Tension surrounding the newly elected leadership of the Hamilton County Republican Party came to a head when the chair spoke at a club meeting Monday evening.
Gail Greene, the recently elected chair, introduced herself and outlined the goals for the county GOP as members of the Hamilton County Pachyderm Club listened intently from wooden booths at Lillie Mae’s Place in Red Bank.
Greene’s goals, among other things, included giving Republicans legislative updates and calls to action to hold officials accountable to conservative values. She also emphasized election integrity and said she wants to strengthen GOP primaries by advocating for legislation that would eliminate crossover voting in primary elections.
Some longtime members of the club asked Greene if the party planned to challenge Republican incumbents and also re-upped an ongoing debate over whether the party’s recent legislative stances violate its bylaws.
Republicans express concerns about new Hamilton County GOP leadership
“I’m excited about all this, a little wary,” said Bill Thomas, a club board member. “If current office holders are not going to be undermined by a star chamber, and we will support whoever runs for office, I think that’s fantastic.”
Thomas then asked if the primary focus of the party will be to target offices held by Democrats.
“Of course we’re going to do that,” Greene said. “We would love to be able to gain some ground where ground has been taken.”
Greene cited Red Bank as an example of a Democrat stronghold she plans to challenge.
Nikwonn Robinson, the newly elected chair of the Hamilton County Democratic Party, said she knocked on hundreds of doors in Red Bank during the 2024 election cycle.
“I know that they know we are strong there and we’re only building strength there, so we’re not really backing down, and we’re building strength from every angle,” Robinson said by phone, when told about the club meeting. “I know they’re focused a lot on disruption and just trying to break us down, but we’re really expanding and going after winnable seats.”
‘PEOPLE LIKE ME’
Roger Layne, another Pachyderm Club member, asked about state Sen. Todd Gardenhire’s recent threat that he would go after the local GOP’s charter following the party’s new practice of taking legislative stances for and against bills sponsored by Republican officials. The bylaws state that the party must promote all Republican elected officials.
Greene stood by her position that the party is not in violation of its bylaws and said Gardenhire doesn’t have the power to revoke the charter. She also said it is her responsibility to hold GOP officials accountable, receiving heavy applause from her supporters.
Jane Armstrong then raised her hand and said that Greene is supposed to represent all Republicans and was upset that the GOP had taken a stance against Senate Bill 799, legislation that would require political party nominations to be decided in primary elections with secret ballots rather than at public conventions or caucuses where activists can rally around causes.
Armstrong also decried the GOP’s recent post in support of the newly elected Williamson County GOP chair – who testified against SB 799 – after he was asked by Gardenhire, in a heated exchange, to define “Republican.”
(READ MORE: ‘Define Republican’: Debate over Tennessee primaries turns to the definition of the party)
Greene asked if Armstrong condoned Gardenhire’s behavior, and Armstrong said it doesn’t matter what she or Greene think about it.
“What happens to people like me,” asked longtime member Sharon Blankenship, “who don’t always agree with you?”
Greene said she needs people like Blankenship.
“If you disagree with something, that doesn’t mean we want you to walk away from the Republican Party,” Greene said. “That might mean that we want you to have a conversation about that issue, and if you disagree, I think it’s great that you can post that you disagree.”
Greene said it’s important that the local GOP represents the majority of the party.
In an interview, Blankenship said she wants to know how conservative “conservative” is.
“I think we have to be more open-minded to attract new voters,” Blankenship said, “and that we need more support systems in place that we don’t currently have.”
Blankenship said she doesn’t think people are going to be educated if information only comes from their church.
Many of the new members of the GOP who supported Greene’s “Activate Hamilton” slate of candidates in the recent GOP election are also members of Calvary Chapel, including Anne Lowery, the new secretary, who runs the Civics and Culture ministry at the church.
Carol Grilletto McKinney said the event was her first Pachyderm meeting and that she came out to support Greene.
Grilletto McKinney said she is a member of Calvary Chapel. She said she was concerned about politics before she moved to Tennessee in 2013.
Grilletto McKinney also said she feels it’s the place of the county party to take positions on legislation.
“As a citizen of the United States of America,” Grilletto McKinney said in an interview, “I feel that it is my duty and my right to stand up and find out what’s going on with legislation, and I don’t think that people in the Senate or in the House or anywhere are any better or different than me.”
She said she understands and can respect the concerns of longtime local GOP members.
“I’d rather just come to them and be able to let them know that we aren’t trying to take anything away from them,” Grilletto McKinney said, “and that we all have the same concerns and desires for our country.”
Contact Sarah Dolgin at sdolgin@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6556.