From the Columbus Dispatch:
Trump-backed Timken prevails as GOP chair over incumbent Borges
LEWIS CENTER – Jane Timken emerged as chairwoman of the Ohio Republican Party this afternoon in a victory for the forces supporting President-elect Donald Trump.
After the state central committee failed in two ballots to deliver a majority to either the Trump-backed Timken or incumbent Matt Borges, backed by Gov. John Kasich, a backroom deal was struck.
The arrangement made Timken the chairwoman while Borges dropped out of the race and will serve as chairman emeritus, a largely honorary position. Timken was elected to lead the party by acclimation (sic) in a voice vote.
In both rounds of voting, the state central committee split 33 to 32 in favor of Timken over Borges.
With 34 votes needed to win, the panel recessed and operatives worked the hallways and meeting rooms near the conference room north of Columbus to break the deadlock.
The bitterly contested matchup drew national attention as a clash of Trump against a top rival, Kasich, who essentially secured the chairmanship for Borges in 2013.
The stakes were underscored Thursday as Trump called several central committee members personally. Today, each member was handed a copy of a personal letter from Trump to Timken.
… Regardless of today’s results, another clash could be coming in two years , starting with an effort to unseat committee members in next year’s May GOP primary.
This is a stinging rebuke to Governor John Kasich, and it’s richly deserved.
Here’s the full email annuoncement from Tom Zawistowski of the We The People Convention and other Tea Party organizing efforts:
Timken Defeats Borges in Dramatic Upset for Ohio Republican Chair
AKRON – Tom Zawistowski, President of the We the People Convention, today congratulated Jane Timken for her dramatic upset victory over incumbent Matt Borges for the powerful position of Ohio Republican Party Chairperson. The original vote was 33 for Timken and 32 for Borges with one State Central Committee member not in attendance. A total of 34 votes was required for either of the candidates to win outright. After a second vote, which again ended up 33-32 in favor of Timken, a recess was taken. Before a third vote could be taken, it was clear that Borges could not get the votes to win and a deal was made for Timken to be the new Ohio Republican Party Chairperson while Borges would step down and become “Chairman Emeritus.”
Zawistowski said “This is a HUGE victory for those of us in Ohio who voted for Donald Trump in November and who are sick and tired of crony and corrupt politics. Jane Timken promises to end the mafia like tactics of Kasich and Borges and restore the integrity of the Ohio Republican Party by following its own by-laws, holding fair elections, using the Republican National Party Platform as measuring stick for anyone wanting to run as a Republican, and serving the needs of the County Republican Parties who have been mostly ignored in recent years. The bottom line is the the Ohio Republican Party will act as political party again instead of a tool to serve a few powerful elected officials. That is what American citizens want, a party that represents them and their needs and not just the needs of the rich and powerful. We wish Jane Timken all the best in her new position, but she can be assured that the Ohio TEA Party will hold her accountable for her actions going forward just as we did with Borges.”
This was a proxy battle between Republican President-Elect Donald Trump who supported Timken and Ohio Governor John Kasich who supported Borges. With the defeat, Kasich’s position in Ohio political circles is severely reduced as a lame duck Governor who has now lost control of the Ohio Republican Party. Neither Kasich nor Borges supported Trump for President and they were accused of actually withholding ORP resources from the Trump campaign in Ohio in order to make him lose. Borges staffers even publicly embarrassed Trump Ohio Chairman Bob Paduchik weeks before the election causing Paduchik to remove Borges from having anything to do with the campaign. Paduchick has since become the Co-Chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) which further complicated the issue of Borges remaining ORP Chairman. Timken won in large part because Republican State Central Committee members could not see how the Ohio Republican Party could operate successfully going forward while being at odds not just with the Republican President but also with the Republican National Committee.
Holding Timken accountable is necessary, and certainly not an empty promise, as today’s vote effectively hold Borges and Governor Kasich accountable — and as having failed the people of Ohio, the vast majority of whom are decidedly center-right.
This has been a long, long time coming.
I hope the arrogant punks who served as ORP-supporting apparatchiks and flunkies and who ridiculed Tea Party Patriots on Primary Election Day in 2010 and helped the ORP — which is NOT supposed to be in the business of taking sides — brazenly interfere in what was supposed to be an open election process, while sending a clear message that they would never again stop unless they themselves were stopped — are paying attention.
Well, they’ve been stopped. How does it feel to be on the wrong side of history, punks?
I hope we get to see the roll call for the Central Committee vote. If anyone has access to it or a published link, let me know.