Time to find unity and respect while recognizing due process

I write this letter in response to Ross Fitzgerald’s letter to the editor voicing his opinion on the removal of nine GOP state senators at the annual GOP Officers Convention June 28 in Helena. Mr. Fitzgerald’s observations were of his own opinion, not representative of the convention majority.

We hear a lot about “One person, one vote,” a call for fairness in the election/voting process used in our Republic to ensure democracy. Perhaps Ross could take a step back for a moment and consider the realities of how the decision to remove the senators from the convention came about. (They are still elected state senators, not removed from office, just from the convention.)

To claim, “… the former party chair Don Kaldschmidt, who correctly ruled the motion out of order” betrays the fact that perhaps the motion was not out of order as indicated by the motion being approved and the following votes affirming support for the motion and its consequences.

The Montana GOP is indeed a private organization with stated platform goals and agenda agreed upon by consensus and approval via a convention/voting process where all counties of the State are recognized. The GOP is also a “brand” with standards and expectations expected of its members that promote, preserve and represent the organization.

Do we all agree? No, but to wear the name of the party/brand/organization and realize the benefits of our organization requires some loyalty to the same.

Mr. Fitzgerald claims those who voted to remove these nine were an “… extremist group, just 130 votes in a small room” who,” overrode the will of Montana’s 350,000 Republicans.” However, it was their own actions that brought about the majority decision to remove them from the Officers Convention.

Perhaps the nine, who participated in what could be described as “a blatant power grab” during the 2025 session of the State Senate proceedings, were an even smaller “extremist group” who in fact did override the will of Montana’s 350,000 Republicans. The decision by the Montana GOP Officers Convention to remove the voting privileges from these nine is intended not to override the voters’ will, but to preserve it.

I’ve been actively engaged in the political realm for less than 10 years. We joined the Lake County Central Committee to help make a difference in a world that was making less sense daily.

As one of the officers from Lake County in Helena on June 28, I can testify that the decisions were fairly made, the process was above board, and together we move forward as a party to keep Montana values in our government and Montana the home we know and love.

The new party chair was elected by the officers at the convention. I suggest we get behind him and continue the work we have been tasked with. Let’s find unity, respect the majority, and have meaningful conversations rather than worn out rhetoric that accomplishes nothing but division.

Ross’s attack on Chairman Wittich’s leadership is personal, one sided, and uncalled for. Whatever errors may or may not have been made in the past have been settled. Art has been chosen by a majority of the state county committee officers to lead.

It’s time to stand together, put our sabers in the air and say, “All for one, one for all.”

Andy Larsson lives in St. Ignatius and is State Committeeman for the Lake County Central Committee. Ross Fitzgerald’s letter to the editor, titled “Electing a "Cleanser-in-Chief": A betrayal of voters and values,” appeared online last week and in this week’s print edition.