05/13/2024
Hello, I'm Randy Knox, incumbent Republican Precinct Committee Officer (PCO) for the Ammons Precinct in Longview. I am the Vice Chair of the Cowlitz County Republican Central Committee (CCRCC).
Once again, it is election season to include elections for PCO's.
I was appointed as a PCO in 2021 and elected by the voters of the precinct in 2022.
Your Central Committee conducts Republican candidate vetting for local, state and federal offices. We assist candidates by precinct canvassing, door belling and candidate promotion.
The Cowlitz County Republican Central Committee was instrumental locally with assisting in obtaining the necessary signatures to pass six initiatives which three were passed into law: restore resonable police pursuits, guarantee parents right to know and prevent a state income tax. The remaining three will be on your November ballot: remove the hidden gas tax, remove the Capital Gains Tac and opt out of mandatory long term care. Your PCOs were active in this process.
An interesting situation has occurred regarding candidates for a number of precincts.
There has been an influx of new candidate filings, primarily by employees of the Sheriff's Department, two Longview City Council members, defeated City Council member Mike Wallen as well as members of the Lower Columbia Republicans United (LCRU), a club consisting of pseudo Republicans.
The LCRU holds no standing with the State Republican Party. They would have to attend the county caucus in order to be nominated as a county or state convention delegate. They did not.
While I encourge growth of the committee and everyone has the right to run for office, I do not condone a hostile takeover. I question the motives of the candidates and whether this influx of candidates from the Sheriff's Department is merely an effort to gain numbers necessary for an endorsement for the sheriff next election. He did not get the committee's endorsement last election. Ironically, the sheriff is a PCO, but has not attended a committee meeting in the last two years.
In fact, the challengers rarely attend a committee meeting if any at all. That being said, how would any of them have any knowledge of what occurs at the meetings and whether a change is warranted
You will receive your ballot listing the candidates running for PCO in your respective precinct. I will provide further information regarding who the current PCOs are at a later time.
As always, I would greatly appreciate your support
