by Cheryl Brown
The Williamson County Republican Party (WCRP) has a storied history. Some members of the Party remember the old days when Williamson County was a strong blue county. Yet, in the ’90s, that all changed, and Williamson County was transformed into a solidly red county, later contributing many Republican leaders to become elected at the county, state, and federal levels.
I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, and landed a position at Boy Scouts of America. I fondly remember my manager, a strong, Christian, black woman named Minnie. She introduced me to Christ as well as to the Republican Party. During a conversation one day, she said to me, “I think Reagan is the best president ever.” I remember thinking, “Well, I’m going to vote for Reagan.” I never looked back, and yes, I proudly confess I am a Reagan Republican.
Two non-members of the Williamson County Republican Party recently composed a commentary for The Tennessee Star. Some of the “facts” that these gentlemen placed into that commentary are simply inaccurate, so I’ve decided that it is in the interests of the Party to set the record straight with the truth.
First, following the GOP bylaws, a board member was removed, by majority vote by the board, and for just causes. Neither the board nor I have ever forced a board member out. This is not a common practice amongst respected boards, and the Williamson County Republican Party is no different. Also, board members retain the freedom to resign from the board at any time for personal reasons.
Secondly, it is ethical and common for boards to give the chairman a certain threshold expenditure authority of a minimal amount for discretionary expenses incurred in performing their duties. Before I took the role of chairman, that expenditure amount was $2,500. However, the WCRP Board and the State Executive Committee later approved a lesser amount of $2,000 per our ratified bylaws 2021-2022. These same bylaws allow the chairman to serve as one of the three required signatories on the bank account. Furthermore, for reasons of transparency and in order to avoid any appearance of impropriety, no signatory may sign a check issued to themselves.
The WCRP has maintained security throughout the years at public events, such as when candidate Ben Carson, Senator Devin Nunes, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Senator Rick Scott, and recently, Senator Tim Scott came to Williamson County. This common-sense practice is observed for our local congressmen and senators. The security measures in place not only used the services of Pale Horse GRS, but also included the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office and the local police. The assumption that this security is/was for my personal benefit is entirely misleading and false. I have never retained a personal driver, and, like my peers, I face the same traffic every day, behind the wheel of my car.
And with regard to the directors and officers employment practices, liability insurance is both commonplace and necessary in today’s climate.
Don Barnett, who co-authored the article and acted as WCRP’s first vice chair, is also the one who searched diligently for several months to find the best D&O insurance quote for the board. He ultimately advised the board that because it is a PAC (Political Action Committee) and not a nonprofit, the quote that he received for $8,600 was by far the best that he could obtain. It is indeed curious, according to his article and given his strong recommendation, that he would now impugn the party’s acceptance of his advice.
With regard to Juneteenth; each year, the WCRP receives numerous requests for sponsorship from different nonprofit organizations, and this is not unusual by any means. We received a request for $1,500 from Equity Justice Group and this request was presented to the board for discussion and research. Based on this careful research, the board decided that no funds were to be given. As chairman, the request could have simply been approved by the treasurer and me, per the bylaws, without board acknowledgment. Instead, and for the sake of public transparency, I brought this request before the board.
Finally, anyone familiar with PAC filings occur would know that the treasurer of said organization is responsible for filing the PAC report. Therefore, the online Tennessee PAC report does offer and require detailed explanations of all expenditures.
If any member of the Williamson County Republican Party is interested in how the party is spending its funds, you can contact the treasurer or simply review the Tennessee PAC report online. As county party chairman, I will never disrespect the office of the WCRP. As I have said many times, it is my complete honor to serve our community and constituents.
“I always believed that a lot of trouble in the world would disappear if we were talking to each other instead of about each other.” – Ronald Reagan
If we are going to ensure that our county remains red, it’s essential that we keep a strong Republican Party. One of the best ways to support the Williamson County Republican Party is to vote Republican. Early voting starts July 15 and runs until July 30.
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Cheryl Brown is the chairman of the Williamson County Republican Party.
Photo “Cheryl Brown” and Background Photo “Williamson County Republican Party Board Members Meeting” by Williamson County Republican Party.
