Illinois U. S. Senate candidate Andy Martin says the Republican National Committee must clamp down on corrupt practices by Illinois Republicans. Martin may file a lawsuit if the abuses do not end immediately. (TWO separate letters follow)
ANDY MARTIN
Republican for U. S. Senator/2010
“He Works for the People of Illinois”
Suite 4406, 30 E. Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611-4723
Toll-free tel. (866) 706-ANDY
Toll-free fax (866) 707-ANDY
Web site: http://www.AndyforUSSenator.com
E-mail: AndyforUSSenator@aol.com
Please donate:
www.AndyforUSSenator.com
Blogs:
www.AndyforUSSenator.com
www.AndyforUSSenator.blogspot.com
www.AndyforUSSenator.wordpress.com
www.MarkKirk.us
August 11, 2009
Reince Priebus, Esq.
General Counsel
RNC
310 First Street
Washington, DC 20003
via fax (202) 863-8654
with copy to:
Mr. Michael Steele
Chairman
RNC
Via fax (202) 863-8820
Re: Direct access to RNC Voter Vault
Dear Attorney Priebus and
Chairman Steele:
For the past six (6) years Andy McKenna, Chairman of the self-styled “Illinois Republican Party, has been harassing my political activity. Unfortunately for Mr. McKenna, since he took over the state party, the party’s public support has continued an accelerated downward slide. Mr. McKenna is poised for yet another round of electoral catastrophe in 2010.
In my opinion 2010 will be a good year nationally for Republicans; it will be another bad year in Illinois due to McKenna’s dirty tricks and corrupt leadership.
McKenna insists on trying to harass and abuse his political adversaries, instead of trying to create a fair and level playing field in the primary, so that all candidates will feel they have been dealt with impartially and be encouraged to support the primary winner.
Last week McKenna was present when his stooges introduced U. S. Senate candidates, and refused to introduce me. (I received 35% of the senate primary vote in 2008; we are running an aggressive campaign which you can follow by e-mail or on our blogs.) As I have indicated in a letter to Mr. McKenna, which is posted on my blogs, McKenna’s dirty tricks are killing Mark Kirk’s candidacy.
Last week I also requested access to the Voter Vault (“VV”) which is apparently maintained by the RNC.
Today I was told it may take a month to secure approvals, while my opponent already has access.
McKenna’s efforts to rig the primary risk running afoul of federal prohibitions on state party activity. McKenna may be trying to skirt federal laws, but there is growing evidence he is breaking federal law in using unlimited resources to back Kirk. To the extent McKenna abuses RNC assets to benefit Kirk, the RNC could also be at risk.
We are probably going to court in the next day or two to resolve potential harassment at Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair.
I wish we could find a mechanism to discipline McKenna’s harassment short of litigation. Ultimately, all of this squabbling is made unavoidable by McKenna’s abuses, but it also hurts the party in the long run. That’s why McKenna’s stewardship has been an unmitigated disaster.
I would like to request direct access to the VV for the State of Illinois, directly through the RNC, and not through any instrumentality under the supervision and control of Andy McKenna.
I know that many Beltway bandits think Mark Kirk is the stronger candidate, and I respect their right to a contrary opinion. Based on my long experience I think Kirk is going to explode and implode (nice trick that) if he wins the primary. With McKenna’s dirty tricks being used to support McKenna, Kirk is doomed.
Please advise me in writing by the close of business today whether, in view of Andy McKenna unethical and unlawful behavior, and relentless harassment of my campaign, the RNC will provide direct access to my campaign for the RNC’s VV.
Please feel free to call if you have any questions.
Respectfully submitted,
ANDY MARTIN
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-------------------#2
ANDY MARTIN
Republican for U. S. Senator/2010
“He Works for the People of Illinois”
Suite 4406, 30 E. Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611-4723
Toll-free tel. (866) 706-ANDY
Toll-free fax (866) 707-ANDY
Web site: http://www.AndyforUSSenator.com
E-mail: AndyforUSSenator@aol.com
Please donate:
www.AndyforUSSenator.com
Blogs:
www.AndyforUSSenator.com
www.AndyforUSSenator.blogspot.com
www.AndyforUSSenator.wordpress.com
www.MarkKirk.us
August 11, 2009
Curt Conrad
Political Director
Illinois Republican Party
320 S. 4th Street
Springfield, IL 52701
via fax (217) 753-4712
Dear Curt:
Thank for you r e-mail and mailed invitation to participate in Republican Day at the Illinois State fair. I also sent Andy McKenna a letter about State fair participation; he has not answered.
It is my impression that McKenna & Co,. are going to try and promote Mark Kirk, and lock me out of any equitable participation in the primary process, including Republican Day at the State Fair. This is a great mistake.
We have already ratcheted up our antagonism to Kirk in response to McKenna’s petty slights and abuses.
Party voters will be turned off by a primary that appears locked and brokered by a handful of Kirk backers. Ironically, Kirk has the most to gain from an honest and open primary. If the primary is vitiated by a McKenna lockout of competing candidates, Kirk will have lost the general election in February 2nd.
Due to a lack of response to an e-mail I sent Pat Brady (who shares an e-mail address with his wife, according to the IRP in Chicago) I gather I am even unwelcome at a reception being held on the evening of the 19th.
What are they afraid of? Is Kirk that weak, that delicate, that subject to being undermined? May be.
Now to the State Fair.
1. What are the speaking arrangements for the statewide candidates? Are we going to see the same gig we saw last week in Chicago where Kirk was given a bogus title to avoid allowing his opponents to speak? Or the use of McKenna’s straw man candidate, Eric Wallace, who was allowed to speak? (We will shortly be filing a lawsuit over that event.)
2. I can’t have someone in Springfield on the 13th. If this is an artificial condition to lock out candidates, I’ll just have to deal with it. Unlike Kirk, who is the cronyism candidate, I am the insurgent candidate, so we operate a tighter ship. If you are going to allow candidates to participate in planning by phone or e-mail, please put me down for a speaking slot with the other senate candidates, as well as a place to distribute literature, etc.
3. I would also like to be considered for participation in the DuQuoin State fair.
I am willing to work with the IRP if the IRP conducts a fair and open primary process with no dirty tricks and no bogus endorsements by Tolbert Chisum. If not, we will have to assume a posture which I would rather avoid, but obviously cannot avoid if the events last week are any predictor of future action.
I stand on what I previously noted above. Mark Kirk has the most to gain from a primary that is perceived as fair, open and impartial. If you treat him like a hothouse flower, the voters will too.
I am always available to you by phone, fax, e-mail. Please call if you have any questions.
With all best wishes,
ANDY
AM:sp
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