The Lexington County Republican Party, on Monday, unanimously voted to censure Chairwoman Pamela Godwin and demanded her resignation.

The official meeting was held at the Lexington Chamber and Visitors Center. The censure was in response to Chairman Godwin’s repeated failures to exercise the duties of her office, specifically violations of the LCRP Bylaws in several sections.

Under Chairman responsibilities 2A, “to oversee the general month-to-month and day-to-day operations of the county party,” Godwin has not placed the necessary committees to transact the business of the party to date since she was sworn in on April 24. Godwin has ignored Rule 5 C. 8, which requires resolutions to be reviewed by the Resolutions committee and “the Resolution Committee will present a report within 21 days of submission or at the next scheduled Executive Committee meeting following the 21st day for discussion and vote by the Executive Committee.”

All censures and resolutions were not put before the Resolutions committee nor has the committee been announced for individuals to know who to send them to for consideration.

Chairman Godwin’s public statements regarding party members, Executive Committee
members, party officers and members of the public have been made to offend and malign
and have become so egregious as to amount to personal attacks, which are prohibited by the
State and County party to regulate decorum in the body. Godwin lost decorum at the special
called meeting on August 3, 2023 where no business was able to be conducted.
Mark Weber, First Vice Chairman, presided over the official business meeting which was
orderly and respectful, with many members actively providing input throughout the process
of formulating the censure.

“We respect the citizens of Lexington County and members of the Republican party too much
to allow this situation to fester further,” said Weber. “We must take the actions necessary to
address the issues head on with facts, not feelings. Sunlight is the best disinfectant and the
truth will ultimately prevail. Ironically, as messy as this process is, it is making the Lexington
County Republican party stronger, as ‘iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.’”

On August 2, Godwin sent a message through the State Executive Committeeman
to Party Treasurer Jackie Fowler that she was “officially appointed effective immediately”
in violation of Rule 5 D. 2 and had the party State E. C. Lanneau Siegling email Fowler to
return all of her treasury documents immediately. On August 4, the LCRP bank account at
First Community Bank was closed by Godwin without any notice, advice and consent or
approval of the Steering Committee or Executive Committee and as of this date the
whereabouts of the funds ($6,894.87) are unknown.

“Pamela Godwin was elected Chairman of the Lexington County Republican Party with a
mandate of honesty, transparency, and inclusivity,” said Fowler. “She disappointed her many
supporters when she failed these goals and instead excluded anyone who disagreed with her
or did not vote for candidates she endorsed. She often disregarded Party rules that
contradicted her goals, including appointments to the Steering Committee without advice
and consent. My unauthorized dismissal as Treasurer and closure of the Party’s bank account
leaves the Party at a financial impasse.”

Godwin sent messages in the past week attempting to change the regular business
meeting to a movie night. She then attempted to call another special meeting on the same
date as the regular business meeting to begin thirty minutes after the start of the regular
business meeting. The state party chairman confirmed that the regular business meeting
would take precedence and the majority of LCRP members attended. With 78 organized
precincts, the business meeting at the Lexington Chamber saw an official vote tally of 27
Executive Committeemen, 10 Precinct Presidents and three officers for a total of 40 voting
members plus a full gallery of spectators and visitors numbering at least 70 total people for
a standing room only meeting.

Attendance at the illegitimate meeting at 7:00pm on August 7th at the TopSpin Racquet and
Swim Club on Sunset Boulevard was very light.

“As much as I love Pamela and have stood by her through thick and thin I cannot and will
not in good conscience stand by and allow her to lead this party through manipulation and
tyrannical tactics,” said John Allen, Third Vice Chairman of the LCRP. “She must step down as
chairwoman so we can save the integrity of this body before it’s too late.”

In other business, the Executive Committee voted unanimously to retract the previously
issued censure of District Five School Board Chair of Lexington and Richland Counties
Rebecca Blackburn Hines and apologized to her for the embarrassment and distress the
censure caused. Proper procedure was not followed by the chairman in the preparation and
voting of the censure originally.

