At the final luncheon of the Precinct 52 Republicans, Tom Pearson, precinct committeeman Bjorn Handeen, and county Assessor Mike McDowell chat. (Photo: Duane Rasmussen)

In a surprise move today, GOPrecinct Committeeman Bjorn Handeen of Precinct 52 has disbanded his weekly luncheons and called on the North Idaho PAC to drop its rival Lincoln Day luncheon and support the Kootenai County GOP Central Committee. His part of the text of the statement he read to the 16 people (including Jim Brannon, Angela Cross, Brent Regan and Assessor Mike McDowell) who attended today's lunch at IHOP:

But now, it has been reported by Dave Oliveria in the Spokesman Review, that a faction of Republicans, perhaps more accurately described as the clique that formerly controlled the Party- these establishment Republicans have used their money and their power to create a rival fundraising event, to be held on the same day as the annual fundraising dinner for the Kootenai County Republican Party. This is a direct attack against the legitimately elected Republican central committee, an attempt to deprive the Republican Party of financial resources, and it is in no way akin to my small protest against an unofficial conservative group. Full statement here.

Thoughts?