. .J. 
WVGOPORG 

. ?9

        

West Virginia Republican Party

PO. Box 2711/Charleston, W.V. 
June 18, 2019
To the Members of the Wood County Republican Executive Committee:

I am writing to you today to address the innumerable complaints that my of?ce has received about the
conduct of the Chairman of the Wood County Republican Executive Committee, Rob Cornelius.

It has been brought to my attention that Mr. Cornelius has engaged in multiple acts of constant disunity
within the Wood County Republican Executive Committee and the Republican State Executive
Committee of West Virginia that have disrupted the effective organization and party harmony of those
organizations.

Mr. Cornelius has engaged in extensive smear campaign against both myself and the West Virginia
Republican Party. Mr. Cornelius misled the public and said I have accepted political contributions in
exchange for ?betraying the values of our entire team.? Mr. Cornelius also said during a media
interview on February 21, 2019, that I have sold the West Virginia Republican Party out ?for essentially
twenty grand, two bags of silver, not even a solid price for Judas.? Mr. Cornelius has called me a
?disappointing liar? and has referred to me on twitter and in public appearances as a ?prostitute?
multiple times. Mr. Cornelius recently released the contents of a private phone conversation between
him and me in which I expressed my opinion on certain matters in a moment of frustration. He spread
this on the internet and in public. Mr. Cornelius has engaged in extensive harassment, even posting on
Facebook to my husband ?only your wife would lie to her entire party and sell herself to a corrupt
governor, in front of her husband. Feel sorry for you to have your wife?s true character revealed
publicly.?

Mr. Cornelius has not just disrupted the State Republican Party, but he has also failed to lead his own
County Republican Party properly. First, Article Section 5 of the Wood County Republican
Executive Committee Bylaws state that ?the Chairman shall appoint a parliamentarian,? and yet he has
failed to do so despite multiple documented attempts by members of the Executive Committee to do so.
Second, Article Section 5 of the Wood County Republican Executive Committee Bylaws state that
?the Chairman shall appoint a chaplain,? and yet he has failed to do so despite multiple documented
attempts by members of the Executive Committee to do so. Third, Article IV Section 3 of the Wood
County Republican Executive Committee Bylaws state that ?the Chairman shall request a resignation
from any committee member who is absent from three consecutive scheduled meetings of committee,?
and yet he has failed to do so despite multiple documented attempts by members of the Executive
Committee to do so.

It is clear that Mr. Cornelius has allowed his personal animus to destroy the advocacy of his leadership
and undermine the Wood County Republican Executive Committee and the Republican State Executive
Committee of West Virginia. Rather, he has taken these actions to undermine the West Virginia
Republican Party and the integrity of our organization. His actions have brought dishonor and harm to
the West Virginia Republican Party and have disrupted the operations of our Executive Committee and
the operation of the State Party.

1

The instances outlined in this letter are just a few examples of how Mr. Cornelius has used his of?ce to
divide the Republican State Executive Committee of West Virginia and the Wood County Republican
Executive Committee. Our Party needs to be uni?ed going into this election year, and we need to end
the unnecessary division and focus on doing our jobs and representing the Republican voters of West
Virginia with the dignity, character, professionalism, and patriotism that they deserve.

Article XVI Section 1 of the Bylaws of the Republican State Executive Committee of West Virginia
state:

In the interest of effective organization and party harmony the State Executive Committee and
its Chairman shall and will exercise jurisdiction, control and authority over the County,
Senatorial, Judicial Circuit, and Congressional Committees of the Republican Party in West
Virginia in all matters having to do with the ?lling of vacancies when any such Committee is
unable to do so, the election of any of?cer of the committee in the event of a tie vote, and of any
other matter of the business of any such committee which in the opinion of the State Executive
Committee or the State Chairman shall be of suf?cient importance to the Republican party to
require removal from local consideration and action by the State Executive Committee.

Article XVI Section 2 of the Bylaws of the Republican State Executive Committee of West Virginia
state:

If, in the opinion of the Chairman of the State Executive Committee, time is of the essence in
regard to the issue or issues in controversy, the Chairman may, in his discretion, resolve the issue
or issues in controversy, on a temporary basis by taking such action as he may deem in the best
interests of the Republican Party by ?lling any vacancy, naming any of?cer, or taking what
other action may be provident and he shall notify in writing the members of any subordinate
committee of his action within ten (10) days thereafter, which action shall become ?nal and
binding upon the County, Senatorial, Judicial Circuit, or Congressional Committees of the
Republican Party in West Virginia and their 

Given the facts outlined in this letter and the importance of the matter at hand, pursuant to Article XVI
Section 2 of the Bylaws of the Republican State Executive Committee of West Virginia, in my opinion,
this action being provident and necessary for the effective organization and party harmony of the
Republican State Executive Committee of West Virginia and the Wood County Republican Executive
Committee, I hereby remove Mr. Rob Cornelius from his position as Chairman of the Wood County
Republican Executive Committee and from his position as A5 Precinct Committeeman effective
immediately.

Thank you for your continued service to the Republican Party.

Best Regards,

I

10/67: 

Me ody Potter, E/ligirman
Rep an Stat xecutive Committee of West Virginia

   
 

cc: Linda Hartling, Secretary of the Republican State Executive Committee of West Virginia
Andrew Dornbos, General Council of the Republican State Executive Committee of West Virginia
Mac Warner, West Virginia Secretary of State