Seth A. Richardson

srichardson@rgj.com

All four officers of the Washoe County Republican Party resigned Tuesday effective after the April 2 convention citing discord within the party.

Chairman Adam Khan, Vice-chair Tom Dickman, Secretary Barb Hawn and Treasurer Chuck Reno all submitted their resignations at Tuesday night’s meeting. They will stay in their positions until April 26, after the April 2 county convention. All four officers said their resignations were related at least somewhat to internal quarrels.

The officers gave a variety of reasons for the dissension. Khan said there was a problem with the party not being able to coalesce around a cohesive message as well as differences of opinions in leadership style.

“A majority of the Republican Party was fully supportive of my ideas,” he said. “It’s just what they say, an irate minority can sometimes feel like a majority.”

Hawn, who is also the secretary of the state party, said the resignations weren’t indicative of a problem within the state party at large. She added much of the conflict came from a group of between 35 and 50 members upset with two lawmakers’ votes for Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval’s tax plan during the 2015 Legislature: Carson City Assemblyman P.K. O’Neill and Reno Senator Ben Kieckhefer.

“Our goal should be to increase Republican voter registration," she said. "It should be to try to get Republicans elected, not necessarily have this internal strife that is pulling us apart where we’re looking for a litmus test of how Republican you are."

Kieckhefer declined to comment Wednesday. O’Neill said he was unaware of the turmoil.

“I think it’s sad when a small minority can force a board to resign,” O’Neill said.

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Dickman said that vocal minority was causing bedlam, making it hard for the officers to function appropriately.

“There are two factions – a majority and minority faction – and the minority faction has been somewhat successful by virtue of disregarding past tradition and protocol in manipulating the bylaws for their own particular agenda and have been successful in disrupting the party itself,” Dickman said.

Dickman added there was no friction because of any presidential candidate supporters.

Both Khan and Dickman said they were open to supporting an effort outside the party that functions in the same manner.

“We’re no different than any other organization with internal strife and officers choosing to leave,” Dickman said. “I think it’s very unfortunate and I have a special place in my heart with the Washoe Republican Party, but it’s time for me to focus my efforts in other areas.”

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Other factors also played a contributing role in the resignations. Khan said he was considering a run for Sparks City Council – which would require his resignation anyway – and Reno said he had thought about resigning since October because he felt he didn’t have the time to commit to the position. Reno serves on the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Commission.

The officers said they decided on the April 26 date to give people enough time to start campaigns for the soon-to-be open positions as well as hold a successful county convention.

Khan said he was confident the party would have successful leadership in place to assist candidates with the upcoming state elections.