Category: On The Record

Background: The North Carolina General Assembly voted in 2015 to authorize the NC House and Senate political conferences to move their funds out from under the management of the NCGOP. The state senate moved its funds in 2016, during the tenure of Chairman Hasan Harnett. On May 23, 2017, the NC House of Representatives GOP Caucus also voted to move its funds from management by the NCGOP to an independent account, not under management of or reporting by the NCGOP Chairman Robin Hayes.  At some point in 2017-2018, the accounts were re-established under the management supervision and reporting of the NCGOP. 

The Rationale: Barring a statement from the Speaker of the House, President Pro Tem of the Senate, or testimony from GOP Caucus insiders, the rationale for past movement of caucus money in and out of NCGOP management and control is elusive.  Speculation is that “trust,” or lack thereof, was the primary factor.  More recently, legislative leaders have articulate concerns that the failure of the NCGOP to raise funds for its internal operations put the caucus money at risk.  Recent reports from key legislators indicate the NCGOP Chairman and Executive Director are putting pressure on GOP Caucus leaders to transfer or loan money to the NCGOP to continue current operations.  If this reporting is accurate, we should be ashamed. 

Conclusion: It is the prerogative of the General Assembly caucus’ to manage their money in manner that best suits their needs. Jim Womack respects the legislative authority of the NCGA to co-mingle funds with the respective parties or to manage them independently.  North Carolina has perhaps the finest legislature in the country. That same General Assembly is chiefly responsible for enabling the amazing turnaround of this state’s economic fortunes since 2009. Moving GOP caucus money to an independent account is a trivial matter in comparison to the superb legislative record of this body.  I fully support the decisions of our GOP caucus leaders to manage their funds in whatever manner they may choose.  As the future NCGOP Chairman, I pledge never to put pressure on the House and Senate GOP leadership to manage their funds under NCGOP supervision or to transfer those funds for internal NCGOP use. 

Background: Throughout early 2016, members of the NCGOP received disturbing reports from party officials about Republican Party Chairman Hasan Harnett. Some of the allegations were that he had hacked into the party’s financial accounts and web site, which could have been criminal acts. These reports were accompanied by messages from the Chairman, himself, who complained about being locked out of the NCGOP headquarters and his email account- which would prevent him from doing his job. Eventually, the Central Committee of the NCGOP met and voted to petition the party’s Executive Committee to convene a trial of Mr. Harnett, at which time they would take a vote to dismiss him as Chairman. A generalized list of allegations was provided to the Executive Committee. The trial was convened on April 30, 2016, a date Mr. Harnett was scheduled to be out of the country on business travel. He was tried in absentia.

The Allegation: Jim Womack was alleged to be a vigorous supporter of Mr. Harnett and that he acted as Chairman Harnett’s advocate in the April 30, 2016 trial. Womack is alleged to have defended Harnett’s actions as Chairman, seeking to prevent his dismissal. It is alleged more than 2/3 of the Executive Committee voted to discharge Mr. Harnett from his duties as Chairman.

The Truth: Indeed, Jim Womack supported Chairman Hasan Harnett because he was the duly elected leader of the NCGOP, elected by acclamation during the NCGOP convention in 2015. Throughout March and April 2016, Womack queried central committee members about their claims of Harnett’s malfeasance. Womack was provided nothing of substance that would rise to the level of disloyalty or gross inefficiency.

When Womack discovered Harnett was not going to be offered legal assistance and that he was to be tried in absentia, Womack offered to step in as an advocate to afford Mr. Harnett due process as typically assured in our legal system (and by Roberts Rules of Order).

Womack discovered the Central Committee had violated our state Plan of Organization in convening the trial and he challenged the legitimacy of the trial on the grounds that Roberts Rules were being circumvented in denying Harnett the ability to be present and to speak on his own behalf.

During the trial, the presiding officer liberally allowed hearsay information from the prosecution; but Womack was frequently interrupted and scolded during his defense of Harnett for being argumentative. He was not allowed to fully present Harnett’s case. Robert’s Rules were waived in the trial to disallow matters of extenuation and mitigation that would have helped Mr. Harnett’s case.

