Judge grants injunction against county GOP’s ‘America First’ group ahead of convention

Logan Washburn City News Editor

A judge allowed an injunction against the Hillsdale County Republican Party’s “America First” leadership just days before Thursday’s county convention, after months of controversy over party control.

“It is clear that the court gave careful consideration to the arguments,” County Commissioner Brent Leininger wrote in a Nov. 15 memo. “We look forward to moving past the controversy of 2022.”

Judge Michael Olsalver of the Lenawee County Circuit Court granted an injunction against the HCRP’s original executive committee officers on Nov. 15. A different group of officials, led by Leininger, had filed a lawsuit attempting to gain control of the party.

“I’m pleased that the court upheld the law and the Republican delegates in Hillsdale County have clarity,” Leininger said. The injunction is not a final decision on the lawsuit, but Olsalver ordered the HCRP’s original leadership to refrain from conducting party activities while the suit is in court.

Cyberattack from A1

Hillsdale resident Robin Bertram is the mother of two elementary schoolers at Will Carleton. She said she was still waiting to hear whether school would resume late Thursday.

Bertram said her kids were initially excited about the break from school, but their enthusiasm waned as the closure extended.

“The first day, the kids were ecstatic. We decorated for Christmas, listened to music, and drank hot cocoa,” Bertram said. “By the third day, they were a little more restless, so we broke out some of the summer learning books and tried to incorporate some of their school routine.”

According to Oxley, the district is working with cybersecurity advisers and law enforcement to get the technology fully back online.

Oxley said the cyberattack seems to be part of a larger trend.

“Unfortunately, more and more school districts have become victims of ransomware attacks over the past few years, and we are no exception,” he said in Monday’s update.

Kim Spratt, a parent with two children in Hillsdale Community Schools, said that even though her kids are old enough to stay home alone, the closure was still disruptive.

“Defendants shall not assert or attempt to assert any authority over, interfere or attempt to interfere with, participate or attempt to participate in, the operations of the Hillsdale County Republican Party until this court has rendered a final decision on the merits of this case,” Olsaver wrote. Plaintiffs include Leininger, Zoning Board Member Penny Swan, County Clerk Marney Kast, Prosecutor Neal Brady, recently-defeated County Commissioner Kathleen Schmitt, and Bambi Somerlot.

The lawsuit names the HCRP’s original executive committee officers as defendants, namely Daren Wiseley, Jon Paul-Rutan, Lance Lashaway, Josh Gritzmaker, Belle Steier, and Jon Smith.

Smith, the party’s original secretary, said the HCRP’s “America First” leadership plans to hold their county convention Thursday, where party members will elect new leaders. Leininger said his group also plans to hold a county convention the same day.

“I think we’re going to both go with our county conventions, and the state party is going to determine it,” Smith said. “We’ll kind of go from there, but for now, we’re proceeding forward.” said in an email to local party officials. “This current leadership team will conduct [a] convention within 30 days of the Nov. 8, 2022, election.”

Background

The conflict started when the HCRP’s “America First” executive committee officers barred more than 61 local delegates from the August county convention, disavowing them as “Trochky [sic] International Socialists.”

County Commissioner Brent Leininger led an alternate convention at the same time, including those the party leadership had barred from the convention. The state party ruled in favor of the alternate convention on Aug. 19.

Leininger and his group met in an Aug. 25 meeting, where he and other local officials claim to have been voted in as the party’s new leadership. The party’s “America First” executive committee officers refused to yield control.

The Michigan Republican Party endorsed the Hillsdale County Republican Party’s “America First” leadership on Nov. 3, amid the legal fight over county party control.

“The MIGOP [sic] has and will continue to recognize the current Hillsdale GOP leadership,” state party CoChair Meshawn Maddock

Maddock said the state party will not review the dispute any further through the next county convention. She also verified an Aug. 27 letter from state party Chairman Ron Weiser, which recognized the HCRP’s “America First” leadership following weeks of controversy.

“I’m in a weird predicament, because I’m fighting for the common folk, I’m fighting for the little man,” Smith said. “The little man’s telling me, ‘Don’t give up.’ What am I supposed to do, just give up?”

Weiser sent a letter on Aug. 27 saying the state party ruled in favor of the original leadership. Maddock said in an email the letter was “valid and authentic.”

“I was present when it was signed and delivered,” she said.

Leininger’s group sued the party’s original leadership on Oct. 12 to gain control of the party, according to plaintiff attorney Jonathan Lauderbach.

Plaintiffs take issue with an HCRP “America First” executive committee meeting on July 28, in which officers voted to disavow party members before the county convention.

“These guys committed a crime,” Lauderbach said. “They relied on a section of the bylaws that does not apply.”

Olsaver ruled the “America First” faction “illegitimately” removed other committee members to take power in their July 28 meeting.

“They did this in a manner that was both procedurally and substantively deficient,” Olsaver wrote.

Smith said he thinks the lawsuit will only complicate the county convention. He said he is unsure how everything will play out.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen there,” Smith said. “We have two factions and I don’t think there’s any fixing that.”

Community plans donations to nonprofits for Giving Tuesday

By Elyse Apel Opinions Editor

Local nonprofits are gearing up for this year’s Giving Tuesday, a global movement that encourages generosity and giving.

Domestic Harmony and Helping Hands Pregnancy Resource Center are just a few of the many local nonprofit groups that will participate in the Great Give on Nov. 28, an event hosted by the Hillsdale County Community Foundation.

“This day is so important to us because it helps raise a good portion of our unrestricted funds for our annual budget,” said Hannah Jordan, executive director of

Domestic Harmony, a local women’s shelter offering free shelter and services to those experiencing domestic violence.

Helping Hands, another nonprofit participating in the Great Give, is a pregnancy resource center providing services to local women and families in need.

The event is purposefully held after Thanksgiving and shopping events like Black Friday to encourage a spirit of giving, according to a statement from Hillsdale County Community Foundation.

“Giving Tuesday kicks off the charitable season when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving,” the statement said.

Bryce Asberg, Helping Hands’ executive director, said the Great Give encourages the local nonprofits that participate.

“It is an important day because it reminds us of the strong community support for our ministry,” he said.

Both Jordan and Asberg said the funds raised as a part of the Great Give are critical for local nonprofits.

“These funds help us maintain the shelter, staff the shelter 24 hours, seven days a week, pay our utility bills, and provide food to residents for free,” Jordan said. “We also use these funds to help with specific client needs such as steel toe shoes when starting a new job or school shoes for their kids.”

Asberg agreed, and said it allowed Helping Hands to continue providing its services free of charge.

“The generous support of our donors allows us to offer these high-quality services at no charge to our clients,” he said.

Funds raised during last year’s Great Give allowed Helping Hands to pay off the mortgage on its downtown building.

Asberg said Helping Hands is grateful for the community’s support.

“We are humbled by the generous support of our community,” he said.

“People across this county give sacrificially so that we can serve women and men and meet physical and spiritual needs right here in

Hillsdale County.”

From now until noon on Nov. 28, community members have the option to give in advance by dropping off donations at 2 S. Howell St. between 9 a.m. and noon and between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. Community members also have the option to mail donations to P.O Box 276, Hillsdale, MI, 49242, or they can donate online to their favorite local nonprofit on the Hillsdale County Community Foundation website.

On the day of the Great Give, there will be a drivethrough and drop-off options for giving at the Hillsdale United Brethren Church Activity Center, located at 1300 S. Hillsdale Road.