Uncovering the Troublesome Rift: Inside the Washoe GOP Leadership Crisis
In the heart of the Silver State, a political tempest has been brewing, one that threatens to disrupt the ‘unity’ of the Washoe County Republican Party (GOP). The protagonists of this tale are none other than Chairman Bruce Parks and Vice Chairman Tracey Hilton-Thomas, whose leadership has recently come under intense scrutiny. This update takes you behind the scenes of a controversy that erupted following a Facebook comment by Picon Press Media, ultimately exposing fault lines within the Washoe GOP leadership.
The Picon Press Media Comment: September 3, 2023
On September 3, 2023, Picon Press Media posted a seemingly innocuous Facebook comment about the Washoe County Republican Party in the Pines event. Little did they know that this comment would set off a chain reaction of events that would shine a spotlight on the leadership of the Washoe GOP.
https://www.facebook.com/piconpressmedia/posts/pfbid0Byb77NH55SUkv9i9hpJPyNXfVU2TUD5SJ5DXM8n3RrSvMPN5CYWgmfSdSwSeRvqHl
Bruce Parks’ Call to Larry Chesney: September 4, 2023
The day after the comment was posted, Bruce Parks, the Chairman of the Washoe County Central Committee, made a crucial call to Larry Chesney, the publisher of Picon Press Media. While it took a couple of days for the two to finally connect, when they did, Parks didn’t mince words. He expressed his displeasure with Picon Press Media’s questioning of the party’s event.
Invitations and Exclusive Access
During their conversation, Larry Chesney seized the opportunity to inquire about who had been invited to the ‘Piney Party’ and what “exclusive access” meant for candidates. Parks stated that he had invited all Republican candidates, including Clara Andriola and Tom Green. However, the nature of these invitations raised eyebrows.
For instance, when Tom Green was contacted, it was revealed that Parks had suggested he could buy a ticket to the event, rather than extending a straightforward invitation. The ambiguity of these invitations left lingering questions, especially regarding how Parks invited Andriola.
Andriola’s Voting Record
Larry Chesney went on to question Parks about Clara Andriola’s voting record, highlighting her alignment with Commissioners Alexis Hill and Mariluz Garcia, rather than supporting Commissioner Mike Clark and Jeanne Herman. Chesney pointed out the conspicuously absent sanctions against Commissioner Andriola, despite the existence of a resolution to do so. Parks had no satisfactory answer to this inquiry.
The Party’s Troubled Management
Chesney, a 56-year member of the Republican Party, did not hold back in expressing his concerns. He criticized the management of the Washoe Republican Party, likening it to a “dictatorship” and asserting that current operating methods had caused a significant drop in Washoe County Central Committee membership, with around 150 people leaving. Chairman Parks and Vice Chair Thomas changed the bylaws without allowing debate or amendments. This insured they could purge who they deemed to be unwelcome Washoe County GOP Central Committee members under the guise of four absences on a mysterious rolling calendar, and maintain heavy handed dictatorial control.
Moreover, Chesney contended that the state Republican Party, with the exception of the Governor’s race, had been trapped in a four-election losing cycle, primarily due to the production of poor and unelectable candidates.
Parks’ Offer to Write an Article for Picon
In a surprising turn of events, Bruce Parks expressed his desire to contribute an article to Picon Press Media. Larry Chesney welcomed this proposition but emphasized that any article must meet Picon’s stringent editorial standards.
Candidate Marsha Berkbigler’s Perspective
To gain a broader perspective on this unfolding drama, we reached out to Republican candidate Marsha Berkbigler, who is running to regain her Washoe County Commission District 1 seat from liberal Democrat Commissioner Chairman Alexis Hill. Berkbigler shared her thoughts on the situation. It appears that Parks invited Berkbigler to the event at the last minute, a move that left her with mixed feelings.
Conclusion
The recent events involving Washoe County GOP Chairman Bruce Parks, Vice Chairman Tracey Hilton-Thomas, and Picon Press Media have shed light on a deeper crisis within the Washoe GOP leadership. While the controversy surrounding the “Piney Party’s” invitations, lack of attendees, and a desperate attempt to save the “Piney Party” by Parks and Thomas, as well as the lack of action against certain members has raised eyebrows. It is clear that the rift between party leadership and longstanding party members like Larry Chesney and others who have been on the Central Committee since 1990, but got kicked off since Parks and Thomas assumed leadership. This is contributing to a broader issue of declining party membership and election struggles of Republican candidates continuing to lose elections. Also a loss of registered Republicans fleeing to register as non-partisan reflects poorly on Nevada & Washoe County GOP leadership. Non-partisan voters outpace Democrats in Nevada by approximately 4,000 votes and by 54,000 voters over Republicans.
As the Washoe County Republican Party grapples with its internal divisions, it remains to be seen how this turmoil will impact future elections and the overall political landscape in Washoe County and the Silver State. One thing is certain: the eyes of Nevada’s political observers will remain firmly fixed on this unfolding drama.
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🇺🇸 🗽 Chairman Bruce Parks’ Leadership Of The Washoe County GOP: A Case Study In Mismanagement. LEARN MORE:https://t.co/dSel0ZVeEV 🙏@RichardGrenell @TeamTrump @WashoeRepubs pic.twitter.com/h7cbSWb1kh
— Nevada Liberty 🇺🇸 (@Nevada_Liberty) August 14, 2023
Politicians & George Soros-funded NGOs say “hate incidents” are rising, but they’re not. The data show the opposite: higher-than-ever and rising levels of tolerance of minorities. The reason they’re spreading hate misinformation is to justify a draconian crackdown on free speech. pic.twitter.com/K1SJFxzaZO
— Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) August 23, 2023
🇺🇸🗽Uncovering The Troublesome Rift: Inside The Washoe GOP Leadership Crisis. LEARN MORE: https://t.co/XSnDd2HJW1 Controversy surrounding Washoe County GOP Chairman Bruce Parks and Vice Chairman Tracey Hilton-Thomas, @claraforwashoe and the political turmoil that has ensued. pic.twitter.com/BDG6b3qyJn
— Nevada Liberty 🇺🇸 (@Nevada_Liberty) September 16, 2023
