Letter: ‘It is easy for those on the sidelines to throw stones at those of us who are in the arena doing the good work of improving our country’

Clark County Republican Party Chairman Joel Mattila responds to letter to the editor

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and do not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com

Since its inception, I have supported Clark County Today, even posting links more than once on my personal Facebook page promoting Clark County Today as a fresh alternative to the daily newspaper that dominates our community. I have watched with interest as Clark County Today has gained momentum and have pulled for it to catch on and become a force in local news. I even have a shortcut tab on the top of my web browser to get to your website quickly every morning.

Joel Mattila, Clark County Republican Party chairman

To say I was disappointed to read the letter that you published recently by Mark Moore is a massive understatement. It contains several inaccuracies and I’m discouraged that he was able to use your platform to promote false narratives. I have received several emails from people who were misled by it. I understand that this was a letter to the editor but even then it seems that there should be standards of journalistic integrity that be met.

As one of my favorite presidents, Ronald Reagan, said, “The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they’re ignorant; it’s just that they know so much that just isn’t so.” This is indeed the case with Mr. Moore.

Mr. Moore says I “negotiated an agreement with the three candidates running at that point to challenge JHB in the primary, to support the Trump endorsed candidate”. That is blatantly false. I never negotiated “an agreement”. The truth is that I asked a question at a candidate forum (which, because I respect you, you might remember I invited you, Ken Vance, to help moderate) if they would drop out of the race should former President Donald Trump endorse one of the other candidates in the race.

He goes on to say, “To this point, the chairman has refused to enforce this agreement. He has the political power to do so, he however seems to lack the political will, his inaction in this matter has only empowered JHB.” What political power does he think I wield? Does he think I can somehow just order the other candidates to drop out? That is preposterous on its face. How does Mr. Moore expect me to “enforce” the so-called agreement? The days of the party “boss” are long over and we are all better off for it. The grassroots voters are the ones who should decide elections.

He also says, “the chairman attempted to appoint Jaimie Herrera Beutler’s mother to the voting office of Precinct Committee Officer.” That is totally false. There was no “attempt” made. If I had attempted to appoint her, I would have simply just appointed her. State law simply gives the county chairman the authority to appoint. If the chair wants to appoint, the chair appoints. The chair doesn’t “attempt” and then somehow get thwarted. Our county party bylaws do require that the chair consult or attempt to consult the respective legislative district chair before appointing precinct officers.

Furthermore, Mr. Moore states, “There have been several occasions during his administration where the chairman has ignored the express will of the body…” I would like to know exactly on what occasions I have ignored the will of the body. You allowed him to make that assertion without any examples.

Mr. Moore, who has no official role in the Clark County Republican Party, seems to like to sit on the sidelines and criticize. As someone once said, in the United States today, we have more than our share of nattering nabobs of negativism. I encourage all who read this letter to also read Theodore Roosevelt’s “The Man in the Arena.” It is easy for those on the sidelines to throw stones at those of us who are in the arena doing the good work of improving our country.

Meanwhile, as Mr. Moore peers around the log that is in his own eye to throw stones from the sidelines, the good work of bettering our county and nation goes on. We had a record setting Lincoln Day Dinner fundraiser for our party, recruited an excellent crop of candidates for races this year, are developing a marketing plan to promote the Republican brand, and are poising ourselves to take full advantage of the coming Red Wave in the Fall elections. The future for the Clark County Republican Party is indeed bright.

I look forward to you correcting the record and would hope that you would issue some sort of statement, perhaps apologizing for allowing these kinds of false narratives to be printed.

Thank you,

Joel Mattila, Chair
Clark County Republican Party