Latest news with #MadisonCountyRepublicanParty
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Daniels replaces Willis on county Election Board
ANDERSON — There has been a change in the makeup of the Madison County Election Board. Kelli Heuer, the newly elected chairperson of the Madison County Republican Party, has removed former chairman Russ Willis from the board. Willis had served as chairman for 12 years. Heuer announced Monday that she has named Michele Daniels as an interim Republican Party board member. Since being named chairperson, Heuer has said she is committed to building a stronger, more unified Republican Party, according to a press release. 'I'm excited to appoint Michele Daniels to this position,' Heuer said. 'She is a lifelong Republican and a dedicated community member. 'She will be instrumental in bringing a collaborative spirit and a strong commitment to fairness, respect, and transparency,' she added. Heuer said Daniels will serve on the Election Board until a long-term appointment is made. Daniels joins Madison County Clerk Linda Smith and Democrat Tim Lanane on the board.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
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.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rinker wants to make change in Madison County GOP operations
ANDERSON — Lisa Rinker wants to make changes in how the Madison County Republican Party operates with an emphasis on communication. Rinker is running for county chairwoman against Kelli Heuer to replace Russ Willis, who is not seeking a fourth term. Current Madison County Commissioner Rick Gardner is running to serve as Heuer's vice chairman. He formerly served on the county council and two terms as county auditor. The party caucus is set for March 1 at 9:30 a.m. at a location to be determined. Rinker ran in the 2024 primary, losing to incumbent John Richwine for a seat on the Madison County Board of County Commissioners. 'After the primary, I talked to a lot of people who were blocked from the Republican Party (Facebook) page,' she said. 'It's extremely difficult to run an effective campaign without support from the party. 'I wanted to continue to be involved and make significant changes to the party organization,' Rinker said. 'I want party unity, and there shouldn't be factions in the party. Everyone should fell they are involved.' She wants to unify the party and bring new voices to the GOP organization. 'I want to encourage strong candidates who feel like they're a part of the party,' Rinker said. She wants to see more precinct committeemen elected and not have people appointed who don't live in the precinct. 'The committeemen are supposed to know their precincts the best,' Rinker said. 'You can't have a strong party unless you work with the party workers.' She was surprised during her campaign in 2024 to learn that there is no Young Republican organization in the county. Rinker said every person running for a Republican Party nomination "should hear from the party chairman to know the guidelines and rules of the party.' She said it's important that the party have a headquarters location included on a list of priorities. 'I am optimistic going into the caucus,' Rinker said. 'I'm working hard to get support from the precinct committeemen and vice committeemen." She is running with John Aukerman, who could serve as vice chairman. 'I reached out to John,' Rinker said. 'We share the same vision for the party.' Aukerman, a strong supporter of the Madison County Tea Party, currently serves on the Anderson Township Advisory Board. 'I got to know John through the Tea Party,' Rinker said. 'We both want to strive for fairness, respect and how we treat other people. Gardner in an announcement said he has been involved with the Republican Party for more than 15 years. 'I am committed to serving Madison County in the leadership role of vice chair to make a positive impact,' he said in a press release. 'We have a great responsibility and opportunity to continue to grow the party, welcome new members and collaborate with fellow Republicans to serve.'
