Los Alamos GOP Leaders Resign

By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post

Top officials in the Republican Party of Los Alamos have resigned amidst a firestorm of insults hurled across Facebook over the past several weeks.

“I believe there is too much hatred and vitriol in politics today from both Parties,” GOP Vice Chair James Chrobocinski said. “Unfortunately, during this rec bond election, I experienced attacks against me personally as well as against my family. I wholeheartedly agree with debating issues on the issues but believe it’s important to disagree without being disagreeable.”

Chrobocinski and local GOP Chair James Robinson resigned their leadership positions in the party Tuesday evening sending email notices to their membership shortly after the election ended but before the outcome was announced.

Chrobocinski is a Los Alamo County Councilor, president of the Los Alamos County Little League and longtime supporter of recreational projects in the community. He is in Washington, D.C. this week with other County officials conducting meetings with the Congressional Delegation and agencies such as DOE. He spoke to the Los Alamos Daily Post by telephone Wednesday about his resignation as vice chair of the local GOP.

“When this rec bond election broke down into personal attacks and downright lies that came predominantly from my own Party, I decided I was no longer willing to serve the Party in a leadership position,” Chrobocinski said.

Robinson explained that he resigned and is going to take a break to get his energy back up before getting involved in the community again, however, he is not going to take on a political leadership position in the foreseeable future.

“I’d been contemplating resigning for a while and didn’t want my resignation to influence the outcome of the rec bond election in any way,” Robinson said. “I’ve just gotten myself spread too thin … my family and friends were getting worried about me and it was beginning to affect my work.”

While the local Party is without leadership, Robinson said State Party Vice Chair Sherry Morrison from Congressional District 3 has offered to get involved and help ensure a smooth transition when new leadership is identified.

Los Alamos Federated Republican Women President Kelly Boner Benner serves on the Executive Committee of the local GOP.

“Our Executive Committee is going to meet next week and we hope both James and James attend,” she said. “We are going to talk as a group. This really makes me sad and I’m hoping once everyone calms down we can come together and rebound and move forward. The lesson to take from all of this is that people need to listen to each other, not be unkind, and find the way to work things out together.”

Search
LOS ALAMOS

ladailypost.com website support locally by OviNuppi Systems