Citizen Tom

UPDATE: In response to public demand (a comment), I have copied Trent’s comments. See below.  BVBL has not blocked me yet.  

To set the record straight with respect to the PWC GOP’s endorsement process for candidates for the School Board, Trent Barton, posted a couple of comments (here and here) at BVBL.

The comments below were cut and pasted from BVBL. The first comment responds to OP Ditch. The second to an anonymous comment. In the first comment, Barton lays out the rules candidates agreed to abide by when seeking the PWC GOP’s endorsement. In his second comment, Barton agrees that the pledge is not legally binding; however, it is morally binding.

1. Trent A. Barton, Endorsement Committee Chairman said on 15 Jun 2007 at 10:59 am: Op-
   Just a note of clarification– Upon Desi applying for the school board endorsement process (by asking for the endorsement), he agreed to the pledge by filing his request by the deadline of March 1, 2007. He additionally agreeed verbally to rules by talking to me and some of the endorsement committee members on two separate occasions.Furthermore, please see part of the rules passed by the full committee (including Desi):I. Qualifications of Candidates for Endorsement by the Prince William County Republican Committee.
   A. Each candidate shall be in conformity with the participation requirements of the Republican Party of Virginia’s Plan of Organization and the Bylaws of the Pr. Wm. County Republican Committee.
   B. Candidates shall have declared their intent to seek endorsement to the Chairman of the Pr. Wm. County Republican Committee no later than March 1, 2007.
   C. Candidates shall have pledged to honor the endorsement process in which they request participation by supporting the endorsed candidate and by not running as a candidate against the endorsed candidate.

   These rules govern the process and Desi agreed to abide by them. Unfortunately he has decided not to do so. He might think he has a good reason to break his pledge but he is breaking that pledge in running in November.

   Just my thoughts-

2. Trent A. Barton, Endorsement Committee Chairman said on 15 Jun 2007 at 11:08 am: Annon-You are correct that school board candidates run as independents and Desi is not violating that standard by running. He is just breaking his pledge that he made to the Republican Committee. We can not and should not stop him from running as that his right as our school board members don’t run under party afflilation. The Committee leadership and members are just pointing out that he broke his pledge. The citizens of the Brentsville District will have to be the determinate of the impact of that broken pledge. As I said above he might have a good reason to break his pledge (only Desi knows that) but he still is breaking his pledge. I would hope that he adhere to his committment and not compromise his long standing as a party leader with such a poor decision. I would like to see Desi issue a statement that outlines his decision and what republican “VIP’S” are asking him to run for school board or other office.Just my Thoughts-