The South Dakota Republican Party has new state leadership.

There are also new leaders in counties around the state.  Will this new leadership bring unity to the party?

The new state leader, Craig Lawrence is the former owner/partner of Lawrence and Schiller is saying he wants to “listen”.  He and other leaders are suggesting they want to bring unity to the Republican Party.

Taken at face value, those leaders who are launching their “unity tours” could go a lot farther in a hurry if they “put their money where their mouth is”, so to speak (no disrespect intended).

A quick look at some recent history could give some cause for skepticism:

The firm in which Mr. Lawrence was a partner/owner is the firm that received millions of dollars from the state over the past few years.  That doesn’t necessarily disqualify him even though many are suspicious of the relationship between his political contributions and the lucrative contracts with the state.  It’s just history that makes some people a bit apprehensive.

Sara Frankenstein is the new secretary.  Ms. Frankenstein is the attorney who represents Speaker of the House, Brian Gosh and the Pennington County Republican Party, who are suing fellow Republican Stephanie Strong.  Conservatives who have watched this suit agree that it is an action of vindictiveness, revenge and harassment because Strong DARED to hold Gosh accountable to the rule of law.

Elected Treasurer is Justin Bell, is an attorney/lobbyist.  His firm represents, among many others,  Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. who manufactures the “morning after” pill.  They also Lobby for the South Dakota State Medical Association, who stood side by side with abortion doctor, Marvin Buehner to support abortion in South Dakota.  That’s not exactly the kind of resume that excites conservatives.

The new Pennington County Republican leadership team has been promoting unity in the party as well.  All of this talk about unity is a good thing.  Unity would be a good thing… IF it is based on the principles clearly expounded in the State Republican Party Platform.

So what could make conservatives believe that “unity” means gathering together around the Republican Platform, rather than a nice way to tell conservatives to “sit down and shut up”?

I have a great idea!!

The State leadership team and the Pennington County Republican leadership team should join together and make a clear, formal, written request to Speaker Gosh and his attorney to withdraw their motion against Stephanie Strong.  That might make their cries for unity a bit more believable.

If State and County Republican leaders are serious about unity, they need to end the harrassment and disenfranchisement of conservatives.  The dismissal of the action against Strong is where they need to start.

***Gordon Howie is a nationally syndicated author, host of Liberty Today TV and CEO of Life and Liberty Media***

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