About Us

Who We Are

Welcome to the Oconto RP Office Republican Party website! We are thrilled to have you join our vibrant community of individuals committed to promoting Republican values and principles within Oconto RP Office. Our platform is dedicated to connecting like-minded citizens, fostering meaningful discussions, and supporting local candidates and initiatives that uphold liberty, freedom, and opportunity for all. Explore our resources, connect with fellow Oconto RP Office Republicans, and join us in making a positive impact on our community. Together, we can create a stronger, more united Oconto RP Office for generations to come.

ARTICLE I – NAME

The name of this organization shall be: “The Republican Party of Oconto County”.

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE

The purpose of this organization shall be to unify, under one central organization, the activities of the Republican Party of Oconto County, and to advance in every honorable way fundamental Republican principles and policies, and as a voluntary organization, recruit conservative Republican candidates for public office, and cooperate and assist in all local, county, state, and national elections, to the end that our republican form of government, as created under the Constitution of the United States and the State of Wisconsin, be preserved for all people. As a constituent, self-governing part of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, this organization shall direct, manage, supervise, and control its business, property, and funds.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

Membership in this organization shall be available to all citizens eligible to vote who believe in the objectives, purpose, and principles of the Republican Party and who are not members of another political party registered with the Federal Elections Commission and/or the State of Wisconsin Agency responsible for elections.

A member in good standing, eligible to vote on party business, is one that has met the requirements listed above and paid the annual membership dues as determined by the Executive Committee. Status as a voting member shall be conferred only upon those members who reside in Oconto County and are recorded by the Secretary or Treasurer at least 30 days prior to any special meeting or annual caucus. Individuals who are not Oconto County residents or not of voting age may join as non-voting. The membership year shall be from August 1st to July 31st.

ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The officers of the Republican Party of Oconto County shall consist of a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. These officers shall be elected at the Annual County Caucus in the odd numbered years. These officers shall not be monetarily compensated nor shall be an employee or contractor of the party.

A. Officer Duties

I. The Chairperson shall represent this organization in an official capacity and shall preside at all meetings and caucuses of the Party, and at the Executive Committee meetings and shall generally supervise the work of the organization. The Chairperson shall be an ex-officio member of all committees and shall appoint permanent and ad hoc committee coordinators with the approval of the Executive Committee, appoint members of all such committees, and can approve any expenditure that is less than $250.00 provided it is authorized by the executive committee.

II. The Vice-Chairperson shall perform the duties of the Chairperson in the Chairperson’s absence, shall assume the Chairmanship in the event of its vacancy for the unexpired term of the regularly elected Chairperson, shall otherwise perform the duties as may be assigned by the Chairperson as well as any duties usually associated with the office of Vice Chairperson. The Chairperson shall be considered absent when he/she declares such for a specific period in advance or when 2 officers agree that the Chairperson is absent and unavailable to execute a normal duty vital to the party by any usual method of communication. 

III. The Secretary or designee shall keep and read the minutes of all meetings and shall be the custodian of all records of the organization in whatever format required, including all membership correspondence. The Secretary shall immediately produce those records at the directive of the Chairperson or the Executive Committee. 

IV. The Treasurer shall receive and be custodian of all the organization’s funds, pay all bills not exceeding $250.00 individually without approval, and shall pay all bills greater than $250.00 as approved by the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall keep an account of monies received and disbursed and shall report to the Executive Committee, the Wisconsin Ethics Commission and to the general membership. The Executive Committee may authorize the Chairperson to make a payment in her or his absence provide that notice of such is made in advance to the other officers. The Treasurer shall immediately produce all financial records at the directive of the Chairperson or the Executive Committee. Failure to do so shall be a breach of duty and the Treasurer may be subject to removal from office immediately by the Executive Committee.

B. Terms of Office

I. The term of the officers and Executive Committee members shall be two (2) years and until their successors are elected and installed. The term of any permanent or ad hoc committee coordinator is the same as the Chairperson who made the appointment. 

II. The Executive Committee shall have authority to conduct the business of the Republican Party of Oconto County, including setting annual meetings, annual caucus, membership dues, approve a budget and additional expenditures as needed, review the financial condition of the party, including review all financial records of the Party upon its demand and to review its compliance of all laws. 

III. The Executive Committee shall have the authority to establish permanent or ad-hoc committees or abolish them. 

IV. The Executive Committee is exclusively empowered to fill vacancies on the Executive Committee, and the Offices of Vice Chairperson, Secretary, or Treasurer, as soon as possible after the vacancy occurs. A person elected by the Executive Committee to fill a vacancy shall fill the position upon election and shall serve for the balance of the unexpired term to which they were elected. 

V. Executive Committee members must attend two-thirds of all called meetings to remain on the Executive Committee. Should a member of the Executive Committee be absent for more than two-thirds of all called meetings, the Executive Committee may schedule a special meeting to discuss replacement options.

C. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

I. The Executive Committee shall consist of the four (4) elected officers, the immediate past Chairperson, plus up to two (2) at large members all elected at Caucus.

ARTICLE V – COUNTY CAUCUSES AND PARTY MEETINGS

A duly constituted Annual County Caucus shall be called by the Chairperson each year prior to April 1st. A minimum of fourteen (14) days prior notice shall be given to the membership by mail or email notice to all members. Such notice sent by email, shall also be sent by postal mail to members who have not provided an email address. The County Caucus shall elect delegates and alternate delegates to the State Convention and the District Caucus each year and four (4) officers in the odd numbered years. If neither the Chairperson nor the Vice-Chairperson calls such Annual County Caucus at least thirty (30) days before the date set for the District Caucus, the District Chairperson may call such County Caucus for the Republican Party of Oconto County in the manner outlined in this article. Voting by proxy is prohibited. Only members in good standing of the Republican Party of Oconto County at the time of the Annual County Caucus shall be eligible to vote in the Annual County Caucus, District Caucus and State Convention. If any question arises as to the voting status of any person attending the County Caucus, a decision shall be made by a vote of the Executive Committee members present. A majority vote of those present is required to exclude a person from voting at the County Caucus.

A quorum for an Annual County Caucus shall be twenty-five percent (25%) of the authorized delegate total for Oconto County at the immediately preceding Republican State Convention, but never less than eight (8). If a quorum has not been met, an Executive Committee Meeting may be called by a majority of the Executive Committee to conduct the business of the Party. 

In no event shall one individual have more than one (1) vote on any issue. 

Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the Chairperson, or upon written request of five (5) members of the Executive Committee. Notice of the meeting shall be given to each member of the Executive Committee. Annual County Caucus and meetings may be called upon notice by the Chairperson, at the direction of a majority of the Executive Committee or upon the petition of twenty five percent (25%) of members in good standing. The petition shall state the purpose of the meeting.

ARTICLE VI – NOMINATIONS

Nominations for biennial election of officers of the Party shall be made at the Annual Caucus provided that any person that is nominated is a member in good standing. The Secretary shall send an email/mail to all members who have provided such address immediately. If the office of Secretary is vacant or the Secretary cannot be reached on a timely basis, then such notice may be delivered to other members of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VII – PUBLIC POSITIONS

Neither the Republican Party of Oconto County nor its Executive Committee shall endorse a candidate or candidates for public office prior to a primary election. The elected officers, except for the Chairperson, may endorse a candidate or candidates at any time but not on behalf of the Republican Party of Oconto County.

ARTICLE VIII –  FINANCE

a. In the event of the dissolution of the Republican Party of Oconto County, the remaining assets shall be transferred to the Republican Party of Wisconsin. 

b. Bills incurred by this organization shall be satisfied by check drawn upon the account of the Republican Party of Oconto County. 

c. The Executive Committee may establish and control any expense account. 

d. The Executive Committee shall develop a budget in the fall of each calendar year. This budget shall anticipate revenue and expenses for the coming year.

e. The Chairperson may directly authorize disbursements of less than $250.00, provided that they are authorized by the Annual Budget. Expenditures of $250.00 or more require authorization by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE IX –  BY-LAWS

By-Laws may be adopted in compliance with this Constitution by a majority vote at any duly called Annual County Caucus or meeting. The purpose of bylaws is to establish operating rules for the Party that do not require inclusion in the constitution and do require a two-thirds vote of Caucus or Executive Committee.

ARTICLE X – PARLIMENTARY AUTHORITY

“Roberts’ Rules of Order, Newly Revised,” shall govern all proceedings except where inconsistent with the Constitution and By-Laws of this organization.

ARTICLE XI – CONSTRUCTION AND AMENDMENTS

In the event of any conflict or ambiguity in this Constitution with the Constitution of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, the provisions of the Constitution of the Republican Party of Wisconsin shall prevail. This constitution may be amended at a Special Meeting by a majority vote of members present and in good standing where the call and notice state such purpose and the exact proposed language. All amendments must be approved by the Republican Party of Wisconsin before they become effective. This Constitution was adopted unanimously by the members present at the 2002 Caucus of the Republican Party of Oconto County at Kelly Lake, Wisconsin, February 17, 2002, amended by the members present at the January 15, 2011 Caucus of the Republican Party of Oconto County at Oconto Falls, and further amended by the members present at the January 18th, 2014 Caucus of the Republican Party of Oconto County at Gillett and further amended by the members present at the January 24th, 2015 Caucus of the Republican Party of Oconto County at Suring. This Constitution was adopted unanimously by the members present at the 2022 Special Caucus of the Republican Party of Oconto County at the Republican Headquarter in Oconto at 1106 Main St, Oconto, WI 54153 on November 16th, 2022.