In a letter to Constitution Party Leadership the Election Division of the Oregon Secretary of State, "hereby determines that Jack Brown is the recognized chair of the [Constitution] Party. Accordingly, the Elections Division will only accept Candidate Filing -- Minor Political Party forms (SEL 110) certified by party officers that Roger Shipman notified the Division of on August 8, 2022, which are:

• Jack Alan Brown, Jr., Chair
• Robert (Bob) Eckstrom, Vice Chair
• Roger Shipman, Secretary
• Angi Vandenbos, Treasurer

The letter summarized the internal party dispute. "In June 2022 the Division received a written complaint against three members of the Party’s leadership including Jack Brown. The complaint alleged that the Party violated Oregon election law by not providing proper notice regarding nominating conventions and committee meetings. The Division opened an investigation into the allegations. On August 4, 2022, the Division issued its determination that the Party violated Oregon election law by failing to provide sufficient and timely notice of a nominating convention. Accordingly, the Division advised the Party to update its bylaws to comply with ORS 248.009(1) and to schedule another nominating convention or delegate selecting convention to appropriately nominate candidates to the 2022 general election.

"On August 8, 2022, Roger Shipman filed an updated list of Party officers with the Division as required by ORS 248.009(2). On August 12, 2022 Jack Brown filed updated Party bylaws with the Division as required by ORS 248.009(1)."

The party held a second convention in late August.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

After the Division issued a decision in the investigation discussed above, a group of Party members attempted to become the recognized Party leadership (“Blansett’s group”). Blansett’s group purported to hold a nominating convention to nominate candidates and update the Party’s bylaws. On August 22, 2022 Lucian Blansett filed bylaws reportedly adopted by party members the previous day. Blansett also filed three SEL 110 forms indicating that the group nominated Michael Stettler to the office of US Senator, Paul Romero to the office of Governor, and Caleb Abel to the office of State Representative, District 1. On August 29, 2022, the Division received an SEL 110 indicating that Blansett’s group nominated Thomas Zoll to the office of US Representative, 4th District.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-08-31 06:21:12

Last Update: 2022-08-30 16:06:15