THE LITIGIOUS, STATE-CONTROLLING GEORGIA REPUBLICAN PARTY, INC. IS FAILING TO PRODUCE COMPLIANCE WITH GA ELECTION LAW. IT IS NOT AN OFFICIAL GA POLITICAL ORGANIZATION.

On a Daily Basis Republicans are Warning State Chairman McKoon Against Continuing to Lead an Imposter State Corporation Under the False Protection of the Georgia Secretary of State. Voters Deserve to Know the Truth about their Primary Ballots and “GOP” Corporate Candidates.

By State Committeewoman Susan P. Opraseuth:

In today’s complex political landscape, the erosion of traditional governance principles is a growing concern for many conservatives who value the pillars of a republic. This concern hits close to home for me, right here in Georgia, where I’ve witnessed what appears to be a troubling trend within the conservative Republican party. Throughout our state, I’ve observed tactics reminiscent of those used by global entities to suppress dissent and control narratives.

It’s disheartening to see corporate activists within the Georgia Republican Party, INC. (“GRP, INC.”) disregard the voices of citizens who are calling for a legitimate, legally compliant party. The law is crystal clear: political parties must adhere to GA Election Code 21-2-110/111 regarding its official registration and political party structure. More than 178 governing committee members should be filed with the Georgia Office of the Secretary of State, but they are not. Corporate maneuvers and manipulations have managed to convince many that compliance can wait.

As an elected State Committee Member of the “State Party” representing thousands of voters, I take my duty seriously. However, I have not agreed to serve under GA Corporate Law in a non-member, nonprofit corporation, according to its formation documents, corporate attorneys, and executives. This is a decidedly non-democratic structure of a PAC-like federal political organization under IRS code. I have also not agreed to participate in processes that simply transfer corporate power among executives desiring to control our state’s representative system. Finally, knowing these facts, I cannot, in good conscience, solicit corporate donations from those who deceptively believe they are “members.’

We exhaust ourselves to exercise Robert’s Rules of Order as an organizational tool, yet they are for democratic societies unlike us. I have witnessed total failure and futility in exercising democratic procedures within this self-perpetuating authoritarian corporate structure of the GRP, INC. Recently, I watched executives reject the cohesive findings of five of the top professional Parliamentarians in our nation, including the President of the American Institute of Parliamentarians. Simply put, basic democracy is unwelcome to these corporate politicians.

My concerns about corporate governance within our party have been mounting for years. I’ve personally experienced the systematic withholding of basic resources at both county and state levels. During the 2023 reorganization cycle, the corporation statewide barely attained 25% of its earned county delegates and thousands of precinct committee positions went unclaimed—an alarming indicator of weak Republican governance. The state corporation did not so much as issue a press release for this critical statewide reorganization.

What’s even more troubling is the inside lack of transparency and communication. When I sought the contact list of my fellow State Committee members, I was required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement including information that should be filed within state public records that the Georgia Secretary of State cannot produce. After I wrote these concerns to my fellow committee members, I was publicly ridiculed by Executive Director Travis Bowden and deterred from conducting further committee communication by Corporate General Counsel Alex Kaufman. Corporate State Chairman Josh McKoon appointed both of these individuals. Additionally, Mr. Bowden’s current role follows his and Mr. McKoon’s nearly four years of exploitative treatment of local Republicans, including Chatham and Fulton counties, on behalf of former State Chairman David Shafer’s corporate “appeals” committee instead of one lawfully prescribed by a political party committee under the GA Election Code.

All of this flies in the face of my role as an elected representative, entrusted to express the concerns of my constituents. How can we govern effectively if we can’t even communicate with each other without legal and corporate barriers? How do we win in 2024 without a strong communication network for planning?

In a proper political party, the State Committee should be a fully representative governing body that performs under the Georgia Election Code. I am committed to advocating for proper corrections to uphold the values of representative government and not corporate interests. Until these constantly damaging blows can be abated, I fully believe that those who know the right and democratic ways of a proper political party should continue in them. Corporate executives and the state government must be reined in with every citizen’s effort.

The recent June 2023 acknowledgment by the Republican State Committee that there is a problem within our party—namely, the presence of the Georgia Republican Party, INC. as a separate corporate entity—validates the issues I’ve been raising. We’re not being divisive; we’re standing up against a like-named corporation that hijacked our party in 2014. We simply want our legally compliant political party back

Despite this recognition, the establishment leadership seems more interested in maintaining the status quo. They’ve cited a lawsuit involving the corporation as a reason for delaying the re-establishment of the party. While they take public ballot access as a corporation, the political party is in shambles, without funds, and electors are repressed.

Moreover, the corporation’s reliance on the Georgia Secretary of State’s office for a “party” administrative pass without public records to back it up, continues to be a problem. This same office, led by notorious Secretary Raffensperger, has faced criticism for its handling of the 2020 presidential election, voting systems, and ballots, making quality control seem taboo. Corporate interests are flooding out Georgia’s rightful representative government, and basic citizen rights with it.

At our recent January Republican State Committee meeting, the authoritarian style of governance was on full display. From the lack of timely agendas to the Chairman’s public dressing down of a fellow officer, it was clear that any strong ideas of democratic processes were stifling to the corporate environment.

During this meeting, I raised a Point of Order regarding a perceived breach of Georgia’s Election Laws, only to be interrupted and asked to email my concerns instead. This attempt to silence legitimate concerns further illustrates the disregard for democratic principles within our party. The facts were irrefutable.

It’s time to reclaim the true spirit of the Republican Party in Georgia—a party that upholds the Rule of Law, respects the voices of its members, and protects one of our most basic American birthrights – our guaranteed representative form of government.

Susan P. Opraseuth can be reached directly at [email protected].