HOOVER — Saturday, a petition to call a special meeting of the Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP) executive committee met the new 75-signature requirement to hold a meeting.
The petition, circulated by Tom Fredricks at the meeting, is a formal request to the newly elected Alabama Republican Party chairman Scott Stadthagen to call a special meeting of the committee.
According to the petition, the purpose of the meeting is to "address and take any lawful and appropriate action regarding party loyalty and nominee-qualification concerns that have arisen in connection with the Republican nominee for Alabama House District 24, Nathaniel Ledbetter."
House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) was previously recorded on a leaked audio saying he "could give a shit about the Republican Party." The recording has circulated around the party in recent weeks, drawing criticism from some members of the State Executive Committee
Ledbetter also apologized in an email obtained by 1819 News.
Saturday's ALGOP meeting ended without a vote against Ledbetter being called. However, during the meeting, the bylaws were voted on and amended to require 75 signatures to call a special meeting, up from the previously required 50.
This change accounts for the State Committee's growth over the 20 years since the bylaw was written.
"While we want to always allow the membership to be able to call themselves a meeting, we don't want to bar to be so low that as few as one-ninth of the membership could require this special meeting to be held," said Andrew Sorrell of Colbert County, who proposed the bylaw change.
The explanation also noted that it could cost ALGOP as much as $30,000 to hold a special State Executive Council Meeting.
Fredericks confirmed to 1819 News that his petition reached 76 confirmed signatures shortly after the ALGOP meeting was adjourned.
According to the ALGOP bylaws, the state chairman must be called and held within 30 days of receipt of the written petition, assuming all signatures are confirmed and valid. If verified, Stadthagen would notify all members of the State Committee of the details of the new meeting.
During the special meeting, actions could be taken against Ledbetter, ranging from a formal censure to removal as the Republican candidate for District 24, where he is currently unopposed.
Trenton Buffenbarger is a senior at the University of Alabama and is the Chairman of the UA Young Americans for Freedom.
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