Court hearing today
by Mike Donoghue, Vermont News First
First published in the March 14 Vermont Standard
The ongoing infighting by members of the Windsor County Republican Committee is moving to the courthouse.
Five Republicans, who claim to be current officers in the Windsor County GOP Committee, have filed a state lawsuit to try to block a meeting scheduled for Saturday to vote on forming a possible new slate of officers.
The lawsuit names Lynn Baldwin of Ludlow, August and Andrea Murray of Perkinsville and Peggy and Earl Dionne of Windsor and the Windsor County Republican Party as the plaintiffs in the case. John MacGovern of Windsor, the purported county chair or former chair — depending on your stance in the case — is the primary defendant.
The co-defendants are the State of Vermont Republican Party and Paul Dame of St. George, the state GOP Chair. MacGovern, a former state legislator in Massachusetts, has become a local lightning rod for some, partly due to his dislike of former President Donald J. Trump, who as of this week had apparently secured the Republican nomination for this fall’s presidential election. Vermont — along with the District of Columbia — is the lone state not to support Trump in the primary election.
Vermont Superior Court Judge H. Dickson Corbett is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing in the case at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 14 at the historic courthouse in Woodstock. The hearing is also available by Zoom through the court.
The plaintiffs are seeking a temporary restraining order from the court to have the Saturday meeting canceled. They also seek a future hearing to consider a preliminary injunction on the claims in the lawsuit. The plaintiffs had requested Judge Corbett, without hearing from the defense, cancel the organizational meeting planned for Saturday.
Corbett, after a thorough legal analysis, denied the so-called “ex parte” hearing and agreed he would have a formal hearing Thursday afternoon with both sides presenting arguments.
Categories: politics
It’s no wonder the Democratic supermajority is in control.
District of Corruption/Vermont Socialist Republic are birds of a feather.
How OUT OF TOUCH Is the VTGOP and the demgressives that voted on R ballots??….oh and lest I forget, King Scotts endorsement. THE LAUGHING STOCK of these United States! LOL “Vermont — along with the District of Columbia — is the lone state not to support Trump in the primary election.”
The economic ills of Vermont including home ownership and a low paying service base economy is the indirect result of Vermont’s Republican committees. Fielding unelectable candidates has allowed horribly incompetent, progressives to be elected as the lesser of two evils. We did this to ourselves!
Without any reservations, I and most other fiscally conservative business owners could do a far better job in managing these committees.
Dear NEK Patriot,
Are you really involved, OR just Monday Morning quarterbacking like so …….. many others who have given up their Citizen Duty, are not in the Good Fight for Freedom, but have ALL the answers?
Run for office.
Are you? If not why not?
Tell me again why it is that the Republican party is in such disaray, and can’t mount a serious threat to lefties in this state .
Because they are lefties.
The VTGOP is the reason Conservatives and Republicans have left the Party.
Dame and Koch’s ” Big Tent ” got them Liam Madden who openly laughed about not being a Republican and aren’t you glad one wouldn’t be running for the Congressional Seat to replace Welch ?
The Big Tent also got them Jarrod Sammis who spoke at the Platform vote that his constituents would not support the Platform. Sammis left the GOP and joined the Libertarian Party after his election as a Republican.
During Dame’s term as Chair the Republicans have lost seats in the Legislature.
He continues to support Scott and the 24 who voted for H89 which enables the
” State ” to take your child and criminalize the Parents if they fight to protect their child. It also enables the ” State ” to remove the Medical License of any provider who would fight to protect the child.
Making the VTGOP Platform meaningless.
The comments here addressing the division in the Republican Party seem to criticize those who truly stand for Conservative values.
The ” Supermajority ” is too often supported by those pretending to be Republican by their votes with the marxists in Montpelier.
I have written many times before about Scott’s support for the unconstitutional and illegal gun laws, not being able to define the word Woman, and his support for abortion to the moment of birth and the destruction of children from the sexual, chemical, physical and psychological agenda. Twenty Four VT State Republican Representatives also voted for H89.
Scott’s support of Biden and his support of Haley prove he is all in on the War Machine and the marxists. Don’t forget part of Haley’s platform was to raise the retirement age to 70.
Dame gushes over Scott, proclaiming numerous times that Scott is the most popular Governor in America. Won’t Dame won’t say is that Scott receives between 60-70% of the Democrat vote.
