West Virginia Republican Party Chairman Mark Harris says he will not resign after other state party officers publicly asked him to do so, but he also says he won’t seek another term as party leader.
State party leaders put out a statement Saturday night citing “allegations of inappropriate behavior.”
Harris this morning put out his own statement. State Republicans are set to have an election for party leadership at the end of next month.
“I will not allow these anonymous accusations from a handful of craven malcontents to detract from the success of the Republican Party in West Virginia,” he stated. “When I was elected in March 2021, I promised to serve until the Summer Meeting in 2022. I will keep that promise.”
But he added, “After much prayer and discussion with my family and friends about what is best for my family and the party, I have decided to withdraw my name from consideration for another term as Chairman of the Republican Party in West Virginia.”
WV GOP chairman Mark Harris says he will not resign but also won’t seek another term pic.twitter.com/tSAK4Js0Md
— Brad McElhinny (@BradMcElhinny) June 21, 2022
The statement by other West Virginia Republican Party leaders on Saturday night alluded to allegations that they found credible and alarming, but they did not elaborate on the specifics.
“Given the nature and credibility of the allegations and the critical need for utmost integrity and continuity in the Republican Party, we see no other option than to request Mark Harris immediately consider resignation at this time,” the other elected leaders of the party and party Executive Director John Findlay wrote in that statement.
Harris fired back on the allegations and those who brought them.
“I will not respond to accusations from anonymous sources about unspecified misconduct. I have done nothing to justify this smear campaign,” he wrote. “My accusers should beware…those who lay a trap for others soon find themselves ensnared in their own designs. Time is not kind to the duplicitous.”
The state GOP executive committee selected Harris of to serve out the remainder of the chair’s term after Melody Potter resigned her position on Jan. 11, 2021.
The voting process for the new state chairman wound up being confusing, contested and, apparently, very narrowly-determined, with Harris being declared the winner.
On Monday, MetroNews reached out to several members of the state GOP executive committee to ask about their individual positions on Harris in the role, whether he should resign and if he has enough support to effectively continue.
T-Anne See, the party co-chairwoman, and Linda Hartling, the elected secretary, responded separately but with the same statement: “Thank you for reaching out. The statement we put out speaks for itself and I have no further comment at this time.”
Tony Hodge, chairman of the Putnam County GOP Executive Committee, said on local radio today that he believes Harris made the right decision to opt out of running for another term.
“If he were to run again and stay on, the charges and allegations, the things that are swirling around him would only be magnified. I think he sees the writing on the wall,” Hodge said on “580 Live” on WCHS radio. “It’s the best thing for the party.”
Hodge said he spoke with Harris on Monday and urged him to not pursue another term. Hodge said he told Harris, “the officers obviously — they’re not with you now. So if you do run for re-election there’s probably a pretty strong chance that you lose. If you don’t run for re-election and just fill our your term you’re still out.”
Harris agreed, Hodge said: “I’m out.”
Harris earlier served as chief of staff at the Beckley VA Hospital, starting in 2017, and was responsible for clinical operations there and and at community clinics in Greenbrier and Mercer counties.
Among those hired at the hospital at the time was Dr. Jonathan Yates, who is now serving a prison sentence for the sexual abuse of multiple veterans who had sought medical treatment at the hospital. An investigation into the sexual assaults opened in September 2019. In November 2019, Harris was dismissed.
Delelgate Brandon Steele, R-Raleigh, has been critical of Harris dating back to those earlier allegations. In an interview today, Steele said he’s glad Harris won’t run again but that he should go ahead and resign.
“I think it’s unfortunate that Mark Harris decided not to resign in the face of all these accusations,” Steele said today. “His tenure has been marked by that scandal as well as others. I think it’s disappointing that he didn’t just walk off. If he truly cared about the Republican Party and he truly cared about moving this state forward, he would resign.”
Steele continued, “I really wish Mark would resign and this entire nightmare of Mark Harris would be over.”