Friday Recap for February 21, 2025
Setting the Record Straight
As, I am sure, you all know, the Reorganization of the Williamson County Republican Party is scheduled for March 4th. There has been a venue change due to the large volume of registrations. The new location is:
Cool Springs Marriott 700 Cool Springs Blvd, Franklin Doors open a 4:30 pm Doors close at 6:00 pm
There are two slates running for eight positions on the board. One slate, Elevate 2025, is running on their outstanding record, (five on the the slate are currently on the board) the other, Williamson County Conservatives, (WCC) is running a negative campaign attacking the integrity of the current board.
Let's talk about the accusations being leveled at Elevate 2025 by the WCC. These are all taken from their website and their Face Book page.
- The current regime wants to cancel primary elections, INSTALL “Republican” nominees, and throw YOUR right to vote in the trash.
Right now the state of Tennessee does not require voters to register as a Republican, Democrat, or Independent. Because of this, Democrats can and do vote in Republican primaries. Several years ago, a candidate I supported lost a primary by a little less than 800 votes; there were 1,200 Democrats who voted in that primary. There is no way to know how they voted, but that is the point. We don't know and that should not be. What the current leadership wants is to keep Democrats out of Republican primaries and what the WCC slate appears to want is to keep Democrats selecting Republican nominees.
At the moment there is a bill before the General Assembly (HB1159/SB0831) sponsored by Senator Joey Hensley and Rep. Susan Lynn to implement party registration. It was requested by the Tennessee GOP and supported by the Williamson County Republican Party and is strongly advocated by Elevate 2025. This is the best way forward to close primaries, but the WCC group doesn’t tell voters that in their disinformation nor do they appear to support the bills.
It is ironic that the very people who are accusing the current GOP of wanting to disenfranchise Republican voters by using a convention to choose republican candidates are involved in the very thing they claim to be against. News flash, the reorganization convention scheduled for March 4th is a convention where only qualified participants AKA bona fide Republicans can vote, and it is a one-day event where the infirm, military, etc. will not be able to attend. The same as in past conventions in 2023, 2021, 2019, etc.
Interestingly, Brian Clifford, who is a county commissioner and running for Chairman, voted to install Cheryl Brown to replace David Landrum after David resigned from the commission. That vote ignored the will of the voters in District 10 effectively silencing their voices. At the time, both the Republican Party and the Democrat Party specifically asked the commission to let the people decide because there was ample time for that to occur. Apparently, Brian is very selective in how he defines disenfranchisement.
- The current regime gives aid and comfort to the Democrats by withholding support for OUR nominees.
The current board has only been in control of the WCRP since April 2023. Since then, there have been two elections where they could or could not have supported candidates: the school board election on August 1st 2024 and the general election on November 5th 2024. I was in the room when they gave equal checks to all five republican school board candidates, and they gave me money for my campaign. The candidates running for federal office gave the WCRP $10,000 prior to the election, so it made no sense to send them money. The four state candidates either said no to funds or did not even respond to a request to fund them. Further, the WCRP held forums for our candidates, which are considered in kind donations. So, tell me, what Democrat did they support and how?
- No more secret votes and unaccountable closed door back room deals! We are Conservative Republicans, NOT Democrats.
What backroom deals? It is easy to make an accusation, but where are the receipts? Who was involved in these supposed "backroom" deals, when and where were they held and what was decided? I suspect these are phantom events, the product of highly imaginative and paranoid minds. The burden of proof that such secret meetings took place is on the people making this accusation, not those accused of holding them.
- We value & work with grassroots volunteer organizations like the Young Republicans and Republican Women’s clubs in all parts of Williamson County so the Republican Party can grow and win. The current regime tried to throw them out of the Republican Party. We will repair those relationships.
When the current board won election at the last convention (and it wasn't even close), each candidate won by at least a two-to-one margin against their respective opponent. The incoming slate was shunned by the losing side and the losers walked away from the party and refused to participate. They seldom came to any meetings or functions for two years. At no time did the current board ever try to "throw" anyone out of the party. They merely followed their bylaws. According to their bylaws, there are only 15 voting members allowed on the board. Several groups wanted to add another voting member, but the current board said no and followed the bylaws.
- Never be surprised when unethical people behave unethically
This is rich. The Contest and Credentialing Committee, (CCC), which is made up of some of the most ethical and upright people I know, is now accused of being unethical for changing the venue for the convention. Let me point out that in the 2023 reorganization, not only was the venue changed, but the date was changed as well and the current leadership had no say in that.
