Meanwhile, debates between the local GOP were also ongoing on an unauthorized Facebook page, “Warren County, Ohio GOP.”
“I think it’s a reflection of what’s happening nationally. Maybe what’s happening nationally is more a reflection of what’s hapened locally,” said Bethe Goldenfield, chair of the Warren County Democratic Party. “When I look at that, I’m like ‘Wow! They are messed up.’”
Republicans, however, dominate Warren County politics.
Two years ago, the Tea Party faction formed a coalition with the party's old guard to elect Warrick as chairman, unseating party leaders, including Lori Viars, who had led a Conservative Caucus-Right to Life group to victory, taking party leadership about a decade ago.
Last week, Warren County Auditor Matt Nolan and Jeff Monroe, chairman of the local Board of Elections, met with Warrick in hopes of convincing him to agree to reorganization of the party leadership with Monroe at the helm.
Instead Warrick said this week he was being unfairly criticized and warned other members of Tea Party and Liberty Alliance factions of the local party “wanted to go to war.”
On Tuesday, Nolan acknowledged hopes of banding together to help elect Republicans to the presidency and down the ticket in November had failed.
“There are definitely divisions,” Nolan said. “This isn’t atypical. We go through this every two years.”
As a result, Nolan said the party would be less effective than it was in past elections, including 2004 when it was credited with helping George W. Bush's first presidential election.
For example, instead of operating one phone bank urging voters to the polls to vote for Republicans, Nolan said there could be as many a three different groups making calls to some of the same people.
“You reach a lot more people if you’re working together,” he said.
But Warrick said his group was unready to compromise with other local leaders, including Linda Oda, the county recorder and vice chair of the party, who have planned the annual Lincoln Day dinner without his authorization.
Warrick said this was only one example of “dishonest” dealings between the different factions.
Goldenfield, the local Democrat leader, said she was unconcerned about who won today’s party leadership elections. She viewed the infighting as a local example of issues in the Republican Party that have fueled Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.
Republicans could also see a lower turnout in November if Trump’s nomination is blocked at the national convention in Cleveland, Goldenfield said.
“That’s good for us,” she said. “I want a Democrat to win.”
About the Author
