City News County GOP factions plan dueling conventions

By Logan Washburn City News Editor

The Hillsdale County Republican Party’s two factions are planning to hold separate county conventions on Jan. 26.

“It ultimately just hurts our Republican Party,” said Jon Smith, the HCRP’s original “America First” secretary. “People that don’t understand what’s going on, they just think, ‘Oh, it’s two Republicans fighting again.’”

County Commissioner

Brent Leininger has led a newer group since August, suing the HCRP’s “America First” officers for party control since they barred members from August’s county convention.

Neither group has backed down. According to Smith, the “America First” faction will hold its convention at Sozo Church. Penny Swan, a former officer in Leininger’s group, said the group will hold its convention at the Hillsdale Senior Center.

According to a letter from Leininger, the upcoming county convention will nominate delegates for the Michigan Republican Party’s Feb. 18 convention, which will determine the state party’s leadership. Smith said the state party will have to decide which county delegates will attend its convention.

The Michigan GOP recently changed its stance on the issue, as the party had previously recognized the “America First” faction, but Chairman Ron Weiser recognized Leininger’s group in a Dec. 28 letter.

“The Michigan Republican Party acknowledges Brent Leininger and his executive committee as the newlyelected leadership of the Hillsdale Republican Party,” Weiser wrote.

Leininger said he is grateful the state party ruled in favor of his group. He said his leadership needed to take control, as he thinks the HCRP’s original “America First” leadership had been usurping power.

“The integrity of our elections demanded that we not be silent and passive,” Leininger said. “I am grateful the state party has come to the same conclusion.”

Statesmanship alumnus Jacob Bruns ’22, David Mosby, Danielle Mentz, Dan Rutan, and Chris Wingate.

“Trochky [sic] International Socialists.”

Leininger’s leadership consists mostly of local officials, according to Swan. After November’s elections, Leininger’s officers include County Clerk Marney Kast, Deputy County Clerk Abe Dane, Prosecutor Neal Brady, former Michigan GOP Chair Susy Avery, and former County Treasurer Gary Leininger.

After the most recent elections, Smith said, leaders of the “America First” group include Mayor Adam Stockford, Van Andel Graduate School of

State troopers arrest suspect in local drive-by shooting

By Olivia Hajicek

Assistant Editor Michigan State Police arrested a man suspected of shooting and injuring another driver in Jefferson Township on the night of arraigned on Jan. 6.

Jan. 4.

According to an MSP news release, Jackson Post troopers responded to the incident on Osseo Road near Beecher Road at 9:40 p.m.

“The suspect, a 30-yearold from Hillsdale, was driving in a separate vehicle and shot several bullets at the victim’s vehicle,” the news release said. “One round penetrated the driver’s side door of the victim’s vehicle and struck the victim in both legs.” is charging Mosby with attempted murder, assault with intent to murder, felony firearm, and discharge from a vehicle causing serious impairment. Wisniewski is prosecuting Mosby, and attorney George Lyons is representing him, according to the court website.

The victim, a 24-year-old from Hillsdale, was taken to Hillsdale Hospital and was in “critical, but stable condition,” according to the news release.

MSP troopers arrested Mosby without incident at a residence in Bronson, Michigan, the morning of Jan. 5, according to the news release. He is currently at the Hillsdale County Jail.

Matthew Christopher Mosby, 30, is facing four charges related to the incident, according to JailTracker. He was

An MSP sergeant confirmed the investigation was ongoing as of Jan. 17.

Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jamie J. Wisniewski said her office

Wisniewski said Mosby is currently being held without bail. He will face a probable cause conference at 10 a.m. on Jan. 18, and a preliminary examination on Jan. 25.

Smith expects the Michigan GOP will support his group after new leadership wins elections at the February state convention, he said.

“They don't realize the delegate body across the state supports us,” Smith said. “It’s about this local Hillsdale ‘Boss Hogg’ control. But this is actually a much bigger story.”

The conflict started when the HCRP’s “America First” executive committee officers barred more than 61 local delegates from the August county convention, disavowing them as

“The good people of Hillsdale County elected precinct delegates in the August primary, who were then denied access to their own county convention by the illegal actions of the former party leadership,” Leininger said. “The thenestablished party tried to deny duly elected delegates their right to represent their constituents.”

Leininger led an alternate convention at the same time for those the party leadership had barred from the convention. The state party accepted delegates from the alternate convention on Aug. 19.

Leininger and his group met in an Aug. 25 meeting, where he and other local officials say they were voted in as the party’s new leadership. The party’s “America First” executive committee officers refused to yield control.

“The little man’s telling me, ‘Don’t give up,’” Smith said. “What am I supposed to do, just give up?”

POLICE REPORT:

5 Jan.

-The Hillsdale County Sheriff's Office arrested a 46-yearold Findlay, Ohio man for stalking, motor vehicle tracking violations, malicious use of telecommunications service, intentional dissemination of explicit visual material, and bribing/intimidating/interfering with witnesses. A $233,000 bond was not posted.

11 Jan.

- A 42-year-old homeless man was arrested for an attempted home invasion, possession of a taser, civil warrant for failure to pay child support, and contempt of court.

Weiser sent a ruling on Aug. 27 against Leininger’s group, recognizing the party’s original leadership.

Michigan GOP Co-Chair Meshawn Maddock said in an email the letter was “valid and authentic.”

Leininger’s group sued the party’s original leadership on Oct. 12 to gain control of the party, according to the plaintiffs’ attorney Jonathan Lauderbach.

Plaintiffs took issue with the HCRP’s “America First” July 28 executive committee meeting, where officers voted to disavow party members before the August convention.

Lenawee County Circuit Court Judge Michael Olsaver granted an injunction against the HCRP’s original leadership on Nov. 15, writing this “America First” faction “illegitimately” removed other committee members in their July 28 meeting.

The Collegian has compiled a selection of recent arrests from the City of Hillsdale and Hillsdale County.

9 Jan.

-Hillsdale City Police arrested a 49-year-old from Homer for breaking and entering with intent. A $40,000 bond was posted.

-The Hillsdale County Sheriff's Office arrested a 27-year-old Osseo woman for reckless discharge. A $1,000 bond was posted.

14 Jan.

- The Michigan State Police arrested a 37-year-old Jerome man for operating while intoxicated and failure to report an accident. A $5,000 bond was posted for the first charge, and a $1,000 bond was posted for the second charge.

Sources: City of Hillsdale Police Department, Hillsdale County Sheriff's Office