It appears that two factions of the same local political party are at odds with each other of the process by which the delegates were selected. 

 

The Washington County GOP is currently preparing for their County Convention where they elect new leaders of the local party.  A faction of the local GOP has organized and go by the name, "NEOK Grassroots" with a common goal to restore grassroots leadership and republican values.

 

Things came to a head on March 10, at Calvary Chapel when a disagreement over what constituted a quorum lead to somewhere between 15 and 30 members holding a separate meeting.  The WCGOP leadership claims they had a closed door meeting while NEOK Grassroots claims an open meeting in a separate sanctuary.  Reports from an email sent out from the local GOP and video uploaded from NE OK Grassroots members show the meetings got a little tense at times.

 

In an open letter shared with Bartlesville Radio, Chairman Mike Lessard and Vice-Chairman Alex Johnson shared the events and allegations leading up to a faction of 15 NE Oklahoma Grassroots members to take another side.

 

Joshua Lock, Chairman, Precinct 27 and NE Oklahoma Grassroots member provided some videos he claims shows that there was not a proper quorum as claimed in the letter provided by Lessard and Johnson.

 

 

Lock also provided a video of a meeting that was called by the committee.

 

 

Former State Representative Wendi Stearman, who appears in the second video leading a meeting, returned a text request for comment to Bartlesville Radio stating,"I saw the GOP letter, but I think it is incorrect. I am not a member of a 'movement.' I am not a member of the County Committee."

 

The open letter from Lessard and Johnson says. "Said meeting was not a legally called meeting with proper notice, it did not have a quorum of eligible voting members, and it did not comport with OKGOP Rules. Moreover, the items discussed were out of Order and not properly brought before the County Committee. The State GOP has been notified of this meeting."

  

As of publication, we have not heard of any further discussions on the matter from the Oklahoma GOP.