Thursday night, February 25th, the SCV CRA, with 71 people in attendance and hearing 6 of the Republican candidates for City Council, voted only to endorse David Gauny. As President of the SCV CRA, it was good to see many new faces and a renewed energizing of the grassroots arm of the Republican Party. After the endorsements were over, many people came up and complained that there were lots of new faces and that Gauny brought new members that night to secure the endorsement. So let’s set the record straight.

Of the 71 people in attendance, only 43 were paid members and permitted to vote. That evening 11 members renewed and 6 new members joined (this is an important number… SIX new members). Each candidate needed 2/3 of the 43 member vote to gain an endorsement. David Gauny received 34 votes in the first round of voting, giving him an endorsement. In a second and final round of voting, no candidate received the 2/3 required to obtain an endorsement. CRA Bylaws only allow two rounds of votes.

Now, if you back out (and notice I say “IF” you back out) the SIX new votes that Gauny MAY have brought with him, he still won an endorsement with the regular general membership.

The CRA is the grassroots “feet to pavement” group of the Republican Party. That being said, there was an expectation that the club would only endorse the incumbents following the “same old, same old” political way of doing things in the SCV, that was not the case.

Although it was not the expected outcome, it was still an outcome that was fair and democratic and representative of the members in attendance.

 For those members who came out tonight to push an agenda but are not regularly involved with the SCV CRA, this cheapens the endorsement process and makes it no better than those things we constantly complain about in the overall political process. I hope this is the beginning of a renewed involvement with the SCV CRA rather than a one-time visit.

For those members who come out and are involved on a consistent basis, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! Keep it up and keep standing up for what you believe and stay involved, you are making a difference in the process.

On a personal note, I saw alot of people come out to cheer on their candidate and many said they still believed in the tenets of the Republican Party. It’s good to hear that and I hope that they continue to come out and be involved.

Joe Messina

President,

SCV California Republican Assembly

Joe Messina is President or the SCV CRA and a member of the Hart School Board. His commentaries represent his own opinions and not necessarily the views of any organization he may be affiliated with or those of the West Ranch Beacon.