Missouri Republicans begin legal battle with County Clerk over vetting
KSNF/KODE — Vernon County Republicans are spearheading a program they hope will take hold across the country.
In a lawsuit, filed Tuesday (3/19) by the Vernon County Republican Chairperson, Cyndia Haggard, the GOP committee is asking the court to prevent four names from appearing on the ballot as Republicans because they refused to go through the vetting process.
At the heart of the lawsuit, the Republican Party says they are solely responsible for determining who can run as a Republican candidate in Vernon County.
“But the law is very clear on that, only the party has that right,” says Mark McCloskey, Attorney for the Vernon County Republican Committee. “Like any other association, any other club, or a foundation has the right to choose their own membership.”
Republican committees all across Missouri are using a vetting process that includes a 25-question, multiple choice questionnaire to make sure any person who wants to run as a republican, is an actual republican.
McCloskey says the primary reason for the vetting process is that a lot of the people who have an “R” behind their names don’t really adhere to the Republican party platform.
“When we started the vetting processes, various county clerks, including the Vernon County Clerk, and the clerk’s association, took the position that they could decide who could run on a party ticket,” says Mark McCloskey, Attorney for the Vernon County Republican Committee.
He says other counties are participating in the vetting process and their goal is to create a more cohesive Republican Party.
“I think it’s gonna sweep the nation. I think that there is a real problem in the country with what we, on my end of the spectrum call RINOS – Republicans in name only,” said McCloskey.
Vernon County Clerk Adrienne Lee is named as the respondent in the litigation.
Lee said she is not able to comment on the litigation and referred us to the Missouri State Statute cited in the lawsuit, RSMo. 115.357
The Republican Committee says Lee accepted the filing fees for Brent Banes, Lena Kleeman, Michael Buehler, and Kelsey Westerhold. Lee acknowledged the candidates did pay the filing fee as required by state statute.
Lena Kleeman is the current Vernon County Assessor. Michael Buehler works for the Rich Hill Police Department. Kelsey Westerhold is the current Vernon County Administrator. Brent Banes is the current Vernon County Treasurer/ex-officio Collector.
The statute does have a provision for those who can’t afford the filing fee. However, it does not say acceptance of the payment, by either the Republican or Democratic parties, is a condition of being placed on the ballot under a candidates party of choice.