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New leadership on tap for Madison County Republicans
Jan. 30—ANDERSON — There will be a change in leadership within the Madison County Republican Party this year. After 12 years as chairman of the local party, Russ Willis announced Wednesday he would not seek a fourth term. kAmz6==: w6F6C[ H9@ 92D 366? G:46 492:CH@>2? D:?46 a_a'[ 92D 2??@F?465 D96 :D D66A2:8?D E92E 92G6 H@? =@42=[ DE2E6 2?5 ?2E:@?2= C246D[" w6F6C D2:5 :? >26?E] "|J G2DE 6IA6C:6?46 :? 8C2DDC@@ED @C82?:K:?8[ A@=:E:42= 7F?5C2:D:?8[ 6G6?E A=2??:?8 2?5 C6=2E:@?D9:A 3F:=5:?8 >26 E96 >@C6 BF2=:7:65 42?5:52E6 7@C 492:CH@>2?]"k^Am kAm%96 #6AF3=:42? !2CEJ AC64:?4E 4@>>:EE66>6? 2?5 G:46 AC64:?4E 4@>>:EE66>6? H:== 82E96C @? |2C49 ' E@ 6=64E E96 =6256CD9:A E62>[ H9:49 H:== :?4=F56 D64C6E2CJ 2?5 EC62DFC6C]k^Am kAm(:==:D[ fa[ D2:5 96 H2?ED E@ DA6?5 >@C6 E:>6 H:E9 9:D 72>:=J]k^Am kAmw6 92D 366? 24E:G6 :? E96 A2CEJ 7@C cb J62CD DE2CE:?8 2D 2 AC64:?4E 4@>>:EE66>6?[ 42>A2:8? >2?286C 7@C D6G6C2= 42?5:52E6D 2?5 A2CEJ 492:C>2?]k^Am kAm"x'G6 D66? E96 #6AF3=:42? DEC2:89E E:46D E96 ?F>36C @7 '_ J62CD 28@[" (:==:D D2:5] "#6AF3=:42?D 92G6 H@? 6G6CJ 4@F?EJ @77:46 :? E96 =2DE EH@ 6=64E:@?D]"k^Am kAm(:==:D D2:5 H96? 96 H2D 6=64E65 E@ 2 E9:C5 E6C> :? a_a'[ 96 H@F=5 ?@E D662?@E96C E6C>]k^Am kAm"|J =:76 D4965F=6 92D E@E2==J C6G@=G65 2C@F?5 A@=:E:42= 5625=:?6D[ 24E:G:E:6D 2?5 6G6?ED 7@C E96 =2DE 'a J62CD[" 96 D2:5] "xE'D E:>6 7@C 2 =:76 5:C64E:@? 492?86]"k^Am kAm(:==:D D2:5 96 H2D ?@E DE6AA:?8 2H2J 3642FD6 @7 E96 4@>>6?ED @? D@4:2= >65:2 :? C646?E J62CD]k^Am kAm"%9@F89 G@42=[ E96J 2C6 ?@E E96 >2:?DEC62> #6AF3=:42?D[" 96 D2:5] "%96J 2C6 ?@E E96 C62D@? 7@C >J DE6AA:?8 2H2J 7C@> E96 492:C>2?D9:A] qFE E96J H:== 4=2:> :E :D]k^Am kAm"x H:? E96 :DDF6D H:E9 E9@D6 76H :? 5632E6[ :? 244FD2E:@?D[ 3FE >@DE @7 2== 2E E96 32==@E 3@I[" (:==:D D2:5]k^Am kAmw6 D2:5 96 :?E6?5D E@ C6>2:? :?G@=G65 :? 96=A:?8 D@>6 42>A2:8?D :? E96 7FEFC6]k^Am kAmw6F6C D2:5 E96 =@42= #6AF3=:42? !2CEJ 92D >2:?E2:?65 4@?D:DE6?E=J 9:89 >2C8:?D @7 G:4E@CJ :? 4@F?EJ 2?5 DE2E6H:56 C246D]k^Am kAm"|J 8@2= :D E@ 4@?E:?F6 E@ 3F:=5 FA@? E96 >@>6?EF> @7 6=64E:?8 #6AF3=:42?D E@ @77:46 H9:=6 36:?8 2 F?:7J:?8 =6256C H9@ :D @A6? 2?5 2446DD:3=6[" D96 D2:5]k^Am kAmw6F6C D2:5 D96 H2?ED E@ 6?6C8:K6 J@F?8 #6AF3=:42?D[ >@56C?:K6 4@>>F?:42E:@?D[ 724:=:E2E6 EC2:?:?8 7@C 42?5:52E6D 2?5 AC64:?4E H@C@CE2C A2CEJ 9625BF2CE6CD]k^Am kAm$96 D6CG65 EH@ E6C>D 2D A2CEJ D64C6E2CJ 2?5 :D 4FCC6?E=J E96 D64C6E2CJ 7@C E96 dE9 r@?8C6DD:@?2= s:DEC:4E @7 E96 DE2E6 A2CEJ]k^Am kAmw6F6C :D 2 8C25F2E6 @7 E96 q2== $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ q@H6? x?DE:EFE6 7@C !@=:E:42= !2CE:4:A2E:@? 2?5 E96 #:492C5 v] {F82C tI46==6?46 :? !F3=:4 $6CG:46 D6C:6D]k^Am Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863.
