership meeting on February 9, 2012. The exchange between members of the REC and the members of the SATP were conducted with a mutual respect for each other. Most REC members were interested in the written information which the SATP had prepared. Many productive conversations ensued. The Tea Party’s relation to the REC has become confusing to some REC members. Back in November, at the monthly REC meeting, County Commissioner Ron Sanchez spoke about problems arising from two REC Board members. They were creating Tea Party issues within the REC. Mr. Sanchez stated that the REC was not a place for Tea Parties. Sanchez was referring to the SATP and the newly formed St Johns County Tea Party, Inc., a corporation controlled by those two REC board members. Later, at the January meeting, the Commissioner addressed the REC members stating that he had no problems with the Tea Parties; rather it was with the two errant REC Board members. During this same period of time, the SATP officers were working to arrange a meeting with Chairman Mason and Vice Chairman Mulhall to address the same issue. The result of that effort was a meeting on January 23,2012. At that time, details as to Mr. West and Mr. Covington’s activities were provided. The SATP had hoped that the REC Chairman and Vice Chairman could persuade West and Covington to enter into negotiations prior to the February REC meeting. Since no progress resulted, the information was provided to the entire Board on February 6th. Eric West agreed to meet with the SATP at the Board meeting, according to Becky Reichenberg, a Board member. The SATP expressed its thanks to the Board members who worked on trying to bring resolution.
The SATP had hoped to keep this mess from reappearing in the Press. However, according to David Heimbold, Chairman of the SATP,”We have heard nothing from West, Covington, Mason or Mulhall. This has been going on for five months. With regret, the letters detailing the underhanded transactions have now been distributed to the entire REC membership of St John County.” Heimbold added, “Now the whole REC has the details regarding the removal of Mr. West as Chairman of the SATP and his attempt to destroy our Tea Party.” The SATP is the original grass-roots Tea Party. The St Johns County Tea Party, Inc. is the new REC identity which is controlled by their Board of Directors. According to public records, the REC State Committeeman, Randy Covington and Recording Secretary, Eric West, are in total control.
This leaves three factions within the REC. There are REC members with no connection to the Tea Parties. This group is by far the largest group. It is this group who was most interested in the written material that the SATP distributed on February 6th. The second faction is the REC members who are also members of the corporate St Johns Tea Party. The third group, the smallest of the three, is the REC/ SATP members.
David Heimbold, who was outside handing out the material along with two other volunteers said, “The encounter with REC members was very pleasant except for St Johns County Tea Party Group whose contempt and anger was plain to see.” Heimbold reported that, “the response to mass mailings appeared to be a success, as only two people asked to be removed. I did receive a critical response, though, from a person who has acted as a spokesperson for West and Covington in the past. This person referred to our written material as garbage and rubbish. The spokesman also implied that we act like Occupiers. I wonder if this person has ever been near enough to an Occupier to know how they behave; SATP members have. Clearly, ‘occupation’ does not describe SATP behavior at the REC meeting.” Continuing, Heimbold said, “I almost forgot, the spokesperson claims that our position are lies, not facts, and proposed a libel suit if the SATP continues to assert its position in print. Our position is based on very solid evidence. I am sorry that St Johns County Tea Party folks cannot put their anger behind them and resolve this so that we can work together to defeat Obama”. Speaking to the issues, Heimbold continued, “Our group is active in registering Republicans for the upcoming election and many of our members will be there to man the telephones as they did in the 2010 election. I agree with Kim Kendall’s plea, at the November REC meeting, for a united REC. SATP support for the REC will be difficult to maintain if the two arrogant Board members continue to divide.”
Comments