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.

“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.”

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 Co-Chair Meshawn Maddock 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.”

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. 

 

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. 

“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.”