GOP meeting descends into confusion as some walk-out
V Hugh Lewis II/Jefferson Jimplecute
In what should have been a routine act, instead turned into a disorderly and confusing meeting of the Marion County Republican Party County Executive Committee last Thursday.
In their first meeting following the State Party Convention, the club is supposed to swear in their elected officials, appoint officers, and approve the bylaws for the next year.
As soon as the newly elected County Party Chair Hunter Bonner, who oversees the meeting, called the meeting to order, Precinct 9 Party Chair Georgianna Stebbins stood and attempted to “make a motion to amend the agenda and change the order of business to adopt bylaws prior to permanent appointments,” she stated. Christine Woodsen seconded the motion.
Bonner stated that there was no motion as it was not the proper time, per Roberts Rules of Order (RRO), to make a motion.
Stebbins insisted, repeating her motion and demanded a vote. Bonner repeated his claim that it was not the proper time to make motions and per RRO a motion could not be taken at that time.
Stebbins continued her instance as Bonner called on his wife, Rabbi Lynnette Bonner, to lead the invocation. Stebbins attempted to interrupt the proceedings again prior to the prayer, following the prayer, and before the pledges to the American and Texas flags.
Stebbins did not participate in the pledges.
She then moved to claiming a “Point of Order” to which Bonner responded, again, there was no point of order as it was not the proper time. Stebbins insisted her Point of Order again and was again turned down.
In turn, Stebbins then called for a motion to adjourn the meeting, Woodsen seconded, and Stebbins called for a vote. Six of the nine Precinct Chair’s approved the motion and then left the table, but not the building.
“Mrs. Stebbins’ declaring the meeting adjourned was out of order as she is not the presiding officer,” Bonner said when interviewed. “The meeting continued with a quorum of the remaining members, as per RPT Rule 9b, which states that a quorum for statutory business are “those present.” The claims of the other members about the lack of a quorum were incorrect, further highlighting a misunderstanding of the rules.
Bonner protested saying Stebbins could not call for a vote, and that the meeting was not adjourned. “Anyone who leaves is exercising their right not to vote. The meeting is not adjourned,” he said. “According to RRO, the chairman must ensure that the motion to adjourn is not abused for the purposes of disrupting a meeting. Because Mrs. Stebbins repeatedly would not come to order, also a violation of RRO as she broke decorum, it was clear that the motion to adjourn was being used to obstruct the business of this statutory meeting. I was duty bound to stop that for the sake of fairness for the entire CEC.”
Stebbins wrote in a statement that “Precinct Chair Stebbins along with other precinct chairs felt unsafe and threatened and chose to leave the meeting for this reason. It is unfortunate when proper procedure is not followed.”
Bonner then called on Marion County Judge Leward LaFleur to swear in the remaining Party Precinct Chairs and himself. Bonner then continued on the agenda using a Republican Party of Texas (RPT) rule in which “those members present” voted.
Bonner later explained that he was bound by Roberts Rules of Order to conduct the meeting as it was the RPT requirement that RRO be used to conduct meetings, and that per RRO, no motions can be taken until a Secretary is selected, per RRO 3.6
RRO 3.6 states that “the minimum essential officers for the conduct[ing] of business are a presiding officer, and a secretary or clerk.” As officers had not been selected, Bonner believed he was unable to take a motion.
“At the start of the meeting, we lacked the minimum number of officers required to conduct business, as we had no secretary to record proceedings. This made Mrs. Stebbins’ repeated motions and points of order out of order, highlighting a lack of understanding of Robert’s Rules of Order. The importance of recording the proceedings, which is typically the secretary’s role, cannot be emphasized enough. Without a secretary, there would be no official record of the meeting, which could impact the validity and transparency of the proceedings,” said Bonner, in an interview with the Jimplecute.
