by Guy Page
A GOP county committee leadership dispute was discussed – but not finally resolved – by almost 100 delegates of the Vermont Republican State Committee in Barre Saturday.
No decisive action was taken, although a role call vote was taken that did not recognize the ouster of the Windsor County Chair John McGovern at a January 6 gathering. At issue was the unhappiness with McGovern’s leadership felt by many Windsor County Committee members, led by vice-chair Dr. August Murray of Weathersfield.
It’s unclear how much of a role politics – national or otherwise – plays in the controversy. Several committee members have expressed outrage that McGovern made donations to national Democratic candidates, including Rev. Rafael Warnock in the January 2021 runoff election that handed the Democrats control of Congress.
McGovern – a co-founder of the Dartmouth Review conservative newspaper and a 22-year veteran of Vermont Republican activity – is outspoken in his opposition to Donald Trump.
His contribution to Warnock occurred shortly after the January 6, 2021 clash at the Capitol. In an interview Saturday, McGovern characterized the donation as “country over party.” He faulted the GOP-led Senate for not impeaching Trump. “So I contributed to someone who would,” he said.
McGovern ran as an independent in the 2020 general election for the House of Representatives for Windsor.-1 district. He was not a candidate in the GOP primary.
“This matter is neither personal nor related to presidential candidates in any way,” Murray – a doctor of computer science and education and a retired career army officer – told VDC yesterday. “I personally have not endorsed or disparaged any of the presidential candidates. The primary will tell us who the candidate is. Mr. MacGovern is still the Windsor Town Chair and will continue to have a voice in the County Committee as a delegate.”
The conflict started October 18 at a tumultuous county meeting. In November, Murray asked McGovern resign, alleging McGovern:
- obtained an EIN number for the committee, without executive committee approval
- worked against organizing the Republican Party in Windsor County by hampering and suppressing Republican momentum and town organization efforts.
- failed to support the Republican organizational purpose and platform
- failed to fulfill your duties at the VTGOP Convention to represent Windsor County as Chair and failed to attend the meeting for county chairs.
- since 2020, has made paid personal political contributions solely to Democratic candidates.
In December, the committee members called a January 6 meeting, where Lynn Baldwin was elected chair 28-0. GOP leaders including GOP Chair Dame dispute the validity of the election because the meeting wasn’t called by the chair, McGovern. In a lengthy statement, Murray argues that the unusual circumstances permitted the group to take the action they did, according to GOP bylaws.
At the state meeting Saturday, Dame was cast into the role of referee. He opened the meeting urging everyone to unite against the candidates and policies of their “”common enemy.”
After Murray read a statement describing the dispute from his point of view, McGovern was given the floor.
“I’m disappointed. We are a small party, a beleaguered party, in a progressive state,” said McGovern, a 22-year Republican and committee vice-chair for Suzanne Butterfield. He called for party unity.
Unity was not on display moments later, as evidenced by groans and hisses after McGovern recounted his dairy father’s advice that “You never get into a pissing contest with a skunk.”
Following a call to cease debate, the delegates voted to accept the delegate roll call – which included McGovern as chair, the Jan. 6 election of Baldwin having been found invalid because the meeting had been improperly called. The meeting was announced and promoted on social media – but by Vice-Chair Murray, not Chair McGovern.
This vote didn’t sit well with Murray supporter Mark Coester of Windham County. “This is BS,” Coeaster loudly exclaimed. “You’re preaching party unity. You have no right to deny Windsor County.”
The Windsor County Republicans were urged by state leaders at the meeting to hold another meeting, where they can vote on new leadership, if they choose.