Politicians like to spin decisions so that the public will believe they are doing what they say for the reason they say.
Friday McHenry County Republican Party County Chairman and McHenry County Treasurer Bill LeFew said he was going to resign his party position because it might lead to a conflict between his official duties and treasurer and his job as party chairman.
It sounded fishy to me then and, after you read this email he sent October 4th to Republican precinct committeemen, maybe you will perceive another motive:
“I hope this email finds you well. First, I want to thank you for all of your hard work in regards to updating the bylaws.
“As of 9:00pm tonight, I have received 6 calls, and 11 emails about the proposed changes. I have suggested they contact you directly with their suggestions. While their suggestions varied from person to person, there are two items that nearly all of them were concerned about.
“First, the proposed by laws eliminate the position of Executive Director, now held by Geri Davis. I think, and they all agreed, that Geri Does a really great jog for our party and that we need to keep the office in the bylaws in the way they are stated in our present bylaws.
“Next, nearly all were concerned of the proposed change in the regards to defining how many committeemen must attend a meeting in order for us to be able to take official action, also known as a quorum. The proposed bylaws do not say that a majority of the committeemen must be present at a meeting in order to take action.
“This could result in a meeting, for example, only 10 of the over 200 elected committeemen in attendance, and those 10 being able to vote on an issue that would affect all 200 plus committeemen.
“I will not be able to support the proposed by law changes unless these two provisions are changed to provide for an Executive Director in the same manner as we presently have, and a requirement that in order to vote on any business, at least 50% of all committeemen must be in attendance.
“Thank you again for all of your hard work.
“Bill LeFew
“cc: McHenry County Republican Precinct Committeemen”
As John Coonen put it on a comment under a Northwest Herald article on LeFew:
coonen wrote on Oct 20, 2007 3:24 PM:
“Oh, by the way, folks – if anyone really gives a hill-o-beans about this SMARMY crappola…this is why I QUIT his party, by the way…
“WAY too much infighting and small-minded gossip, with no eye on the future.
“HYPOTHETICALLY, could this supposed resignation be a response to new Republican Party bylaws, which were re-written by several Precinct Committeemen, which, among other changes, REDUCES the power of the Chairmanship???
“Hypothetically, could this be a nuclear tantrum, a If-I-can’t-RULE-I’m-taking-Lou-down-with-me REALLY be about quitting before the Chairman’s role is effectively neutered?
“Noooo…Nawww, couldn’t be.
“Oh brother.
“As the world turns.”
Just in case you missed it, here is Coonen’s call for LeFew’s resignation.
And, here is McHenry County Blog’s article with all sorts of references to LeFew’s career as McHenry County Republican Central Committee Chairman.