Stebbins, in a prepared statement issued to the Jimplecute instead of responding to questions, Stebbins wrote “The reason the motion was called is because the agenda was out of order and that Chairman Bonner was going to appoint officials prior to adoption of the bylaws. THIS IS OUT OF ORDER. The bylaws determine how officials are appointed. In the previous bylaws that were adopted on January 11, 2024, officials were appointed with approval of the CEC.”
Two Marion County Republicans, who wished to remain anonymous, said that Stebbins wished to change the bylaws to have the CEC make nominations for the officers instead of allowing the Chair to make all the nominations, as was approved in January of this year, and the CEC approve those nominations. As Stebbins did not respond to additional questions, this could not be confirmed as her intent.
ROR also states in section 3.3, that to make a motion, the member “must obtain the floor, that is, he must be recognized by the chair as having the exclusive right to be heard at that time.” Bonner repeatedly denied Stebbins this option, thus, in Bonner’s view, make Stebbins “out of order,” or causing a disruption in the proceedings.
In the statement, Stebbins went on to write that “This is a proper motion and was done by the rules. (RONR 41:62)”
However, ROR 41.62 “An Agenda is provided in Advance,” states that “unless a pre-circulated agenda is formally adopted at the session to which it applies, it is not binding as to detail or order of consideration.”
Bonner failed to explain to Stebbins his decision on her Point of Order request that as there was no secretary, the motion could not be entertained, per ROR 23.1-21, “When a member thinks that the rules of the assembly are being violated, he can make a Point of Order (or “raise a question of order,” as it is sometimes expressed), thereby calling upon the chair for a ruling and an enforcement of the regular rules … [ROR 23:15] On completing his statement, the member resumes his seat. The chair then rules whether “the point of order is well taken” or “is not well taken.” Stebbins referenced points 1-21 instead of the relevant points. She also never returned to her seat after calling the Point of Order.
Prior to Stebbins calling a motion to adjourn, Bonner appointed a Sergeant at Arms and asked to have Stebbins removed from the meeting for causing a disruption. At that point Stebbins’ husband, former Party Chair Scott Stebbins, interrupted the proceedings to tell Bonner he was out of order. Bonner asked Scott Stebbins to take his seat or he too would be removed.
Scott Stebbins left the room along with the other members, and a number of individuals in the audience.
Bonner said the members leaving did not affect their ability to act as Precinct Chairs.
“The organizational meeting agenda includes the ceremonial swearing in of precinct chairs, which is a public declaration of their commitment to their duties, but does not legally prevent them from serving if not completed,” Bonner said.
“The meeting was marked by frustration and disrespect, particularly when the prayer and pledges were interrupted. Mrs. Stebbins’ actions suggest pre-planned opposition, possibly involving a “walking quorum,” which is unethical. Despite the disruptions, forgiveness is extended to all involved,” Bonner said.
The Jimplecute has been told Stebbins and some other CEC members are looking at filing a complaint to the State Party over the incident.
Bonner hopes to move forward with the party and focus on the November elections, despite the disruptions.
“The Marion County GOP remains active, with its chairperson urging members to set aside differences and focus on the upcoming November Presidential Election. The primary objective is to rally support for Donald Trump and ensure a Republican victory, aiming to prevent another term of President Biden. A general meeting is being planned for mid-July, featuring State Representative Jay Dean, who seeks input from the Marion County GOP on legislative priorities,” Bonner said. “The next official meeting of the County Executive Committee (CEC) is set for September 26, 2024, at 6 pm, with the location yet to be announced.”
Editor’s Note: A video of the meeting and the incident, is available on the Marion County GOP FaceBook page. The Jimplecute was invited to the meeting to take photographs of the newly sworn-in officers, but was informed, prior to the start of the meeting, by several Precinct Chair’s, that the Jimplecute was not welcome at the meeting. The Jimplecute left the meeting shortly after the swearing in was completed. See more photos online at Jimplecute.com
Editor’s Note: Georgianna Stebbins was originally misidentified as Georgette Stebbins. The Jimplecute apologizes for the error. It has been corrected in the online edition of this article.