Coughlin held a 47-minute wide-ranging conference call with reporters Tuesday afternoon on a variety of topics, including his New Summit Republicans candidate for the party chairmanship, their request for defined meeting rules for when central committee members meet, and a bid to have state GOP leaders oversee and even moderate the meeting.

 

 

Coughlin also tried to distance himself from the imbroglio between the Summit Republican Party and Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner; a bitter deposition marked a lawsuit the local GOP filed when Brunner kicked Arshinkoff from the County Board of Elections, rebuked the local party choice for a replacement and then selected Bath Township lawyer Don Varian to serve as the GOP representative on the board. Summit County Democrat Finance Chairman Wayne Jones, a vocal critic of Arshinkoff, was central in providing information Brunner testified she used in booting Arshinkoff from the post.

 

 

Coughlin says he has many disagreements with Brunner but supported her decision and told reporters he believes she had the authority to take such action, saying she "got it right" and "showed courage." Arshinkoff supporters and other critics say it was motivated by partisan politics and ties with Jones.

 

State law calls for party political committees to meet six to ten days following certification of election results, putting a meeting in mid-April. Sources tell AkronNewsNow.com local GOP members will be called to meet on Friday, April 18th.

 

Arshinkoff, with his own Keep Summit Republicans Strong faction, told this reporter today he was already planning on holding a secret ballot vote, noting that followed traditional practice observed by the committee when deciding other contested issues or candidate endorsements in the past. He says he has to votes to continue holding on to his position; Coughlin claims his faction has strong support but adds the biggest block of voters so far appear to be undecided.

 

Arshinkoff is seeking another term; he's held the position for 30 years. Cuyahoga Falls Council representative Carol Klinger is the candidate of Coughlin's New Summit Republicans.

 

Previous coverage: 

 

 

 

 

On the Web:

 

New Summit Republicans http://www.newsummitrepublicans.com/

 

Keep Summit County Republicans Strong  http://keepsummitcountyrepublicansstrong.blogspot.com