LEXINGTON COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY RESOLUTION

TO FORMALLY CENSURE AND DEMAND THE RESIGNATION OF
LEXINGTON COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIRMAN PAMELA DEE
BLANTON JACKSON LABRECQUE GODWIN FOR DERELICTION OF DUTY,
STATEMENTS UNBECOMING OF THE CHAIRMAN, DISHONESTY, AND
INABILITY TO FULFILL THE ROLE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND OBLIGATIONS
OF THE OFFICE OF CHAIRMAN.

Whereas, Chairman Godwin’s public statements regarding party members, Executive
Committee members, party officers and members of the public have repeatedly been
made to offend and malign and have become so egregious as to amount to personal
attacks upon members of the Lexington County Republican Party which are
prohibited by the State and County party to regulate decorum in the body as shown in
the attached Exhibit entitled Important Information for LCRP Members and prohibits
disrespect to the Executive Committee and all personalities; the Chairman lost
decorum at the special called meeting on August 3rd, 2023; and

Whereas, under Chairman responsibilities 2A, “to oversee the general month-to-month and day-to-day operations of the county party,” Chairman Godwin has not
placed necessary committees to transact the business of the party to date since she was
sworn in on April 24th, 2023, thereby has ignored Rule 5 C.8 regarding Resolutions
which requires resolutions to be reviewed by the Resolutions committee and “the
Resolution Committee will present a report within 21 days of submission or at the
next scheduled Executive Committee Meeting immediately following the 21st day for
discussion and vote by the Executive Committee.” All censures and resolutions never
went through the resolution committee nor has the committee been announced for
individuals to know who to send them to for consideration given that the Rules
Committee was never formed, the Executive Committee is therefore bypassing that
requirement for the purpose of this resolution; and
\

Whereas, under Rule 5 D.2. for removing of appointed officers, “The County
Executive Committee may remove any appointed officer at any time for due cause
with prior notice and debate. Such vote must occur in the presence of a quorum and
requires a 2/3 vote to pass.” On August 2nd 2023, the chairman unilaterally “officially
unappointed” the Treasurer from her position “effective immediately” in violation of
Rule 5 D.2 and had our State EC email the Treasurer demanding that all of her
treasury documents should be returned him. On August 4th, 2023, the LCRP bank
account at First Community Bank was closed by Chairman Godwin without any
notice, advice and consent or approval of the Steering Committee nor Executive
Committee and as of this date the whereabouts of the funds are unknown; and

Whereas, Chairman Godwin has violated Rule 5 C.6, which states, “The Steering
Committee shall consist of the county Chairman, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Vice-Chairmen, and
various District Vice-Chairmen, Party Secretary, Treasurer, State Executive
Committeeman and district vice chairmen with the advice and consent of the Steering
Committee. All the district vice chairmen positions have been appointed according to
the Chairman with no advice and consent from the Steering Committee to date, and

Whereas, Chairman Godwin’s public statements amount to conduct unbecoming a
member of the Executive Committee of the Lexington County Republican Party and,
as a result, has brought dishonor to herself, the Lexington County Republican Party,
and to its citizens, dereliction in her duties of office, for official misconduct in
office, and for abuses of power while in office that has brought ridicule, dishonor,
shame, and disgrace to herself, the State of South Carolina, the Lexington County
Republican Party, and to its citizens and it is therefore appropriate that she be
censured by the body and asked to resign from office; Now, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE
LEXINGTON COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY:
That the Lexington County Republican Party, by this resolution, hereby censures
Chairman Godwin and demands her resignation as Chairman for DERELICTION OF
DUTY, STATEMENTS UNBECOMING OF THE CHAIRPERSON, DISHONESTY,
AND INABILITY TO FULFILL THE ROLE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND
OBLIGATIONS OF THE OFFICE OF CHAIRMAN.