Rules? Who cares. Rules are optional with Lexington GOP leadership.

I have no pithy headline. This may fall on deaf ears for many in Lexington County.

I have included the new “guidelines” passed by Lexington GOP Chairman Mark Weber and the leadership team in August. I would argue that adding these on to the county GOP rules package actually breaks the party rules that forbid rule changes outside of county convention. But I digress.

The guidelines were written by John last year, not Chairman Weber. Ironically, we’ve abided by these guidelines before they were even passed. Our county leadership has yet to follow them, while simultaneously wielding them to suppress free speech.

During the October LCRP executive committee meeting last night, Chairman Weber was asked by John about the party’s email response policy.

I want to point out here that Mark called for the Sergeant-at-Arms to be on the ready while John spoke, even though there was nothing threatening. I am so grateful that the chairman has prioritized having a Sergeant-at-arms while declining to fill the parliamentarian and secretary positions.

To give some background to John’s queries, Sarah Grace sent an email on September 30th asking for clarity on Mark’s involvement at the State EC meeting while representing Lexington regarding the Pickens County GOP debacle. Mark did not respond to any of the questions.

This refusal to answer has been par for the course, as Sarah Grace has sent four emails to Mark over the last couple of months that have been ignored.

This is the same treatment we’ve received over the last year of privately reaching out to Mark with questions and concerns, only to be met with no response.

During Monday’s meeting, Mark responded to John’s question by saying that HIS policy is to pick and choose when he will follow his rules. For some people, he will not, and he will not respond.

First Vice Chairwoman Debbie Heim chimed in and claimed that she herself had responded to the recent email (despite it being addressed to Mark).

However, that‘s yet another misrepresentation. The email Debbie referenced was one sent to Mark in AUGUST. And again, Sarah replied to her with follow-up questions, and was once again ignored. All of the correspondence in question was posted on Sarah’s Facebook for transparency.

This has been a pattern for a long time. Despite the mistreatment of us at every turn, Sarah Grace has presented questions respectfully, addressed concerns privately and has sought clarification from our leadership directly before making assumptions or believing one-sided reports. She has been met with silence at best.

How ironic that our party chairman has new guidelines passed specifically regarding communication, only to state publicly last night that he has no intention of following them.

I sympathize with those expressing the desire for unity and teamwork. But unity without truth is meaningless, and teamwork without discussion is impossible. This leadership has refused to come to the table at every turn.