Right now, we don't really know how many people will attend the event. Since we know that there have already been 800 registrations and there could easily be many more, a change to a larger venue is the prudent thing to do. Liberty Hall can only hold about 800 people without breaking the fire code. We now have a venue that will hold 1,200 people. No qualified participant who arrives before the doors close at 6:00 pm will be denied. For clarity, anyone who is actually in line at 6:00 pm will be allowed in.
Another interesting accusation from the WCC is that the CCC made the venue change unilaterally. What is missed here is that it is the sole job of the CCC to conduct a fair and efficient convention and nobody else's. Does the WCC, which has nothing to do with the organization and execution of the convention, think that they need to be consulted? By the way, they were informed of the change at the exact same time as everybody else. Truth be known, we were all surprised.
The venue change was announced on Thursday, the very day that the first Elevate 2025 mailer went out. And guess what; that mailer has The Liberty Hall as the venue. If there was any unethical behavior from the CCC to help the Elevate 2025 slate, this fact should put that to rest.
- The WCRP utilized Soviet-style Tactics, that would make Joseph Stalin jealous, to intimidate and bully Republican nominees in 2024.
This is so absurd that it is hard to know where to start, so I won't. It speaks for itself. If I didn't know better, I would think that the whole campaign is a Babylon Bee spoof.
For The current WCRP leadership's record of accomplishments, go here
The Elevate 2025 Slate has concentrated on its accomplishments and vision for the future. On the other hand, the WCC has concentrated on demeaning and tearing down Elevate 2025.
Here is a list of pejoratives used by the WCC against Elevate 2025:
Unethical, Regime, Big shots, party insiders, trying to steal your vote, doesn't like conservative grass roots voters, wants to throw your right to vote in the trash, has tried to throw people out of the Republican Party, gives aid and comfort to the Democrats, conducts unaccountable back room deals, is a corrupt ham-handed regime, utilizes Soviet-style Tactics.
WCC claims they want to unify the party, but they neglect to say how. They say they want to grow the party but neglect to say how. It would be helpful to know what they actually plan to do if elected.
Here is their latest mailer. Tell me where they mention their solutions or their vision for the future of the GOP in Williamson County other than voting out the current leadership.
The Republican voters of Williamson County deserve to know how the Williamson County Conservatives plan to manage our party.
I will close with several screen shots from the WCC FB site:
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Williamson County School District
The full board met on Monday, agenda video. It was a relatively short meeting and I have a summary below:
Next week. There are no meetings scheduled until the week of March 3rd and I will have those listed next week.
Williamson County Commission
There were no meetings this week.
Next week
Parks and Recreation is meeting on Tuesday at 5:30 pm in the executive conference room at the county building at 1320 W. Main, Franklin.
Property is meeting on Wednesday at 5:30 pm in the executive conference room at the county building at 1320 W. Main, Franklin.
The Sheriff's Department published its monthly report see below:
Board of Mayor and Aldermen
There were two meetings this week. Go here
Next Week looks like this here
Williamson County Election Commission
There is a meeting scheduled for Friday at 4:00 pm see below for details:
If not me, who?
If not now, when?
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1)
“We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer gently.” (1st Corinthians 4:12-13)
Blessings,
Bill
Community resources
If you like Friday Recap, check out these other grassroots conservative projects!
- Williamson County Citizens is a volunteer network of local voters that elect grassroots conservatives to public office.
- TruthWire News covers a broad spectrum of political and governmental issues, from the actions of your local school board and county commissioners to the machinations of city councils and state government officials.
- Tennessee Voters for Election Integrity is helping restore confidence in Tennessee Elections.
- Williamson County Republican Party is one of the most active parties in the state and captures the conservative heart of Tennessee.
- Mom's For Liberty Williamson County is dedicated to fighting for the American family by unifying, educating and empowering parents to defend their parental rights at all levels of government.
- Tennessee Stands produces video media, podcasts, and live events, and provides social commentary on relevant issues in our state.
- M4LU is a new site developed by the national Mom's for Liberty but generated right here in Williamson County. The mission of M4LU is to to inform, equip, and empower parents with knowledge, understanding and practical tools.
- WCSB Substack. This site reports on the Williamson County School Board meetings. It provides accurate summaries of all WCSB meetings.
Help educate citizens of Williamson County
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