Kern GOP rebukes Black Republicansover group's endorsement of Democrat

The Kern County Republican Central Committee has shunned a local black Republican organization over the group's decision to endorse a Democrat in a state Assembly race.

The Black Republicans in the County of Kern endorsed Democrat Rudy Salas, a Bakersfield city councilman, in his bid for the 32nd State Assembly seat, seen as one of the more competitive races this year in Kern County.

Keith Wolaridge, a BRICK founder, said the organization chose Salas over Republican rivals Jon McQuiston and Pedro Rios because of Salas' positive working relationship with many BRICK members.

The Kern County GOP accused BRICK of breaking California Republican Party bylaws by bringing "discredit to the Republican Party" or endorsing "any person other than a registered Republican for a partisan elective office."

At its meeting Monday night, the Kern County GOP came down hard, voting to censure Wolaridge and "expel, suspend or not recognize" BRICK.

"The Republican Party does not endorse Democrats, period," said Chairwoman Bonnie Shea.

Whether the Kern County GOP had the ability to take away BRICK's charter wasn't clear, but Vice Chair Dean Haddock said BRICK will not be welcome to give reports at Central Committee meetings as other local Republican groups are.

Members also voted to recommend to the California Republican Party that the state GOP take action to stop BRICK from using the word "Republican" in its title.

"It's our brand," said Ken Weir, the Central Committee's treasurer. If BRICK's use of "Republican" is damaging, "we have a right to ask them to stop" using that word, he said.

"(An) obligation," Haddock added.

Steve Frank, a parliamentarian with the state party, also attended the meeting and advised members on what action could be taken.

Frank suggested that the Central Committee recommend that the state GOP take action to stop BRICK from using the word "Republican." The state organization has the ability to sue to stop the word's use, he said.

Some members expressed concern over whether the rebuke against BRICK would turn off black and Hispanic voters.

"We don't want to alienate that population," said Central Committee member Josiah Vencel. Nevertheless, most expressed disapproval of BRICK's endorsement. "In the end, it's contradictory to what we're about," Vencel said.

BRICK's endorsement "carries some weight, and it's damaging against Republicans in that race," said Bill Lind, another Central Committee member.

Salas and McQuiston, a Kern County supervisor, are seen as the frontrunners. In fundraising, they also are outpacing Rios, a former Delano city councilman, and Republican Dave Thomas, a former Hanford city councilman.

In a phone call just after the meeting, Wolaridge stood by an earlier statement to not retract the Salas endorsement.

"Our position is the same," he said. "The executive committee (of BRICK) harbors no ill feelings toward the Republican Party (of Kern County). ... We will move on."

Wolaridge confirmed he was invited by the Kern County GOP to the meeting to discuss BRICK's endorsement, but said he declined.

"I kind of had the feeling what the outcome was going to be," he said. "I still consider these people as friends."

"We will continue to fight for conservative values in the ethnic minority community, especially black," Wolaridge said.

Haddock said the committee hadn't taken such a step against another Republican organization before. "We never had the need to do it," he said. "Most Republicans know you don't endorse a Democrat."

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