By Steve Thompson, Chairman of the Butte County Republican Party
It’s been a busy week on the campaign trail as Republicans are nearing closer to a November victory. I thought I’d take some time to give everyone an update on our local Republican Party activities.
Republican Headquarters are now open and functional. Voters can find information about local, state, and federal races at 896 East Avenue in Chico, or 1550 Myers Street in downtown Oroville. We are always taking volunteers to help with staffing our offices and helping out with Saturday precinct walks.
Our voter registration program is in full swing, both locally and statewide. Since the primary, Republican voter registration has climbed statewide while democrat registration has decreased. Just last month San Diego County flipped from democrat to a republican majority.
We’re still taking in more candidates. Just last night the Butte Republican Party interviewed and endorsed seven more candidates for local office throughout the county. Candidates with conservative values are coming out of the woodwork and seeking the help and guidance that we can provide them.
Our big ticket candidates are poised for victory. Barbara Boxer has never been weaker than now, and recently received a snub from the San Francisco Chronicle when they refused to endorse her. Carly Fiorina continues to build momentum and support around the state. Despite some campaign stumbles, Meg Whitman clearly beat Jerry Brown in the first debate by staying focused on her goals for California while Brown seemed more interested in talking about his nightclub exploits during his first governorship.
Proposition 23 is up in the polls! Although it is still close with a lot of undecided voters, this is good news for the California Jobs Initiative. It was telling last night at the League of Women Voters forum in Chico when about 30 Yes on 23 supporters showed up to be met by only two No on 23 protestors.
Once again, republican candidates are poised for a major victory this year. Democrats in Washington D.C. are now in triage mode, giving making gains but instead desperately hoping to keep enough seats to hold a slim majority. My prediction this year is that they’re going to be sorely disappointed. But then, you don’t have to read the TEA leaves to predict the obvious.
I am confused with all the different GOP organizations. Could someone explain who and what the CRA, CRP, NFRA, etc. are?
I am a member of one and have attended conventions of others, but have no idea how they are linked together, if they are, and what their primary functions and missions are.
Thanks
Peggy, think of this like a flow chart and I’m almost positive, 98%, I have this right. First is the GOP (national), and within that we Republican Women Federated and the NFRA which exist under the banner of the national party, then it is the state parties like CRP and then there are all the republican activist groups. These are spin offs from the main party, but with their own personalized guidlines, bilaws or rules. They exist officially by a special charter granted by the GOP and the oldest of these activist groups and probably the best known is the CRA which is under the NFRA. Clear as mud? Jack (Steve is away at drill for the army)
It’s Friday! La la la la laaaaaaaaaa!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyAKBuU72p4&NR=1
Good job Jack,
I’m actually leaving at 0 dark-thirty in the morning, so I thought I’d expound a bit more. I get this question a lot.
The Butte County Republican Party (BCRP)is also known as the Butte Republican Central Committee (official name that I don’t care for). Each county has a central committee of the party and the members are elected within the county. In Butte, our member slots are alloted by Supervisor districts 1-5, based on population/registration. The county party is the offical local arm of the republican party. We send delegates to the California Republican Party (CRP) to vote on platform and other issues. We also vote on the board for the CRP. The CRP likewise sends delegates to the Republican National Committee (RNC) to do the same thing. Ultimately the votes come from the bottom up.
In our county the central committee operates as a central hub for republican candidates and organizations. The Republican Women Federated of Chico and Oroville provide a great deal of our volunteers, assisted by the College Republicans and Young Republicans. The CRA (CA Republican Assembly) has two chapters in Butte, north and south. CRA units mostly engage in the endorsements of republican candidates in the primaries, but that varies from county to county. Each of these organizations operates separately with their own bylaws and leadership. During election time, we all work to make sure we are working together for the same cause and candidates.
Meetings of the BCRP are open to the public and held on the second Thursday of the month. We rotate around the different supervisor districts to reach more people. I encourage anyone wanting to learn more about us to attend a meeting and meet our members.
Thanks Steve for the additional information. As someone new to getting involved this was very helpful.
Id like to take something Jack said and recommend something that would provide all of the others like me with a simple document that would explain the who and what of all the different organizations. The development of a simple brochure containing a flow chart showing the top to bottom listing of all the different clubs/groups/committees with additional information about each that would include its mission statement, base beliefs and/or platform.
I am a member of CRA and had no idea there was a CRP. Ive been to a CRA endorsement convention and attended an NFRA conference and have no idea how it fits into the overall organizational flow. As a newbe it seems to me the GOP is very fragmented and unorganized. All groups say they are the conservative wing of the republican party, but are they? How do we know? Would the Tea Party exist at all if those involved could have found what they were looking for within an already established organization?
I would like to find other individuals to work with that want to help get rid of RHINOs and elect candidates that represent my values and beliefs. Without this information presented upfront and in a clear easy to understand format Id look to joining the Tea Party too.
We have a huge challenge ahead of us for the next two plus years and beyond. Wouldnt it be better if we were all working together instead of individually?