Twinsburgbulletin.com - 'New Republicans' look to replace party leader

by Eric Marotta

News Leader Editor

The election of precinct committee persons is often an unremarkable affair, as the seats usually go uncontested.

Not so this year in Summit County, where state Sen. Kevin Coughlin said he is leading a faction seeking to oust Republican Party Chairman Alex Arshinkoff.

Arshinkoff, who could not be reached for comment for this story, has served as the county Republican Party chairman since 1978. He has been a member of the Ohio Republican State Central and Executive Committee since 1988, and was a member of the George Bush for President National Steering Committee, according to the University of Akron, which established an internship in his name in 1995.

Cuyahoga Falls Mayor Don Robart, whom Coughlin is challenging for the committee seat in Cuyahoga Falls Precinct 3-B, said it is highly unusual to have any contested races for central committee. However, Robart discounted Coughlin's effort to find new leadership for the party.

"He's full of hot air," Robart said.

Normally, precinct committee persons have few duties other than to appoint poll workers to represent their respective parties. But Coughlin has announced that his organization, the New Summit County Republicans, have recruited 312 individuals committed to taking control of the party's central committee, which comprises about 470 precinct committee members from across the county.

While most of those individuals are uncontested for re-election, dozens of other seats are contested races, with New Republicans challenging current committee members.

"We've got 170 contested precincts," Coughlin said Jan. 10, adding the balance of his 312 recruits are uncontested incumbents who "have committed to voting for a new chairman."

"With 236 votes needed to vote for a new chairman, to have 312 candidates who are committed to change is an excellent place to start," Coughlin said.

The New Republicans organization in its Web site claims Arshinkoff has failed to effectively challenge Democrats in recent elections, and asserts he is living an "opulent lifestyle" at the party's expense, among other allegations.

After the election, Coughlin said the real showdown will come when the party, with Arshinkoff still in charge, will meet for an organizational meeting some time shortly after the March 4 primary election.

At that meeting, according to Coughlin, the first vote put to the hundreds of precinct committee members in attendance will be to approve the local party bylaws. Coughlin said the New Republicans will propose bylaws that will allow the central committee, with its hundreds of members, to vote directly for the party chairman and make final decisions on endorsements, among other powers Coughlin said are currently reserved for the party chairman.

Coughlin also said his group will propose measures that would open up party financial records to public scrutiny and establish a board of control that will approve expenditures of more than $250.

Robart said he wasn't sure whether the New Republicans can change the bylaws and assume control as Coughlin described. He noted it is possible to take control of the central committee -- and thus the party -- with a 236-member majority, but added many of the contested committee seats are held by individuals who are long-standing loyalists.

"These people have been established," Robart said, adding he feels the New Republicans would, at best, win about half the races.

Coughlin declined to name individuals who may serve in leadership roles, including that of county party chairman.

E-mail: emarotta@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3171