Heuer elected to lead local Republicans
CHESTERFIELD — Kelli Heuer will guide the Madison County Republican Party as chairperson after turning back a challenge from Lisa Rinker.
Republicans met Saturday at the Millcreek Civic Center to elect a new leadership team. All four positions were contested.
Heuer received 118 votes to 70 for Rinker.
Rick Gardner, a current Madison County Commissioner, will serve as vice chairman with Kira Wilkinson as secretary and Nick Freeman as treasurer.
The party has been dealing with a disgruntled group of party members unhappy with the leadership.
Russ Willis, who served as chairman for 12 years, did not seek re-election.
'Many of us remember the lean years where Republicans couldn't win county offices,' Willis said before the vote. 'Now Republicans hold every county office. Voters recognize good government and continue to elect Republicans.'
Before the vote, Willis said anyone who was disruptive during the meeting would be asked to leave the building and could be escorted out.
Former state party chairman Kyle Hoffer made the nominating speech for Heuer.
Hoffer said Heuer has the experience and skills to perform the job as chairperson.
'I have observed her in action over the past decade,' he said. 'Kelli was among the first calls we made to get things done.
'Being a county chairman is one of the toughest political jobs,' Hoffer continued. 'The job is to win elections.'
He referenced the constant level of dissatisfaction in Madison County and said that Heuer will fight to elect Republicans.
'She will not be intimidated by anyone,' Hoffer said.
Heuer said she has been involved with the Republican Party for 20 years and that she knows what it takes to lead.
'As vice chairman since 2021, I have knocked on doors, make telephone calls and raised funds to elect Republicans,' she said. 'I have the strengths and experience for leadership.
'I have assembled a strong, cross-generational team,' Heuer added. 'We will modernize our approach and strengthen the party infrastructure. The time for division is over; the time for action is now.'
Rinker was introduced by Madison County Sheriff John Beeman.
'When I ran for sheriff, the party structure was backing another candidate, but we won,' he said. 'Lisa will bring the same energy and intensity and unite the organization into something lasting.'
Beeman said Rinker would not work for a select few candidates and would build the party from the grassroots.
'It will be a party that represents we the people,' he said.
Rinker opened by asking the assembled precinct people if the Republican Party was broken.
She said her team was running on the ideals of unity, communication and growth.
'We will support all candidates and won't make endorsements in primary elections,' Rinker said.
She said the party will have a Facebook page that is open to everyone and will respect all opinions.
'When it comes to growth, I want to return trust in the party leadership,' Rinker said. 'We will work to increase party membership and increase voter turnout in the primaries.'
She said she plans to raise money for the party to have a local headquarters location.
'I'm a proven leader,' Rinker said, 'that will bring a new and better path for the party and restore the Republican Party to what it once was. The party will no longer be broken.'
Before the vote, the precinct committeemen and vice committeemen defeated a proposed amendment to the rules that would have allow people removed from the positions to cast a provisional ballot.
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