Richard Bailey sent the following communication to Republican Party of San Diego County Central Committee members this morning (Thursday, April 4). It is shared with his permission.
From: Richard Bailey
Subject: Special Exec Republican Meeting Tonight 6pm
Dear Republican Central Committee Members,
Republicans pride themselves on adherence to and the equal application of laws for our society and rules for our Party.
Unfortunately, I am writing to inform you that Chairwoman Paula Whitsell of the Republican Party of San Diego County (“RPSDC”) is abusing her power as Chair to circumvent Party rules and past precedent to steal the 75th Assembly District Endorsement from Andrew Hayes.
On June 5, 2023, the Republican Executive Committee interviewed Jack Fernandes and Andrew Hayes for endorsement consideration of the 75th Assembly District. On June 12, 2023, the Republican Central Committee voted overwhelmingly to endorse Andrew Hayes. Carl DeMaio was a member of the Executive Committee and Central Committee at that time and was well aware of the endorsement process and rules, but decided to not pursue the Party’s endorsement.
Historically, the Party’s endorsement always remains with the candidate through the General Election, and the endorsement of Andrew Hayes was no different.
However, on April 1, at the RPSDC Executive Committee meeting, Chairwoman Whitsell made an unprecedented and unilateral move to strip Andrew of his endorsement. This action clearly violates Party Bylaws, the established process, past precedent and the previous endorsement vote of 2/3+ of Central Committee members. The Executive Committee rightly voted to oppose Chairwoman Whitsell’s motion and keep the endorsement with Andrew. Immediately after the meeting, Chairwoman Whitsell unilaterally removed Scott Sherman from the Executive Committee because “he did not support my [Paula’s] motion.”
Separate but related, an ethics complaint was filed against Matt Stockton for serving as a member of the committee for a district where he does not actually live. Matt is registered to vote at his parents’ home, but it’s well known by friends of Matt on the committee that he lives in a different district. Who is Matt’s alternate? Yep, Carl DeMaio. Since Monday, Matt has been added to the Executive Committee despite the ethics complaint and forthcoming investigation.
Now that Chairwoman Whitsell has changed the Executive Committee members, she is calling for a Special Executive Committee meeting tonight to take place via Zoom (which is a violation of the Bylaws) to consider her previously-defeated motion again (which is another violation of the Bylaws).
This is not about Carl or Andrew. I have supported, endorsed, and donated to both candidates over the years. This is about the rules that govern our Party. Rules that our Chairwoman is ignoring/abusing to overturn the will of 2/3+ of the Republican Central Committee members to strip Andrew Hayes of the endorsement. It is wrong and it needs to stop.
If any member of the Party feels an endorsement reconsideration is warranted, they may make such a motion during a regularly scheduled meeting. This is clearly stated in our Bylaws and has been the established process for many election cycles.
(Information regarding attending tonight’s meeting and how to contact Whitsell is not included here, as that is pertinent to Central Committee members only.)
I have considered Paula a friend for years and appreciate her service to the Party, but her recent actions undermine the integrity of the Party. We are either a Party of rules or we are not.
Richard