Times Virginian CORRECTION; official response by Appomattox County Republican Committee

CORRECTION

The Times Virginian inadvertently printed a press release on Page 1 of the April 5 edition titled “Kevin Bailey thanks 192 Appomattox voters at Mass Meeting” without identifying the source as Kevin Bailey’s political campaign. The content of the press release does not reflect the opinion of the Times Virginian.

Official response by Karen Angulo, Chairman of the Appomattox County Republican Committee

The Appomattox Republican Committee held a Mass meeting on Friday, March 31, to elect delegates and alternate delegates to the May 20th convention. At the convention, delegates will elect the Republican nominee for our state House District 56.

Mass meetings typically go smoothly, using a fair process to select who will be delegates and alternates. Unfortunately, that is not what happened. Candidate Kevin Bailey, who had done an admirable job of signing up a large number of people, succeeded in getting only his supporters elected as convention delegates. Several other motions were made to use random selection methods but these were rejected. The entire Appomattox Republican committee and extended community were effectively shut out (called “slating”).

The disenfranchisement of the very people who have worked long and hard to get republicans elected is short-sighted at best. I also worry about how the conduct and outcome of this meeting will divide our community and alienate many people who for the first time came out to participate.

There’s more to this in the current issue of the Times Virginian newspaper. Support local journalism by purchasing the issue at a local newsstand or subscribing at www.timesvirginian.com/subscriber_services to receive the print edition or view the full article in the e-edition version.