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It’s official; Law is out as local GOP chairman

Randy Law is no longer chairman of the Trumbull County Republican Party, according to the Ohio Republican Party.

During an April 8 meeting of the Trumbull County Republican Party Executive Committee at Howland Community Church, members voted to oust Law. However, Law claimed the vote was invalid because he already had adjourned the meeting.

On Friday, the Ohio GOP said the committee’s actions were correct, according to spokesman Blaine Kelly.

“The decision was made today,” Kelly said. “A notification was emailed to Trumbull County’s first vice chairman, J.D. Williams. Mr. Law is no longer chairman of the Trumbull County Republican Party.”

Kelly last week said the Ohio Republican Party would review what occurred at the meeting.

Members of the Trumbull County GOP executive committee sent the Ohio Republican Party a video recording of the meeting to make sure everything they did was correct.

“We did not contact Mr. Law about the decision,” Kelly said. “That is up to the Trumbull County Republican Party.”

Williams, who was in Munich, Germany, Friday, was not aware of the state’s actions until contacted by the Tribune Chronicle.

In a later email, Williams wrote:

“I received acknowledgment today from the Ohio Republican Party that the Trumbull County GOP did, in fact, hold a proper meeting of the executive committee. The office of the chairman of the Trumbull County GOP is now vacant.”

Williams said there will be a meeting of the Trumbull County Republican Party Central Committee on Tuesday to choose a new county chairman. Law, also unaware when told of the party’s decision, initially did not make any comment.

Law later stated he would challenge any actions that would lead to his removal as the Trumbull County Republican Party chairman.

“There seems to be a lot of confusion,” Law said. “I’ve been told we need to challenge this and we are going to do so.”

Law said he has spoken to several Ohio Republican Party central committee members and none of them were aware of any action affecting his leadership of the local party.

“As far as I know, the Ohio Republican Party’s central committee has not met,” Law said. “I don’t know who made this decision and what kind of ruling this is. This is absurd.”

Members of the Trumbull County GOP’s executive committee voted 19-0 to have Law removed as the party’s chairman during an April 8 meeting.

Law, who opened the late morning meeting, said he adjourned the meeting before there was any vote taken on whether he would remain chairman.

“I adjourned the meeting due to safety concerns,” Law said.

Williams said Law’s effort to adjourn the meeting was not seconded by anyone at the meeting, so they continued.

rsmith@tribtoday.com

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