Mr. Harnett was not given a fair trial and he was denied due process. In the end, fewer than 200 members present in the room voted to oust the Chairman, not nearly the majority of the Executive Committee that is required by our state Plan of Organization for taking such action.

Conclusion: Jim Womack’s defense of Chairman Hasan Harnett was a noble attempt to protect the will of the voters from the 2015 NCGOP convention and to ensure due process for our elected leader. Womack mounted the best defense that was possible, under the circumstances, and stood to gain nothing from defending the Chairman.

#ReviveTheParty

Learn more about Jim Womack here.

Background: The Lee County Conservative Ballot Political Action Committee decided to make a slight change in its approach to electing conservatives in 2016. In the interest of encouraging cross-over votes from unaffiliated and democrat veterans, the ballot title was changed to read “Conservative and Veterans Ballot.” All veterans – most of whom who were Republicans -were identified in red, and all Republican judges were identified by party, including Justice Edmunds. Approximately 8,000 of these ballots were printed and distributed by conservative volunteers at both early voting sites and at all ten precincts on election day. Hundreds of these ballots were distributed to democrat and unaffiliated veterans and the vast majority of Republican voters entering the precincts. These ballots were so disturbing to the local democrat party that one member suggested bringing baseball bats to the polling places to stop this ballot from being distributed, if necessary.

The Allegation: A complaint was filed with the NCGOP that this ballot was misleading and possibly a violation of the Plan of Organization in that it identified veterans of other parties and might cause some votes to vote for those candidates. As the creator of this sample ballot, the complaint was against Mr. Womack.

The Truth: Jim Womack and the conservative ballot committee carefully weighed the consequences of identifying veterans on our conservative ballot for the first time- this was an unprecedented sample ballot in the state. In sample polling, the team discovered most voters, regardless of party, wanted to see who the veterans were. At least 2000 of these ballots were given to unaffiliated and democrat voters, many of whom who were veterans themselves. Notably, all candidates who were recommended with a darkened circle were Republicans, without exception. While all veterans were identified, only Republicans were recommended for a vote. This was the only conservative sample ballot being distributed in Lee County that contained all races and that correctly identified all Republican judges.

Conclusion: Despite Lee County being democrat-dominated, this ballot was a huge success in swinging cross-over voters. All Republican judges won their races, including NC Supreme Court justice Edmunds by more than 3 points. Trump won by a 13-point landslide. McCrory won by 6.5 points. The Senate and House races were landslides for Burr and Walker- both winning by 13 points. Council of State races for AG, Agriculture, Labor, Superintendent, Treasurer, and Insurance were all won by Republicans with comfortable margins. In every case for statewide races, the conservative and veterans ballot helped swing voters to Republican veterans.

#ReviveTheParty

Learn More about Jim Womack here.

Background: Lee County delegate Jim Womack attended the 2016 NCGOP Convention. As with the past two state conventions, the agenda and program were tediously protracted, with little actual business being accomplished. Credentialing was painfully slow and many delegates departed the convention hall out of disgust with the procedural problems and perceived manipulations of the central governing body. Peaceful protests were sprouting up all across the convention hall.

The Allegation: Jim Womack was one of about a dozen people alleged to have worn paper bags on their heads during certain periods of the 2016 convention.

The Truth: Delegate Jim Womack and about a dozen other grass roots activists did indeed wear paper sacks on their heads in peaceful protest each time the convention chairman or central committee staff were perceived to be manipulating the proceedings to disadvantage grass roots candidates running for office, or when resolutions and platform changes were being suppressed. Rather than leave the convention hall in disgust, Womack and others chose instead to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with convention dysfunction, disorganization, and manipulation by wearing a paper sack on their heads. This was a much more constructive and less disruptive means of showing disagreement than by leaving the hall and losing the ability to vote on important convention matters.

Conclusion: Sports enthusiasts understand the humor and subtle mockery of a franchise’s authority when its fans wear paper sacks on their heads. Such gestures are intended to draw attention to the deficiencies of an organization and its leadership, without being disruptive. So too are political protests of this type. NCGOP members who shell out hundreds of dollars to participate in state conventions have every right to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with party leaders in an organized, orderly and peaceful manner.

#ReviveTheParty

Learn more about Jim Womack here.