GOP precinct exec resigns over Trump

A Cincinnati-area Republican precinct executive has resigned over the GOP's decision to nominate Donald Trump as its presidential candidate.

George White, executive for precinct C in Wyoming, resigned last week hoping to deny Trump a mandate, if he's elected president.

"While I will be supporting our Republican candidates at other levels of the ticket who are committed to bringing needed, positive, conservative change, I cannot support our presidential nominee, and therefore cannot encourage others to do so," he wrote in a resignation letter to Hamilton County Alex Triantafilou. "Our nominee should have a precinct executive that is an enthusiastic supporter."

White submitted his resignation letter on Friday, the day after Trump formally accepted his nomination at the party's convention in Cleveland.

Triantafilou said he would write back to White thanking him for his service, but he downplayed the importance of the resignation. A precinct executive resigned in 2012 over the GOP nomination of Mitt Romney.

"The amount of grassroots support for Trump far exceeds the grassroots support for Romney four years ago," he said. "So for everybody who doesn't want to be on board, on the grassroots level, in their community, I can find two people that are. That's not spin, I'm just giving it to you straight."

There are approximately 380 precinct captains in Hamilton County. Precinct executive is the lowest-level elected party official, so White's resignation is more a symbolic act than a serious operational hurdle for the party.

Triantafilou said he would speak with the Wyoming ward chairperson to find a replacement for White, who will be replaced by the Hamilton County GOP executive committee. He said White is the only county precinct executive to resign this election season.

Here is the text of White's letter to Triantafilou:

Dear Mr. Chairman:
With the selection of our Republican nominee at the convention, it is with profound regret that I must submit my resignation as Precinct Executive for Precinct C in Wyoming. While I will be supporting our Republican candidates at other levels of the ticket who are committed to bringing needed, positive, conservative change, I cannot support our presidential nominee, and therefore cannot encourage others to do so. Our nominee should have a Precinct Executive that is an enthusiastic supporter.

To those who say a failure to vote for the Republican nominee is a de facto vote for the Democratic nominee, who is at least equally flawed, albeit in different ways, I say neither candidate is worthy of my vote. They are the most divisive presidential candidates in history, at precisely the time when our country needs a leader who can foster unity. Further, to those who say voting for a third party candidate is throwing away a vote, I disagree, as my vote for another candidate will help deny the winner any mandate to lead our government. That is what those of us who oppose both candidates are reduced to, but this is a nonetheless important role. While I am under no illusion that one of the two major party candidates won't end up winning, it is a fact that if the winning candidate has less than 45% of the vote, they will be able to claim no mandate from the people to pursue their policies-and the lower the vote total, the harder it will be for them to succeed, ensuring that either winner is a one-term President.

My business associates in Canada, Europe, and Asia are incredulous that we Americans are left to choose between two such flawed candidates. I have explained how it is too late to change the major party nominees, but that it is not too late for those of us who cannot support either candidate to influence the election, by denying the winner a mandate and electing a Congress that will pursue policies beneficial to our nation.

Finally, I would remind you that extremism in the defense of conservative principles is no vice. And let me also remind you that moderation in the pursuit of constructive political leadership is no virtue. 

I look forward to working with you in the future towards the election of Republican candidates worthy of our mutual support. Thank you for your ongoing efforts towards that end.