Dame also supported Haley along with 20 or so other members of the VTGOP who claimed to be part of her Campaign Committee.
From the article in VDC on January 14th of this year…….
The people of Windsor County voted to remove McGovern by a 28 – 0 vote.
McGovern has a history of donating to Democrats and he donated to Raphael Warnock in the last election. Warnock’s win gave the dems control of the Senate.
The people in Windsor County are stepping up to call out the VTGOP for not representing them or Conservative Vermonters.
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.
Some who support Scott and criticize those who actually believe in the Constitution have suggested Republicans in Vermont need to discard their values and join the marxists so we ” can get more Republicans ” in the Statehouse.
That’s Dame and Koch’s Big Tent theory. If you can’t beat ’em join ’em.
No, they aren’t Republicans if they vote with the marxists. The people of Windsor County are stepping and have organized more than a few Towns in Southern Vermont.
I applaud them.
This is interesting as a voting citizen of the Socialist Fascist State who refuses to support the real CIC (Commander In Chief ) of our Military Forces, Yes that correct Donald Trump who when President put into action the COG (Continuity of Government) law because of Foreign Powers in conjunction with US citizen insurrectionis tried to take over this Government. Biden is the President of the Prior Bankrupt Corporation and Trump is CIC, a WAR time President
Those who support the Insurrectionis are slowly revealing themselves which will be appreciated by the military and the voting awake citizens for support is also a crime in a declared WAR.
Yes this is a Global War with the patriot side of the US military joined with the Global militaries Like Russia, India, China, France, Iran, Iraqi and others… All to exterminate the Satanist One World Government also know as the Cabal or KM , Many names for this low life organization which is running Human Trafficking adults and children, Children Sacrafic etc.
Thank you for showing yourself; great news….
John McGovern, Was Never Windsor County Chair.
Last October he ran a Meeting to Elect himself .
( Katie Hobbs of Him )
There was never any Vote , The Meeting was not Adjourned .
John and a Few Co Conspirators ran out .
So he Declared himself Chair of Windsor County Republican Committee.
The Guy was Donating to Rafael Warnock in Georgia 10 times and a Stop the Republicans Pact.
FEC filings showed Truth .
Lynn Baldwin was elected chair 28-0.
John McGovern’s name was Nominated when Lynn Baldwin was Elected.
He got 0 Votes .
Dame and the Executive committee are Commies .Get Real Folks
You’ll find they will never stop a failing candidacy or someone supporting the Uniparty…..
They wouldn’t even allow a small faction to just grow on their own. No, they will not allow that, because you don’t have to stop somebody that’s failing, you do have to stop somebody or a group of people that might bring positive change.
I’m waiting for Mr. Twats and other sorted commentators to say once again it’s the “crazy wing of the Republican party” that is keeping the VTGOP down. Let me ask you this…..
Here’s race…..
In one lane a Model T.
In the other a Subaru WRX
Let’s have a race. Would the owner of the WRX feel threatened or need to stifle attempts of the Model T owner? Of course not.
It’s the Model T owner that would put up a fuss.
And Scott knows all about racing, why would he be concerned about racing a Model T, why would he be afraid to have members fall on their face and fail, because they are such terrible candidates??????
Scott is driving a Russian Trabant, a Chinese Cheery, he can’t let anyone with a modern car or ideas of a Republic enter the race.
And THIS is why the VTGOP is where it is.
govie scott spent too much time on the race track steering to the left///
That’s a good one….kudos’, guess he always steers left.
Who cares?
Vermont Republicans are utterly disconnected from the state’s political reality. Their continued fixation on Trump, who is overwhelmingly rejected by Vermont’s electorate, is a strategic blunder of monumental proportions. Let’s be crystal clear: Trump garnered a measly 30.38% of the vote in the 2020 Vermont elections, and the local Republican candidates fare no better, with Malloy securing a pitiful 27.56% in 2022. It’s time to cut the farce and zero in on the only battles that matter: local elections.
Let’s not mince words regarding the Vermont House composition: dominated by Democrats, with Republicans trailing significantly. The Senate tells a similar story. The Vermont Republican Party is floundering in chaos and has been for decades. They suffer from a dire lack of genuine donors and supporters, rampant internal disputes, and a platform that the majority of Vermont voters flatly reject. They’re drowning in their own obsolescence with no strategy for general election viability or infrastructure in place.
