Va. GOP Denies Loudoun Appeal on Nomination Process

Leaders of the Republican Party of Virginia have rejected an appeal from the Loudoun County GOP concerning its nominating procedures, pushing the local party a step closer to being forced to reopen its process.

Paul Protic, chairman of the Loudoun Republican Committee, had appealed a ruling by the state party's general counsel, who determined last month that the local party's document, or "call," outlining the procedures for a June 9 convention did not follow state rules. Among other things, the Loudoun plan violated rules on who is allowed to participate in choosing nominees, the state GOP lawyer said.

An appeals committee that included the state party chairman, Ed Gillespie, and other party leaders denied the appeal after a meeting Thursday.

"They can reissue the call or they can do one last appeal," state party spokesman Shaun Kenney said.

That final appeal, if pursued, would be made to the central committee of the state GOP, a body of scores of Republican leaders from across the state that is scheduled to meet in June, Kenney said. He said the body can meet earlier if enough members decide to do so.

A Republican Party official in Loudoun said local party leaders were waiting to see details of the rejection of their appeal before deciding how to proceed.

If local party officials issue new election rules, it would mean that additional Republican candidates could join races to become the party's nominees. The GOP nomination in most of the county supervisor races is uncontested at this point.

Issuing new rules also could affect whether the local party sticks with its plans for a convention to choose nominees. Additional convention delegates would have at least a week to sign up if a new call for a convention were issued.

Just who would be able to take part in the convention remains undecided, however, because some election districts already have more people filing to be delegates than there are slots. Under current arrangements, a meeting will take place the day of the convention to vote on which delegates can participate.

The Loudoun Republican Committee could decide instead to have a firehouse primary, in which a larger number of Republican voters could cast ballots for candidates, although committee members rejected that option in the fall.