Chairman Jeff Frederick remains defiant, but the fight within the Republican Party of Virginia to oust Jeff Frederick is fast becoming a very one-sided brawl:
RICHMOND, March 5 — The Republican State Central Committee has called on party Chairman Jeffrey M. Frederick to resign after months of missteps, internal disagreements and election losses.
Frederick, who represents Prince William County in the House of Delegates, can resign or fight a vote to remove him at an emergency meeting of the state Republican Party’s governing body April 4.
His critics say they need the support of 75 percent of the 78-member central committee to oust him. More than 80 percent signed a two-page letter to Frederick dated March 4, asking him to resign.
“It’s pretty clear the intention is to remove him,” said Mike Wade, a committee member from Hampton. “Everybody is aware of all the problems. It’s just a sad state, really.”
In a statement, Frederick vowed to fight for his job.
“I have every intention of continuing as Chairman and completing my term in May 2012,” he said. “I have the commitments necessary to win the vote on April 4th and will fulfill my term and the commitment to the people who entrusted me to lead our Party back to victory.”
The attempt to oust Frederick leaves a beleaguered party in turmoil heading into a crucial election season, in which Republicans will try to win back the governor’s mansion and hold on to their majority in the House of Delegates.
As I noted yesterday, Gubernatorial Candidate Bob McDonnell seems to be on the side of those seeking out oust Fredrick, and the full text of his statement makes that even clearer:
“I am aware of the grassroots effort initiated by the State Central Committee to seek new leadership at the Republican Party of Virginia. This process is being handled within the State Central Committee, and is an internal Party matter. It is clear to me, after hearing from Republican leaders across the state, that as we move forward with our campaign, as well as the other statewide and House of Delegates races, it would be helpful for the Republican Party of Virginia to have more effective leadership in this pivotal year. I look forward to continuing to run an inclusive, grassroots campaign that is reaching voters all over Virginia with our good-government, conservative message of job creation, opportunity, and results for all Virginians.”
In addition Riley reports that the Alexandria City Republican Committee passed a near-unanimous resolution last night calling on Frederick to resign.
And, outside of his own statements, we aren’t seeing any support for Frederick out there at all.
As I noted yesterday, with McDonnell against him there seems to be little chance that Frederick can win. Given that, there’s only one reason for him to continue fighting — his own ego.
So, Chairman Frederick you have two choices, you can step aside gracefully and let the party move on, or you can fight this and tear the party apart.
It’s up to you.
Great synopsis, Doug. I’ll link to it in my latest post on inside RPV emails. Check it out!
Tell me why it’s Jeff Frederick’s job to step down? Frederick was elected to serve the people, McDonnell hasn’t been yet. And why should we have McDonnell hand picking our party leaders anyway? It seems clear to me that certain members of the State Central Committee don’t like Jeff because he cares more about the grassroots activists than the old boy political network Virginia has had in place for far too long. Ironic that he’s the first Chairman of RPV in a dozen years that wasn’t initially selected (i.e. HAND PICKED) by the State Central Committee. The past four Chairmen were all hand selected – Frederick wasn’t. Frankly, I think these State Central Committee Republicans are behaving like a bunch of arrogant, spoiled Democrats – rather than allow a man to do the job he was elected to do, they’re blaming him for everything that has gone wrong with our state (things that NO GOP Chair could have prevented) during the past election cycle. Those good ole’ boys should sit on their egos and do the right thing for the people and the Party right now.
Frederick is not being asked to resign from the House of Delegates.
He is being asked to step aside as Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia.
They are two different things.
[...] been thinking as we have dealt with the ongoing saga of RPV chair Jeff Frederick (1, 2, 3) as well as the RNC chair Michael Steele / talk show host Rush Limbaugh dustup that Pitts is [...]
I fear you don’t know what is happening in the real grassroots.
The SCC is not the grassroots, nor are they the ones who elected Jeff as chairman.
The delegates at last year’s convention are the grassroots, and we elected Jeff by 75-25% margin.
We will not forget this coup against our right to elect our own leadership.
As to the bogus charges;
Put up the proof or stand down the rhetoric;
Bob McD’s people will not even release the charges to us, though they seem quite happy to speak with media.
It is incumbent upon them to show the accusations, and prove them publicly if they wish to remove Frederick.
They have to prove guilt; he does not have to prove innocence, unless you plan to deny him the same right of innocence until proven guilty that other Americans enjoy.
If it is done under the cover of darkness, I will forever believe it to be exactly what it looks like…….a coup against Jeff and the authority of the delegates who, at this point, appear to be nothing more than an exercise in futility, thanks to the actions of McDonnell and Co.
McDonnell is the one tearing up the party, not Jeff.