Enough with the self-sacrifice! Trump’s occasional victories do nothing to change the fact that Vermont Republicans are fundamentally out of touch and on the losing side of state politics.
It’s high time the Vermont Republican Party:
* Drastically shifts its focus to LOCAL issues and policies that align with the core interests of Vermont residents.
* Recognizes the futility of ignoring the predominant values and preferences of the state’s electorate, risking total obsolescence.
* Commits to a pragmatic approach prioritizing electoral success and public endorsement over clinging to a stubborn and rejected ideology.
The party faces a stark choice: evolve or die. Embrace policies and values that matter to the majority of Vermont’s population or continue to fade into political irrelevance.
The Vermont Republican Party’s losing strategy is glaringly evident. Associating with Trump, advocating for an irrelevant border wall, opposing settled issues like abortion rights, and ignoring the real concerns of Vermonters about trans rights and racial justice are political suicide in this state. Not to mention the ludicrous stolen election rhetoric and opposition to Governor Scott, which are out of step with the majority of Vermonters.
Wake up! Shift your priorities or remain in perpetual defeat.
There you have it Ladies and Gentlemen, the perfect example of how to completely cave and throw any morals or values in the dumpster fire that is the VTGOP and Phil Scott.
You have your orders, courtesy of the complicity of Mr. Twat himself.
Sell your Soul, give up everything you stand for and side with those who willingly betray you, your children and all you stand for.
Mr. Arnold’s defense of what Scott and Dame have done to the VTGOP is no defense at all. He brags about the 69.62 % of Vermonters who voted for Biden or someone else beside Trump. Hey Mr. Arnold, step right up with Scott and Dame and freely express how great the Country is doing.
Ironically he states the percentage of Mr. Malloy’s vote tally. Like when Dame brags about Scott being the most popular Governor in America but leaves out the Stat that Scott receives between 60 – 70% of the democrat vote.
I’ll fill in what Mr. Arnold left out about Mr. Malloy’s vote total……. Almost 20% of registered VT Republicans voted for Welch.
That is the VTGOP right now. That is Dame’s Big Tent and those are Mr. Arnold’s Republicans. Just like Scott and the 24 VT GOP Representatives that voted for H89, sell your Soul and vote with the marxists you fools. Don’t make Mr. Arnold, the others defending Scott, Dame and the other 20% that voted for Welch, who support killing Babies in the Womb and sexually mutilating children have to suffer another Day of Vermonters that fight to defend and protect Life, The Constitution and America.
You too can sell your Soul and join them. To quote Mr. Arnold, ” Who Cares ? “
Re: “… Trump, who is overwhelmingly rejected by Vermont’s electorate, …”.
“Overwhelmingly rejected”???
33,155 republicans (46%) voted for Trump in the recent primary. Haley received 50% of the republican primary vote. This in a State in which democrats outnumber republicans by more than a two to one ratio.
Meanwhile, Biden underperformed with 56,917 VT democrat primary votes (fewer than 60,000 in total), compared to more than 70,000 VT republican votes.
Never mind that Trump has already locked up the national republican nomination… VT being the only State to nominate Haley.
That this is deemed by some (without any evidence) to be an ‘overwhelming’ rejection of Trump, speaks more to the character and perspective of those certain people (of either party) making this strange and convoluted observation than it does to Trump and his Vermont supporters.
Trump got spanked in 2020, 30.7% of the General Election votes despite winning the primary with 87% of vote!!
Trump only got 30% of the vote in the 2016 General Election in Vermont.
Clearly rejected!!
Romney got 31% of the Vermont General Election votes in 2012.
In 2008, McCain got 30.4% of the Vermont General Election votes.
Don’t let primary election results cloud your reasoning.
There is no correlation between the percentage of Vermont Republican Presidential Primary votes received and the percentage of Vermont Republican Presidential General votes received.
Let’s get back to winning Local Elections!
