Dear Editor
Last week a letter was submitted that called into question a vetting process. The letter stated that it is a “made-up organization and is fake.” I would like to clear up a few things about this vetting process.
There is some background to give, so we are all on the same page. Each county has a central committee for each party. Looking through a Republican lens, in our county, we have the Perry County Central Republican Committee.
There is a common practice in Missouri where a candidate who wants to run for a local office will pay their filing fee to the County Clerk. However, state statute 115.357 requires that fees are to be paid directly to the treasurer of the party’s committee. After the candidate pays the party treasurer, they then get a receipt and take it to the County Clerk to file. The common practice is not following the state statute. (This process needs clarification.)
There are several questions that arise when looking at this statue. Why is it going to the treasurer first? Is it so the party’s committee can vet them? I don’t know the right answer, but this could be a plausible assumption.
Have you heard of a Democrat running on a Republican ticket to win an election? It happens all the time, AKA a RINO (Republican in Name Only). Some elected officials abandon their constituents by selling out their moral code to lobbyists and special interests. With vetting, they can be held accountable, especially if they sign a pledge to uphold the platform.
The vetting process is a nationwide hot topic amongst Republicans. There are questions like: Should there be vetting? Should the vetting happen before or after a candidate files? What should the vetting look like? Missouri has worked through some of these questions and have developed a process.
Recently, over 300 Missouri candidates for the August 6 primary have gone through a vetting process. This includes candidates running for the highest offices in the state as well as local candidates.
A vetting process was thoughtfully created by a team of professionals. It includes a background check and an in-person values survey of 25 questions overseen by a proctor. The survey asks questions in line with the Constitution and the Republican Platform. The candidate also signs a pledge to uphold the Republican platform. If an individual has held an elected office prior to, and they are running in a new race, they can be vetted, too. In addition to the other steps, a survey is done to see if they have performed in accordance with the platform. The candidate receives a pass or fail score. If a candidate fails the vetting, it could mean that they may not be running on the right ticket.
If a Republican candidate shares that they were vetted, you now know that this process is not “fake or made up.” It is a legit process with sincere motivation.
Respectfully,
Mrs. Angela Francis
