Arizona Republicans Prepare For Annual Meeting, Pick Candidates

The annual mandatory meeting of the Arizona GOP will be held this Saturday, January 27, and members are weighing their choices. Republican activists will have an opportunity to fill a number of key leadership positions.

Consensus seems to be building only in opposition to certain candidates by a number of various factions in the AZGOP.

In a recent blog post, the American Freedom Alliance (AFA) shares a sentiment with which many members seem to agree: the establishment of the AZGOP has a slate and that slate must be rejected.

AFA identifies and rejects Paralee Schneider as an establishment choice for First Vice-Chair. Schneider is up against conservatives Art Olivas and Jerry Clingman. While AFA endorsed Olivas, a firebrand, Clingman seems to have earned the support of both conservatives and moderate members who have grown weary of the AZGOP’s heavy and controlling hand.

All of the groups surveyed soundly opposed Cindy Coleman, an establishment operative, for Second Vice-Chair. The groups also rejected unanimously Sergeant-At-Arms Alberto Gutier. Robert Moore is the unanimous favorite of the grassroots for that position. Assistant Sergeant-At-Arms David Hollenbeck is a favorite of the grassroots.

In its continuing effort to disenfranchise the grassroots members, AZGOP leadership managed to prevent all but three resolutions [view here] forwarded by activists from being considered on Saturday. Some issues that were blocked are expected to be raised on the floor and petitions are expected to be circulated in an effort to change what many see as the oppressive forces in the AZGOP.

As in the past, the establishment is working overtime to prevent any dissension before or during the meeting.

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