As a rule, our editorial staff does not allow anonymous content to be published. However, in this case we made an exception. We received a letter this morning asking us to publish this but the person feared political reprisal from his own party if he was candid and forthcoming on what he observed last night. Based on mitigating circumstances, we will honor that request.
“Business As Usual” at Sarpy GOP Elections
The Sarpy County Republican Party held their elections Thursday night, and there was no lack of fireworks! The meeting began around 45 minutes late as lines stretched outside of the Sarpy County Liberty Social Hall. Central Committee Members of the Sarpy County Republican Party were credentialed and grouped into the main seating area of the room, while guests signed in and were seated throughout the rest of the hall. Only Central Committee members are allowed to vote.
NEGOP Chairman Mark Fahleson and Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy made an appearance to honor outgoing six year Chairman Ken Ragland.
Vying for Chairmanship of the party was 27 year old RLCNE member Levi Lippencott and prominent tea party activist and US veteran Jerry C. Anderson.
Anderson earned clout as leader of the local 9/12 project (Glenn Beck group) in Nebraska. He garnered respect leading a large conservative backing in support of Governor Heineman in his decision not to implement state health exchanges in Nebraska. Lippincott was the hands down favorite as the Sarpy County Central Committee was controlled by liberty minded friendlies.
The political maneuvering began early. Anderson showed up with a large contingent of supporters (including several Papillion City Councilman) whom he hoped to have seated on the Central Committee before the election to help sway the vote in his favor. After a couple of votes to clear up technical mistakes from the prior month’s meeting, Anderson’s group immediately motioned to seat his supporters. Lippincott’s supporters amended the motion requesting to delay seating the new members until after the election.
In a surprise move, RLCNE endorsed former legislative candidate Richard Carter became a vocal supporter of Anderson, calling to seat his supporters immediately. Carter was joined by State Senators Scott Price and John Murante in vocal support of Anderson.
A vote was called on the amendment to the motion and once the votes were counted, the amendment passed on a 46-39 vote. It became clear that Lippincott had the votes in place to win the Chairmanship. The election took place by secret ballot and as expected, Lippincott won by a large majority.
Then things got ugly.
After some additional business including a speech by outgoing Chairman, Ken Ragland, the body voted on whether to seat Anderson’s supporters on the Central Committee. As an olive branch, the Central Committee controlled by Lippincott’s supporters voted to welcome the new members to the Central Committee. Immediately following that vote, Anderson’s supporters motioned to reconsider the election and called for a re-vote.
Some in attendance speculated the move was suggested by NEGOP Chairman, Mark Fahleson who was in attendance for much of the meeting. Fahleson, known for such political maneuvering had made an exit not long before.
The motion was denied by Chairman, Ken Ragland but Anderson’s supporters motioned to overrule the Chair. After some deliberation it was decided that the qualification of the new members to serve on the Central Committee had not yet been verified and thus they were not permitted to vote on the motion. A vote was held on the motion to overrule the Chair which takes a 2/3 majority of the voting body. The motion failed and Lippincott was declared the winner.
Many in attendance, including long time Republican stalwarts commented on the lack of integrity demonstrated by Anderson and his supporters during the meeting. Comments included displeasure at the poor character Anderson supporters demonstrated by back-stabbing the Central Committee members who had just welcomed them aboard. Other comments related to Anderson’s failure to step up and address the behavior, making Jerry complicit in the “business as usual” that he had claimed to stand against.
Whispers of “snakes”, “dogs”, “rats”, and “back stabbers” filled the room and one attendee observed Anderson’s resemblance to Mr. Burns as he quietly made an exit. It is unfortunate as Jerry Anderson had a stellar reputation of standing up for true conservative values and fighting the type of behavior demonstrated Thursday night. Hopefully Anderson will be able to repair his damaged image and unite with Sarpy County Republicans in a focused effort to elect good Republicans and fight for smaller government.
I wish Levi the best of luck in his Chairmanship over the next two years, and success in battling “business as usual.”
I thank this individual for their well wishing to me. However, I do take some issues with this assessment of events. I wouldn’t agree that this was business as usual. One of the reasons Sarpy county is so well run and welcoming to people is its strict adherence to the rules and playing fair.
I wish nothing but the best for Mr. Anderson and am going to take every effort possible to welcome anyone to the party. Now is the time for people to unite, grow the party, build its resources and make it a force that Democrats are scared to even come up against.
I am a dis enfranchised Republican and former friend of Jerry Anderson. I left the Sarpy 912′ers as many have because they lost focus and became the “Jerry show” his attitude is ” my way or the highway ” he is known by many as Joseph Stallin! I applaud the Lippencott supporters, and I am very happy to see new blood within our Party. It is People like this who will bring our Party back to what it once was under Ronald Reagan! Jerry Annderson is NOTHING like Reagan, he is well known as a sensationalist who begs for attention!
