Four members of the Livingston County Republican Party have been kicked out, and their paid memberships terminated or rejected.
Why? What political crime did these four commit to merit such drastic and unprecedented action on the part of the LCRP?
The four are members of the Brighton Area Schools Board of Education: Roger Myers, president; Jennifer Marks, vice president; Katie Tierney, treasurer; and Alicia Urbain, trustee.
So, what was their mortal sin?
According to an anonymous source, the four supported the $156 million bond issue the Brighton Area Schools put before voters on May 5, and their excommunication took place after a unanimous vote of the LCRP executive committee to oust them.
Myers did not respond to a request for comment. Marks, Tierney and Urbain verified that they received the excommunication email from the LCRP on Monday, informing them that they had been booted from the party. Apparently no one knew why the drastic action was taken.
“I don’t want to speculate on anyone’s motives or reasoning,” said Tierney. “My focus is on continuing to move the needle in a positive direction for our students, staff, and community.”
“I am a Republican and a member of the Michigan Republican Party,” Urbain said. “I wasn’t at the meeting, so I can’t speak to what happened there. I look forward to continue to put kids first regardless of party, to work to improve literacy rates in our community, and to work to elect Republicans in Livingston County.”
It is not clear when the vote to boot these members took place; however, the LCRP calendar shows a general membership meeting on Thursday, May 7 — two days after the bond issue special election — while the excommunication emails went out on Monday, May 11.
“A private vote was taken at a private meeting,” said Deb Drick, chair of the LCRP. “We have no desire to discuss or disparage anyone to the public. The school board members, of course, can choose to tell the world, but it won’t come from us.”
The seven members of the BAS board of education, including the excommunicated four, unanimously supported the bond issue, which lost by 348 votes — or 3 points — in the special election. Unofficial results from the Livingston County Clerk show 5,355 votes for the bond issue (48.43%) and 5,703 votes against (51.57%).
The bond issue would have financed projects across 10 schools and centers, including security lockout systems; new roofs, elevators and storage space; and repairs to the district’s parking lots. There were also projects included at the Brighton Center for the Performing Arts, the Brighton Education and Community Center, Miller Early Childhood Center, and the transportation and maintenance building. (Click here to read all the details about the bond.)
Had it passed, the bond would have increased property taxes by 1.08 mills, for a total tax of 4 mills. In 2019, district voters approved a $59 million bond request, and in 2012, voters gave thumbs up to an $88 million bond.
While it’s not known who was present to vote the four out, members of the Livingston County Republican Party executive committee include:
Deb Drick, chair
Rob Rodriguez-Pelizzari, vice chair
Jim Dettling, treasurer
Angela Yarber, secretary
Jessica Barefield
Michelle Blondeel
John Conely
Joanie Econom
Terran Frye
Ron Galard
Bob Kitteridge
Norris Hardeman
Denise O’Connell
Kat Olson
Larry Parsons
Mary Beth Potrykus
Bill Reiber
Lisa Rozmarniewicz
Lance Schuhmacher
Mike Stanton
Sharon Stanton
David Tharp
Maria Woolford
While Drick pointed out that the list of executive committee members was “very, very old,” it came directly from the LCRP website.
Story updated at 10:54 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, to include comments from Deb Drick.
Heaven forbid school board members want what benefits the kids. Interesting how WHMI pushed the extremist views of an ex-school board member.
When Republicans turn on their own, there is, or at least should be, great rejoicing and hope for the future. Maybe this is the bellwether of a new and purple Livingston County.