Monthly Meeting of the Maury Count Republican Party

Thursday June 22, 2023, 6:00 PM

• 1.      Opening Prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance
• Also, Senator Joey Hensley led us in the TN Pledge after being asked by Chairman Jerry Bridenbaugh.
• 2.      Opening Statement – Jerry mentions our meetings are now the 4^th Thursday of every month after last month’s vote. He thanked everyone for their support and feels we have accomplished a lot in a couple of months. Thank you all for your opinion in our Primary vs Convention poll. The poll showed our membership was in favor of a Primary and that is how the EC has voted. It will be on Super Tuesday March 5, 2024.
• 3.      Minutes – Asked for any corrections. Jerry said our Treasurer’s last name is Hooper not Hopper. Motion made to correct, seconded, and approved with change.
• 4.      Treasurer’s report – Todd Hooper –
• a)      A PO Box has been purchased for MCRP use, $248 for the year.
• b)     Current balance for county party is $1937.54 with new donations and memberships.
• 5.      Announcements
•  Chris Morris-
• a)      July Giles County GOP Meeting- July 13^th with Richard Archie of the TFA. You don’t want to miss hearing this guy speak. All invited! Brady will send out info on time and details.
• b)     Thanks to Maury County for showing up big time for the meeting about county GOP parties PAC account last month.
• c)       Buses for special session Aug 21^st. Maury County will probably be meeting place for us and the other counties that will go. We will need to get to Nashville early to get seats before they get filled up. We also will be deciding on a shirt color, so our legislators know we are there supporting them.
• 6.      By – Laws Vote – Jerry B- They have been revised, Lona was head of the committee. They have been approved by the executive committee. Now must be approved by membership. Voting is for members only and using the honor system so just vote if you are a member. It is a YES to approve or NO to not approve vote. Copies on table if you need to review, they had been sent via email to all members. RESULTS OF VOTE = approved UNANIMOUSLY.
• 7.      March 5, 2024 Primary – see opening statements
• 8.      Report from Sub-Committees -
• a)      By-Laws -Lona Heins is chairperson = N/A
• b)     Legislative committee -Chris Cervantes is chairperson = N/A
• c)      Finance (Funding) – Chris Chumley is chairperson = N/A
• d)     Membership – Jason Gilliam is chairperson = N/A
• e)     Communication – Brady Carr is chairperson.
• 1)     New email addresses for EC will be out in about a week or 10 days
• 2)     Working on setting up additional social media
• 3)     Has three businesses for sponsorship. The first one will be at our July meeting.
• 4)     Donations cards on your table have a QR code that takes you online to make a donation.
• 5)     E-mails from the MCRP often contain info for members only so you must sign in to read the message. Directions on how to sign in is listed on the emails. Also just ask via email or call if you need further assistance.
• 6)     Jason Gilliam wanted everyone to know we will be having a booth at the Sheriff’s Rodeo in July. We do need volunteers to help man the booth. Let us know if you can help.
• 9.      Legislative Updates
• A)     Senator Joey Hensley (District 28)-
• 1)     It’s an honor and a privilege to represent Maury County
• 2)     Expecting the Governor to call a special session in August. The governor has proposed a bill he does not call a red flag law. Leadership would have to carry the bill as they do for the governor. Joey is not in favor.
• 3)     Technically the special session has not been called yet.
• 4)     If it is called there will be a lot of people here from out of state in favor of red flag laws.
• 5)     New laws go into effect July 1.
• 6)     The 3^rd grade retention law is to help students not hold them back. There are options to help kids who do not pass, like summer school and tutors.
• 7)     He is working with Scott Cepicky on bills for next year regarding impact fees for Maury County.
• 8)     Question about school shooter manifesto - Joey feels the info is needed however there are lawsuits going on and he doesn’t except to hear anything before a special session might take place.
• 9)     Question about illegals being brought in TN – Joes has not heard of any being flown or bussed in lately.
• B)     Representative Scott Cepicky (District 64)
• 1)     Following up on question about illegals. - The flights that had been coming in with illegals needed a sponsor. 2 of the first 3 kids screen had been abused. After further screenings it was found 2/3 had been abused.  
• 2)     Scott says we need to show up for the special session. TN will be the only legislator in session in the country and people will come from all over to protest. It only takes 26 Republicans to vote for a red flag law for it to pass. He thinks there are 17 Republican votes right now who would vote to pass a red flag law. Scott is against any such bill.
• 3)     Tennesseans should be deciding this issue and not people from outside the state.
• 4)     Committees will be set up by the leadership at special session. It’s possible any proposed bill could die in committee.
• -        Question about mental health- Scott says less than 1000 beds for inpatient mental health in TN. TN has large surplus of cash and needs to put it to work. Thinks public/private partnerships would be good to deal with mental health. Perhaps to build more mental health facilities.
• C)     Kathey Grodi (County Commissioner District 6) (Budget Committee Chairman)
• 1)     County budget passed 144 million and NO tax increase.
• 2)     Vote no to 50 million to build a new school. School is not needed based on the number of kids. Thanks to commissioner Gabe Howard for his work on this one.
• 3)     Approved new school buses. Need to help keep kids safe on the way to and from school.
• 4)     The Sheriff got everything he asked for this year.
• 5)     Passed a balanced budget and got it done early!
• 6)     Kathey encourages you to go to school board meetings and county commission meetings.
• D)     Laura Nutt (School Board Member District 5)
• 1)     Special session to vote on charter school July 18^th at 6 pm.
• 2)     Will be open to public comment.
• Motion to adjourn, seconded and approved. Time 7:29PM with 69 in attendance this evening.
• Chris Wilson
• Recording Secretary
• MCRP

Executive Committee

X = in Attendance

X_ Jerry Bridenbaugh -Chair

X_ Lona Heins – Vice Chair

X_ Brady Carr – Cor Secretary

X_ Chris Wilson – Rec Secretary

X_ Chris Chumley -Vice Treasurer

X_ Todd Hooper -Treasurer

_ Debbie Matthews – Past Chair

_ Chris Cervantes -MCYR

X_Cindy Rial - MCRW

X_ Chris Morris - SEC

_ Angie McClanahan - SEC