Members of the Campbell County Republican Party have been at odds with one another since February; most recently, Chair Anna Zinkhon has asked nine party members to resign.
In the letter Zinkhon sent on May 12, she said that the two meetings held in March and April violated the Republican Party of Kentucky rules, which was confirmed by party Director of Local Development Elizabeth “Hunter” Whitaker.
The letter said the meetings resulted in “malfeasance and harmed the good name of the party” and continues that it is in the “best interest” of the party to resolve the violation promptly, asking the members to resign within 10 days of the notice.
The Campbell County Republican Party voted by secret ballot to remove Zinkhon and Treasurer Stephen Cunningham during its special meeting on April 13.
The party needed 2/3 of their quorum, or 2/3 of the 33 precinct captains who attended the meeting, to vote to oust the pair. Of the 33 that voted, all voted “yes” to oust Cunningham, and all 33 voted “yes” to remove Zinkhon.
“I think a lot of people were at the meeting who are being misinformed,” Zinkhon said. “I hope that when they see that this is wrong, that they would have more faith. And we’re trying to do the right thing.”
The precinct captains who received the notice to resign included members directly involved with the March and April meetings: the party’s Secretary Martie Bessler, Youth Chair Jessica Neal, Election Integrity Chair Tammy Nolan, Jerry Gearding, and the five committee members that signed the March meeting agenda, Virgil Manzione, Art Kunath, Harriet Arrasmith, Jerry Olson, and Kim Zimmerman.
Nolan said no one who received the letter plans to resign.
“She’s already got a letter from me stating that I will not resign my position,” Nolan said. “None of us who she sent letters to are resigning. We are not stepping down, and she is not taking away our first amendment right.”
Zinkhon said she received “nasty emails” from Gearding and Nolan but hadn’t heard back from anyone else who received the letter.
The members of the party who participated in the meetings to vote out Zinkhon and Cunningham have filed an appeal with the Republican Party of Kentucky’s 4th District against the meeting violation determination by the Republican Party of Kentucky.
In an email to party leaders, Whitaker said the vote to remove party leaders on April 13 wouldn’t stand.
“There have been several disputes regarding the meeting minutes submitted, as well as the legitimacy of the meeting held on April 13, 2023,” Whitaker writes. “After review by appropriate parties, it was determined that per RPK Rules 4.02 and 4.03, only the committee chairman has the authority to issue a meeting call. Because the chairman did not call the meeting held on April 13, nor did the chairman conduct the meeting, the business carried out is invalid and cannot be filed with the state party as submitted.”
Nolan said they heard back from the 4th District on May 17, and that they have acknowledged the appeal. She said the 4th District would then call a meeting to be held within 30 days.
Gearding said the 4th District will hold a hearing and they will be able to go before them and plead their case.
“I will tell you with the appeal, we provide all the information proving that Anna was notified ahead of time of the two meetings that we had,” Gearding said.
Nolan said 33 people voted to remove the chair, which shows that something is wrong within the party.
“Something needs to change, and for someone who says they are a leader with the Republican Party and has 33 of her fellow precinct captains want her out, but she refuses to step down—that’s a clear sign,” Nolan said.
At the end of the letter calling for members to resign, it said should they choose not to resign, a 30 days notice is given of action for removal at the next meeting.
Gearding said Zinkhon was holding the party “hostage” because she has yet to call a meeting this year.
“She’s not going to call a meeting because she knows we have enough members to remove her,” he said.
Zinkhon said she didn’t know when the next Campbell County Republican Party meeting would be held.
“I get all this criticism from different ones; ‘we haven’t had a meeting,'” Zinkhon said. “Well, how can I have a regular meeting with all the antics?”