With people like Tom Arnold, who needs enemies? Tom, I do not know what world you live it, but Trump won 2020 and the Dems stole it. That is clear to anyone willing to entertain a rational and reasonable look at what happened on the ground. Election counting is meant to be transparent, so the Dems put covers over the windows, sent the monitors home and continued counting, stuffed ballots under tables instead of in locked storage (which despite what MSM has reported is unheard of in honest elections), tinkered with the counting systems of the vote tabulators, basically, lied, cheated and stole…all the while crying out how that’s what Team Trump was doing. You say a border wall is irrelevant, so all the illegal immigrants and the problems they create … doesn’t matter? The majority of Vermonters MAY be Democrrats, but I don’t think so. I believe the majority, like most other places can’t be bothered to vote or are so disgusted with Vermont elections that they refuse to. but let’s assume that the majority are Liberals, does that mean we should join them? You, sir, are nothing but a liberal pretending to be a conservative. Why not just fly your true colors and be honest?
Hey Tom, The MAGA folks in the VTGOP control NOTHING……except a few comments here on one of the few places that doesn’t censor.
They have the opportunity to do exactly what you say for 30 years now…..
AND THEY DON”T!!!!
NO, they love framing the conversation just like a democrat/uniparty/nwo pimp does, blaming the failure of the party on a minority that doesn’t have any control.
The VTGOP doesn’t represent TRUMP, but you’re really great at the gas lighting.
EPIC GASLIGHTING have you given up on twats?
Know a tree by their fruit….
After the VTGOP proclaimed to welcome everyone under their big tent, I suppose there was an asterisk omitted from said statement. Seeing how Wisconsin is showing up with strategic fighting prowess and winning of late…the tide is turning. The panic and establishment party shenangians are proving desperation is indeed settling in and the roof is on fire. Arizona as well. Good times!
Take heart Vermont Republicans, if the very blue state of Washington can do it so can Vermont!!
In the state of Washington democrats control both chambers of the Washington State Legislature but conservatives just scored a TRIFECTA in this deep blue state.
According to The Daily Signal, “The conservative grassroots organization Let’s Go Washington collected 2.6 million signatures across the state on six ballot initiatives, which amounts to over 420,000 signatures per measure.”
“In early March, under pressure to act on the Republican-backed ballot initiatives, the Washington State Legislature enacted three of the six measures after holding hearings. “
“The three measures, which become law within the next 90 days, will:
Remove restrictions on reasonable police pursuits.
Give parents the right to examine their children’s classroom curriculum, books, and other materials, and grant parents the right to see their children’s school records.
Bar the state, counties, cities, or other jurisdictions from implementing a general income tax. “
“By having a coordinated, strategic agenda of six initiatives … we were able to put [Democrats] on defense, and they needed to react to what we were trying to accomplish,” Dann Mead Smith, finance director and steering committee member for Let’s Go Washington, told The Daily Signal.
“And now, half of what we wanted to accomplish has been passed into law,” said Mead Smith, adding, “and we’re hopefully poised for a complete victory to get all six passed by voters in November.”
“The other three initiatives, for which the Washington State Legislature didn’t hold hearings, will appear on the ballot in November, giving voters the opportunity to approve them as law. Those initiatives would:
Repeal the state’s cap-and-trade carbon tax.
Allow Washingtonians to opt out of the state government’s long-term health care insurance program.
Repeal the state tax on capital gains income.”
If the very blue state of Washington can do it, why can’t Vermont?
A large number of signatures on some ballot-initiatives would force the governor to sit up and take notice. Or expose him as not really being a republican???
” Or expose him as not really being a republican ??? ”
To paraphrase, The Emperor has no clothes.
He has exposed himself a multitude of times.
After Jeffords betrayed Conservative Vermonters he jumped ship. Way past time for Scott to get out of the Republican party.
IF the VTGOP were republican, they’d can him. But they aren’t they are shills for UN
Hi Guy
You are doing some really great reporting and providing a perspective that is sorely missing in Vermont, but I hope you do something about the comment section on VDC. There is so much negativity on this website now, with many of the same people saying the same things over and over again. Pretty easy to sit in front of your keyboard and write comments/ criticize others, but much more difficult to get involved and change things. We see the same BS all over social media.today and it is ruining our country. Pretty sad
Mr. Milazzo: You seem to always be complaining that some VDC commentors are of an opinion that differs from yours … and that you want Mr. Page to “do something about” it. What do you recommend?
After all, I asked you a similar question a while back with regard to your comment:
“I agree with the Governor but would take it one step further and say the nation should do everything it can to stop Trump. Signed ” Once a “Vermont” Republican.”
https://vermontdailychronicle.com/vermonters-should-do-everything-they-can-to-stop-trump-scott-says/comment-page-1/#comment-63003
… and still no reply.