I would have left the party if he had been elected, I am sorry for the strong words, but I do feel it is people like hi. That put us in the place we are now, not Demacrats!
Mike Weaver
I’ll be happy to say who wrote this…Bryan Baumgart, the candidate for chairman of the DCRP. I know this since this is exactly what he wrote on his own blog.
Yes, I posted this on my blog. I agree that the behavior was unacceptable and plan to work hard to change the low level of integrity that currently consumes Republican politics in Nebraska. The actions at Sarpy election being a prime example. I understand playing by the rules and following RR, but I also understand there is a certain level of integrity we should expect from our leaders (including Central Committee members). I didn’t witness that level of integrity Thursday night. It has led to an unhealthy division among our party. If we don’t work hard to reach out and join in a unified effort to elect good candidates, we will continue to lose important races like the Carter and Turco races. The Sarpy Central Committee took a chance in reaching out and even surrendering their majority advantage on the CC, and was immediately repaid by being stabbed in the back. The Jerry Anderson I know is a man of high character. I would have expected him to stand up and stop the foolishness. Betrayal is no way to seize power and does nothing to help unite Republicans. I believe Levi will make a great Chairman and I hope that Jerry and his followers will stay involved and work with Levi and the current CC to elect good candidates and defeat the harmful policies being pushed by dems.
Great a new nut job takes over
Hooray a new Republican nut job
great another nut job
Mr. Baumgart, you have no idea why Turco and Carter lost their races. They were flawed candidates with a poor campaign structure. No matter the level of support from the county parties would have fixed those problems. I live in Turco’s district and many people got tired of the negative crap from her campaign. Carter had been warned about the crap from his 2008 campaign coming out and if you were a good opp researcher, you would have seen his stupid comments, blogs on the Daily Kos.
You are in over your head….
I am a disenfranchised Republican, Or as some are calling us no ” A Paulbot ” This is typical Politics, when another view gains ground , ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK! In my humble opinion our Party is in deep trouble, hence the recent election, I believe People were not voting for the Dems, but against business as usual in the Republican Party! I know Jerry Anderson very well, I tried to go to his 912 group, but I as MANY others have left because it became more of ” The Jerry Show ” and less issues and change! I am not surprised by Jerry’s actions, nor his anger and lack of professionalism when he lost! I fully support the reform candidates within the Republican party! I had decided to leave the Party, until I learned about MR. Lippencott and his group. I would love to learn more about these People. This Party does need new young and young ideas, Jerry needs to retire, with all the other good ole boys who put us in this position!!! His attitude is like Joseph Stalin’s, ” My way or die “!
I believe the only reason the Republican party didn’t support DR. Ron Paul, is he is absolutely right about the Party and this Country! They fear that their free ride is coming to an end, I hope it is GOD’S will!!!
My two cents worth!
Mike Weaver
Mike,
The my way or the highway attitude is held by the “liberty”/Paulbot/anarco-libertarian groups. It doesn’t bother me what they believe, but their instance that they, and only they, have the answers, is insulting.
I belive Levi and his supporters gave up power and invited Jerry’s members to the Central Committee because they don’t have the attitude that, “only they have all the answers.” As Levi states above, “I am going to take every effort possible to welcome anyone to the party. Now is the time for people to unite, grow the party, build its resources and make it a force that Democrats are scared to even come up against.”
To Anonymous: The entire “My way or the highway” attitude is the reason the Republican party is in trouble! The idea that we can force our views and religion down the throats of the world is old and outdated, and down right WRONG!! Us “PaulBots ” believe that we can and should take care of our own back yard that the old guard let grow out of control! If you sincerely think we have that attitude, you haven’t been paying attention. Anyone who believe they have all the answers is bound to fail. DR. Paul ( If you read anything by him) never said he had all the answers, however he does say that the Constitution does! I happen to agree with that concept, why don’t you? This is where the good ole boys in the Party have failed us BADLY!
Why don’t you post under your real name? Is this Jerry? He would do something like this! I ALWAYS post either here or the OWH under my own REAL name!
Here’s some news for you pencil-neck Repulinuts: We Democrats don’t scare. You nut jobs are so disorganized and broke it will be years before you get your act together and that’s only IF you can find some realistic leadership, which you totally lack right now. Fine by me! You nut jobs can’t even let go of your wallets enough for a $10 donation to the candidates you DO LIKE let alone your OWN PARTY. We didn’t even know you had a Sarpy County GOP nut job club until one of your nut jobs wandered into our office lost and needed directions to the Liberty Hall where you were holding your monthly hitler youth meeting. Clue In Nut Jobs, Ron Paul is a goon and Sarah Palin is whacked out. Try sending some people back to politics class 101 for a refresher, you need it and maybe even try electing someone to run your Ron Paul Fan Club who at least has started shaving.