A Rules Review proceeding under Article VII of the RPA Rules is the procedural basis for a complaint made by Barbara Tillman, Benton County Committee chair, against the 2024 RPA State Convention held June 8, 2024, according to the RPA Rules Committee Advisory Opinion written by the RPA Rules Chairman, Bilenda Harris-Ritter released yesterday by the State party. This complaint and subsequent Advisory Opinion seek to set aside changes made by the 2024 State Convention to the RPA Rules and its Platform as well as declare the State Convention “officially” closed—even though that too is contrary to the fact that the State Convention was merely recessed subject to a later re-call.

Upon review of RPA Rules Article VII, you find no mention of the State Convention. You do find that this rule is written specifically to be used in situations involving County and District Committees. It includes the actions to be taken by the State Chairman, members (not delegates) of those two committees, notice, and due process given to all parties mentioned. Likewise, since the Rules clearly state in Article I that the State Convention is the final authority in all party matters, it stands to reason that a person or lower body such as the State Party Chair or the Executive Committee are not empowered with jurisdiction to make a determination whether a State Convention acted improperly in its actions and decisions much less in declaring it officially ended.

Therefore, this Advisory Opinion appears ill conceived, self-serving, and without merit or authority. It is recommended that the Executive Committee work with the State Convention in executing the matters decided by the Convention delegates during the biennial State Convention rather than continuing to find ways to thwart the will of an overwhelming number of grassroots Arkansas’ Republican state delegates who make up this 2024 State Convention.