Embattled Idaho Republican Party Chairman Barry Peterson is calling for both sides in the rift in the party to agree on a single date for a Central Committee meeting - currently, Peterson's called a meeting for Aug. 9, while others who contend he's no longer chairman have called the meeting for Aug. 2. "I scheduled the August 9 date because August 2 interfered with a 40-year tradition in my family," Peterson said in a news release. "However, a single meeting set for a mutually-agreeable date can be planned for July or August."

Peterson said he was calling on GOP Gov. Butch Otter to "use his leadership position to insist that one meeting be held for the purposes of reuniting the party." Click below for Peterson's full news release, in which he said, "I believe we can all meet on a single date, settle all leadership issues, conduct our business and then move forward a stronger, united Republican Party. I believe that one phone call from Gov. Otter is all it would take to end the current division."

PRESS RELEASE

June 30, 2014

For Immediate Release

Contact: Chairman Barry Peterson

208-343-6405

Idaho Republican Party

 

PARTY LEADERS CALL FOR ONE UNITED GOP MEETING DATE

Boise, Idaho -- Idaho GOP leaders today call on Gov. Butch Otter to use his leadership position to insist that one meeting be held for the purposes of reuniting the party.

Party officials said they're also willing to reschedule an August 9 State Central Committee meeting if it helps organizers behind a planned August 2 gathering agree to a single meeting. Idaho GOP chairman Barry Peterson said there is no reason why two meetings should be scheduled. "I scheduled the August 9 date because August 2 interfered with a 40 year tradition in my family" said Peterson. "However, a single meeting set for a mutually-agreeable date can be planned for July or August."

Damond Watkins, Republican National Committeeman for Idaho reports that "at the RNC's summer meeting in Chicago on August 6-9, Idaho, like every other state, has three voting members on the Republican National Committee. With all the ambiguity that has come out of the Idaho Republican Convention, Idaho, as it stands today, has only two voting members. The third will be reinstated as soon as we can figure out this issue. Ideally, I want Idaho to have access to full membership to the RNC, but I don't see anything on the agenda for the summer meeting where Idaho's third vote would make the difference. I want Idaho to be unified, as we always have, moving forward and if we need to accommodate a date for the Central Committee to determine our leaders, then that is a better use of our time then it is to appeal to a deadline that has little impact on Idaho. I would hope that the issue would certainly be resolved in a matter of weeks so that we can regroup our message well in advance of the general election."

"The most important thing we can do now is proceed toward a united party. Continuing down our present path will only lead to more division. I believe we can all meet on a single date, settle all leadership issues, conduct our business and then move forward a stronger, united Republican Party," Peterson said. "I believe that one phone call from Gov. Otter is all it would take to end the current division. We want to unite the party as quickly as possible so that we can move forward toward a successful 2014 election season."

For more information, contact the Idaho Republican Party Chairman, Barry Peterson, 208-343-6405.

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