Michael Crimmins

I am running for Congress because I care about San Diego and all San Diegans.

In the 2008 Primary, I was elected as the Republican Nominee against Congresswoman Susan Davis and as a member of the San Diego Republican Party Central Committee.

San Diegans want a candidate with moral clarity that stands up for financial integrity, ethics in government and honesty in public service, and that is exactly what they got when they voted for Michael Crimmins.

Early last year, I learned from some GOP staff and several Central Committee members that there were serious concerns about fiscal malfeasance within the San Diego GOP. I was vocal at the time about the need for an investigation into their concerns, calling for an audit and to hold those accountable for any items found to be irregular. There was evidence to support some of these concerns and good reason to be worried about the rest of it. Unfortunately, the party leadership, including Chairman Tony Krvaric, claimed that these concerns were not valid, there would be no audit, and they led a charge of libelous accusations to censure me and to teach me not to question them again. Since when is it American to tell people to shut up and sit down? And an audit still has not been performed!

This past fall, rumors were circulating state-wide about allegations that California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring had committed acts of domestic violence against his then girlfriend and then intimidated her from going to the authorities. Meanwhile his friend, Tony Krvaric, the San Diego County Republican Party Chairman, continued to harass the woman until he succeeded in having her employer release her. When an email detailing this was circulated to State Party leaders and then forwarded state-wide in September 2009, I responded privately to those same state leaders, sharing my concerns as a candidate for Congress, about these two individuals and encouraged them to conduct their own due diligence. I was already clearly aware of the domestic violence and harassment accusations, because the victim was a regular attendee of San Diego GOP monthly meetings and had confided and shared not only her fears and concerns, but also documented evidence with other Central Committee members.

This woman had already been working with an attorney to find resolution in civil court. So when I shared my concerns with Party leaders in the email, I was confident in the truth of these very same serious accusations against our Republican Party leaders.

When Tony Krvaric and Ron Nehring learned that their conduct and story was going to be released in the Sacramento Bee, they devised a plan to slander my Congressional campaign and credibility, deny their activities and cover up their past by spreading lies that I had said a racist word and made violent threats against a fellow candidate. And additionally, that I had acted to undermine the Party by sharing my concerns with a respected community leader. I was disappointed when my fellow candidate tried to give credibility to the rumor of racist language, but he was caught in a lie about another conversation at that very same meeting.

I think the people of San Diego would agree with me that they want a candidate and a Republican Party that investigates legitimate claims of financial irregularities when it becomes clear that a Chairman might be directing funds to his friends and making large personal reimbursements. Or when a State Party Chairman commits acts of domestic violence and then continues to harass and intimidate the victim.

This is not Chicago and this type of behavior is not only illegal, but it is totally uncalled for. The Executive Board of the San Diego Republican Party violated their own bylaws, due process and committed egregious acts of libel against me to serve their agendas and to cover up the despicable conduct of party leaders. San Diegans want a “We the People” kind of leader. Mr. Krvaric represents anything but that!

I know the people of San Diego will not tolerate a County Chairman that finds it appropriate to harass, intimidate and slander fellow Republicans to promote his own agenda. San Diegans also will not tolerate a State Party Chairman who handles himself in a similar manner.

Going forward, I plan to focus on my campaign. The San Diego Republican Party’s leadership should seriously consider resigning for their outrageous misconduct. The County Party’s own rule (3.01.02) prohibits them from endorsing, supporting, attacking or opposing a candidate in a Primary, such as myself.

These leaders have violated the trust of the voters; they must admit to their libel and retract their false accusations.

Whether or not I am choose to return to the Central Committee is beside the point. I want a strong, conservative Republican Party with leaders who are there to serve the people and not vested self interests.

2010 is the year for Republicans to unite around a common cause, to stand up for honor and integrity in government. This is not the time for Party Chairmen to slander and harass their own fellow Republicans.

I fully agree with what Sir Winston Churchill once said, “If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters.”