Special Conference Call Meeting Today Regarding SCGOP Chairman’s Salary

GREENVILLE, S.C. | JOSHUA COOK | JUNE 18, 2013

A special conference call meeting is scheduled tonight to discuss Chairman Matt Moore’s compensation package. Executive committeemen Jim Lee has requested information prior to the meeting but has not received any information.

“As of this update I have requested but have not yet received any additional information or details regarding the proposed compensation package,” Lee said.

Lee also objects to the timing and “venue” of the meeting.

“I have expressed in the strongest possible terms my objection to conducting this very short notice SCGOP State Executive Committee meeting via conference call,” Lee said.

This way of conducting business via conference call at the SCGOP is not uncommon.

According to inside sources, the SCGOP Executive Committee was asked to approve the $340K “loan” transaction via conference call. No records of discussions of the transaction appear in SCGOP Executive Committee meeting minutes.

Sources told the Post that the $340 loan was sold to the Executive Committee as a “line of credit,” not as a mortgage, “interest only loan” were the words used on this call.Two days later Chad Connelly signed a mortgage to pay the legal fees for the ballot debacle of 2012.

Jim Lee makes a a great point that this important business matter should not be handled over the phone but in person with all the details of the compensation package present.

On June 8, 2013, Matt Moore was named Chairman by acclamation, but not without controversy.

As reported previously, right after Chad Connelly resigned as Chairman there was a committeeman and committeewomen for SC who were ready with the nomination and second of Matt Moore; then there was a motion to close the nomination. “It was like I blinked my eyes and Matt was the new Chairman,” an insider told the Post.

Greenville County executive committeeman Jim Lee and Chairman Betty Poe were not notified about Connelly’s resignation nor did they have ample time to prepare a nominee for the meeting–it was not on the meeting’s agenda. It was clearly a prepared nominee in order to make Matt Moore the new SCGOP Chairman.

Concerned Republicans wonder if Matt Moore has already signed a contract with the SCGOP and they are trying to officially approve it “after the fact” via conference call.

They are also concerned if the SCGOP can afford to pay Moore a large salary while the Party struggles to pay off its $300K+ debt.

The simple truth is the executive committee needs complete and accurate information in order to make the right decisions for our Party. One thing is certain, Republicans throughout the state want more transparency. They do not want the SCGOP to conduct business behind closed doors.

If I were Jim I would want to know who is controlling the mute button on this call.

Internal email sent by Chairman Betty Poe -

An Update from Jim Lee

GCRP Executive Committeeman Update – June 17, 2013

I received the following notice today around 11:40am from the SCGOP:

State Chairman, Matt Moore, would like to call [has called] a special Conference Call Meeting tomorrow evening, June 18, 2013 at 7:30 PM. The agenda is discussion and ratification of the State Finance Committee’s compensation package as discussed at the June 8, 2013 Executive Committee Meeting.

As of this update I have requested but have not yet received any additional information or details regarding the proposed compensation package.

I have expressed in the strongest possible terms my objection to conducting this very short notice SCGOP State Executive Committee meeting via conference call. I do not believe that a conference call is the most appropriate venue for a discussion of the agenda items scope and importance, especially given that I have not received in advance for consideration the agenda content to be discussed. There are a whole host of relevant questions, from the SCGOP financial status to job descriptions and accountabilities, which should carefully be considered before moving forward to discussion of any compensation package.

Jim Lee
State Executive Committeeman
Greenville County Republican Party

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