Former Republican Central Committee chairman Marvin Jones is
suing the current committee chairwoman, claiming she illegally
kicked him out of the committee.
Hollister – Former Republican Central Committee chairman Marvin Jones is suing the current committee chairwoman, claiming she illegally kicked him out of the committee.
Jones and his attorney, Bill Marder, recently filed a lawsuit in the San Benito County Superior Court asking that he be reinstated to his position as a committee member and that current chairwoman, Jennifer Zapata, give a legal reason for expelling Jones from the committee.
Jones was expelled from the committee during a closed-door meeting on July 20, which he was unable to attend because he was out of the country.
“I didn’t get to say one single word in my defense,” Jones said. “An individual ought to at least be able to say something in their defense.
Jones’ lawsuit is the latest salvo in the feud that has been brewing between the two Republicans for several months. Zapata asked Jones to resign from the committee in June after she claimed he misused committee funds while he was chairman. When Jones disputed the claims and refused, she filed a small claims action against him to recover the disputed funds.
Several weeks ago Zapata went back to court, where she requested a temporary restraining order against Jones and the coffee group he belongs to, called the San Benito County Militia. Zapata said they harassed her and that she feared for her safety.
Militia members, a self-proclaimed group of “geriatric juveniles,” deny Zapata’s claims.
Zapata declined to comment because it is a legal matter, but said attorneys with the state Republican Party are currently reviewing the lawsuit.
In his lawsuit, Jones claims the only grounds for expelling a member of the Republican Central Committee are for missing a certain number of meetings, joining a different political party, supporting a candidate for another party or moving out of the district.
He said he never engaged in any conduct that would warrant his expulsion, and as hard as some members of the group have tried to get rid of him for good, Jones continues to go back for more.
“Why would I want to be in a group such as that is a very good question,” he said. “It’s a matter of principle. There’s some good people in there, still.”
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or em*******@fr***********.com
