2012 Idaho Republican Convention
The Idaho GOP Convention, held at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls this weekend, (June 21-23) was the best attended State Convention in recent history. At the convention, 24 of Idaho’s 44 counties including, Madison, Jefferson, Fremont and Bonneville received a “5-Star Award” plaque presented to each chairman by U.S. Senator Jim Risch. One of the five criteria needed to earn the award was to fill every precinct with an elected committee leader. Not only did Madison County fill every precinct, but it was the first time ever the county had more than one individual running for the same precinct leader position. Madison County Chair, Elaine King, attributes that success in part to the increase in interest in politics following Idaho’s first Republican Presidential Caucus. “After the caucus, several people approached me about getting more involved in the party.”
“Increased attendance at this year’s state convention mirrored other great Republican turnouts in Madison County,” she added. “At the GOP Primary in May, 63.7% of registered Republicans in Madison County came out to vote. And for the first time, during our county’s reorganizational meeting last month, we had to hold elections to determine who would be Madison’s nine voting delegates to the State Convention in Twin Falls.”
At the Twin Falls GOP State Convention newly elected state officers included an Eastern Idahoan woman, Cindy Siddoway, from Jefferson County, as the state’s GOP National Committeewoman. Other elected officers included State GOP President, Barry Peterson, and incumbents Mike Matthews and Todd Hatfield as 1st and 2nd Vice Chair.
The State Convention also nominated and approved the 32 delegates and 32 alternates who will attend the National GOP Convention in Tampa, Florida in August. A new platform plank was presented and approved along with two rule changes and several resolutions.
(For more details of the new platform, rules, and resolutions please contact me)
Elaine K King
MCR Chair
356-4419