Idaho Republican State Central Committee Meeting Report: Day 1

Jan 7

The Idaho State Republican Party met last night in Boise for the 2023 Winter Meeting. I was excited to attend in person and, as at last summer’s State Convention, meet in person so many other Republicans and conservatives from throughout the state.

Not being a member of the State Central Committee, I had the freedom to mingle and listen where I pleased. After First Vice Chairman Daniel Silver’s special Judicial Committee meeting ended, the full Executive Board met. Aside from some minor drama when Region VI Chairman Terrell Tovey objected to State Chair Dorothy Moon’s suggestion for his home city of Pocatello to host the Summer Meeting in June, it was a pleasant enough conversation.

I was very interested to hear National Committeewoman Cindy Siddoway share her thoughts on the RNC Chair race, which has attracted much more national attention than usual. Siddoway explained that she had received a lot of feedback from citizens, though some came from out of state and some were clearly form letters. She explained that she knows and likes both Ronna McDaniel and Harmeet Dhillon, and has not decided how to vote.

National Committeeman Damond Watkins concurred, even going to far as to poll the room on their opinion of Ronna McDaniel’s candidacy. Dorothy Moon suggested we take a straw poll the next day. I was pleased to hear that both of our RNC representatives seemed to be seriously considering the question of who should lead the party for the next two years.

The big meeting of the night was the Rules Committee, which considered several new proposed rules for the party. Branden Durst, having successfully shepherded his proposal to limit crossover voting through the State Convention, presented the rule, with several amendments, to the Rules Committee. Durst skillfully argued on behalf of the proposal, which would restrict voters who have affiliated with other parties from switching to the GOP just prior to our primary elections. The committee made some alterations to the rule, and passed it overwhelmingly.

State Treasurer Steve Bender successfully argued for his proposal to change from a voluntary quota system, where county committees give money to the state party based on proportion of voters, to a dues system where counties must pay certain proportional amounts to the state, but only for operational costs, not campaigns.

Dan Bell (left) arguing in favor of rule change.

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Kootenai County Youth Committeeperson Dan Bell argued for the most controversial rule change of the meeting, one which would move the heads of the three quasi-private organizations from full voting members to ex oficio members of the Executive Board. An amendment was proposed to also make the Finance Chair ex oficio as well, since that position is appointed by the State Chair. The committee agreed, and the proposal passed along the same liberty/establishment dividing lines as many others did at that meeting.

Overall, Kootenai County GOP Chairman Brent Regan ran a great meeting, getting through every rule on the docket in the time allotted.

Today the full State Central Committee will deliberate on the rules and resolutions passed last night, as well as debate the residency of National Committeeman Watkins, which has been called into question by some members of the body. Following the meeting today, many attendees will attend the Inaugural Ball at the Capitol followed by a gala at the Ambrose School in Meridian. I will bring you an update from Day 2 as soon as I can!