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News SC Politics Jeff Mattox Calls for Resignations of Kershaw Co. Sheriff, KCGOP & SCGOP Chairs
News SC Politics Jeff Mattox Calls for Resignations of Kershaw Co. Sheriff, KCGOP & SCGOP Chairs
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28 July 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Statement by Jeff Mattox of Kershaw County, South Carolina
Elgin, SC - Thursday, July 28, 2011 - Kershaw County GOP Chairman Chris Oviatt is planning a conference call tonight at 8:00 pm in what appears to be an attempt to vote me out of the party or to at least vote me out of my position as co-chair. The notification email sent out by Chairman Oviatt only describes it as an "emergency meeting." After information relayed to me by the chairman and the attacks made upon my character and my honor and by Kershaw County elected officials and both county and state GOP officials, I have been fully informed as to the nature of the meeting.
The bylaws do not appear to allow for obtaining a legal quorum by conference call and only describe in-person meetings at a specific time and place as being allowed. There also does not appear to be a mechanism for voting me out of the party since there would have to be a reorganization of the precinct club which cannot be called by the chairman unless there is a vacancy.
The executive committee meeting, the email states, is being done this way to specifically prevent members of the press from attending and obviously, although unstated, to keep the public at large from attending the proceedings that have always been open to the general public.
The conference call strategy by the chairman seems intended to keep me isolated from the rest of the executive committee and allow the chairman to cut off members who may want to speak up in support of me. I consider this to be a cowardly move by the chairman and in defiance of the bylaws.
I must also report that, through a third party, Chairman Oviatt offered me a "deal." The deal offered was for me to step down as co-chair and I could keep my precinct executive committee seat but I would have to "keep quiet" for a while.
If I accepted this deal, and this is where things get really strange, the third party told me that the media attacks would be called off. The third party told me that he asked who was pushing the media attacks. Chris Oviatt told him that Democrat SC Senator Vincent Sheheen was responsible and that if I cooperated, the attacks would "die down." Apparently this is how the "powers that be" deal with "small people" like me. They do not seem to care about party as much as they do power. Politics definitely makes for strange bedfellows in this state.
I am not a strange bedfellow. I am just a regular citizen. I am not an elected official. Judging from the people who have viciously attacked me, I obviously do not appear to have powerful politicians of either party as my friends.
I have, however, chosen to participate at what are the lowest levels in the party structure of the Republican Party. I do not get paid for my political work as some party members do. It is all voluntary. I have worked hard and successfully to get other citizens of Kershaw County involved in the party and to work to elect good people to office.
It appears, however, that there is a hysterical fear among many in this county of regular, law abiding, patriotic citizens like me actually daring to participate in the party. I have been savagely maligned in the press by a local sheriff and other elected officials attempting to stir up a frenzy of fear and hatred against me for merely clicking on a "like" button on Facebook.com.
Sheriff Jim Matthews has unfairly and illogically compared me to extremists and criminals. He has acted in such a manner as to portray me as a threat to the citizens of this county when anyone who knows me will tell you just the opposite.
Sheriff Jim Matthews has abused his office and I am demanding now, as a regular, common citizen, that he resign from the office of sheriff for his shameful and disgraceful efforts to destroy one solitary man on the most ridiculous pretense imaginable.
I also call on Kershaw County Republican Chairman Chris Oviatt to resign his office for likewise attempting, in an obviously coordinated effort to destroy one man who has properly and diligently worked to have a voice in the political structure of the Kershaw County GOP.
In addition, I call on South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Chad Connelly to resign from his office for also seeking to destroy the reputation of a common citizen by his calling for my resignation based on nothing whatsoever while he says NOTHING on the matter of the Lt. Governor, who has ADMITTED to criminally breaking the law and who faces possible further prosecution depending on the results of an upcoming grand jury. It looks as if the good ol' boys are still looking after each other and the "little people" as they seem to consider us get stepped on if we get in their way.
I, as a common man, have felt the boots of political officials and officers of the law grinding into my face--for what? I have done nothing wrong yet have been subjected to abuse as if I have committed terrible acts. If they cannot arrest me, then why do they expend so much effort to publicly malign me by using the power and prestige of their offices to, in the most outlandish and bizarre behavior I have ever witnessed, falsely accuse me of being a terrorist or worse?
It should be obvious to all that my right to free speech is being denied by corrupt public officials using their offices in the efforts to intimidate and publicly humiliate. It comes not as an actual law passed on everyone but the effect and the violation of principle is the same when such efforts are applied to just one man or to a million people.
I appeal to my fellow citizens here in Kershaw County and the proud State of South Carolina to come to my aid and stand by me.
I am not begging you to do this. I do not feel that anyone owes anything to me. I do not beg when I ask this because the corrupt powers in this county and this state are not going to stop with me. I am asking you to stand by me because the next time this happens they may be coming after you and your family.
An honorable and just society does not stand for such abuse heaped on law abiding citizens by public servants. Please do your duty and stand up for the rule of law, equality under the law, and the concepts of honor and patriotism. Please stand with me to protect the right of free speech for all of us without harassment by public officials.
Contact:
Jeff Mattox
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