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Kanawha GOP committee members patch things up with chairwoman

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Twelve ousted members of the Kanawha County Republican Executive Committee have been returned to their positions following a settlement agreement involved the members and Kanawha GOP Chair Tresa Howell.

Tresa Howell

Howell informed the members of their removals earlier this month by letter citing spotty attendance to committee meetings.. She also appointed six new members to the executive committee. Howell claimed she had the power to do so but that was challenged by the ousted members. They all got on the same page over the weekend, at least enough on the same page to keep the matter from going to court.

“We tried to keep this out of court to where we could negotiate. We are all adults in this matter and we have very strong opinions. Of course, we have issues on the committee but it shows that as Republicans we can actually work together,” Howell said during an appearance on MetroNews “Talkline.”

Howell said she still believes she had the right to do what she did but it’s better to bring the members back, join them with the new members, and move forward.

“We are ready and willing to move together,” she said.

Longtime committee member Frank Larese, who was ousted by Howell, said he and the other 11 members are ready to work with Howell and make her a strong chairperson.

“In my mind it’s all over with,” Larese said on “Talkline.” “It was just a little misunderstanding we had to straighten out. We got it taken care of.”

Howell made her move to remove the members because some of them were thinking of voting her out.

Frank Larese

This conflict goes back months, starting with a vote of no confidence in Gov. Jim Justice that the committee took in April. Justice is the incumbent Republican governor, but he was first elected as a Democrat.

Conflict over the party’s view of Justice has taken several forms since then.

Members of the Republican majority in the state Senate clashed with Justice — particularly over aspects of an omnibus education bill — with Senate Finance Chairman Craig Blair at one point saying the governor should resign.

Then state Republican Party Chairwoman Melody Potter sent a letter removing Wood County GOP Executive Committee Rob Cornelius, citing the style and frequency of Cornelius’s criticism of the party’s relationship with Justice.

Potter named a half-dozen new members of the Wood County GOP Executive Committee who then joined five more in a letter of support for her removal of Chairman Rob Cornelius.

Ashley Deem

The same divides then spilled out in Kanawha County.

The 16 members who wanted to remove Howell were critical of her effectiveness and view her as too protective of Potter and Justice.

Charleston attorney Ashley Deem represented the ousted members and had long negotiations with Howell over the weekend. She said the members didn’t back down.

“We’re absolutely thrilled because it’s as if they never left. They’re not regaining membership they are retaining membership. These are elected officials and they have constitutional rights accordingly,” she said during an appearance on WCHS Radio’s 580 Live Monday. “I think we have to stand up to the state party or anyone who tries to push their agenda on us at the local levels. I’m proud of my clients for standing up and doing just that.”

MetroNews Statewide Correspondent Brad McElhinny contributed to this story. 





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