TUCSON – After the chairman of the Pima County Republican Central Committee refused to step down from his position at the committee’s request last night, they drafted and passed a resolution directing him to cease public comment and turn over all fiduciary responsibility.

Two members of the central committee have confirmed to News 4 Tucson that Chairman Brian Miller was asked to resign his position for statements he made indicating a distrust of Pima County and Tucson law enforcement agencies, and for “expending large amounts of County Committee funds without the authorization of the Executive Committee.”

During an emergency meeting held last night, the committee asked Miller to resign, and he refused. The committee then drafted the a resolution directing Miller to cease and desist making public statement or comment, to return any and all committee banking account checks and credit cards to the treasurer, to cease entering into any contracts or agreements, and to return all keys to the committee’s headquarters.

One member told KVOA that “his chairmanship is not in the best interest of the organization”.

Miller has come under fire by the committee for statements he made about Pima County Sheriff’s Department regarding their handling of a SWAT raid of residence of former Marine Jose Guerena.

An unedited copy of the Pima County Republic Central Committee resolution regarding Chairman Brian Miller follows:

RESOLUTION
Whereas, the Pima County Republican Central Committee (County Committee) is governed by the laws of the State of Arizona and by the Continuing Bylaws of the Pima County Republican Central Committee (Bylaws) and
Whereas, Article V Section 2 of Bylaws provides, in part, that “[T]he Executive Committee shall have the authority and responsibility for the official policy of the County Committee,” and
Whereas, Brian Miller, the current Chair of the County Committee, speaking as the Chair of the County Committee, has made numerous public statements and comments indicating a distrust of Pima County and Tucson law enforcement agencies, which creates a public impression that these statements and comments reflect the policy of the County Committee, and
Whereas the misimpression created by Brian Miller, the current Chair of the County Committee, is not the policy of the County Committee and is in no manner adopted by the Executive Committee and
Whereas, after being asked by the Executive Committee to make a public retraction of his statements and comments that bring dishonor and ill repute to the County Committee, Brian Miller, the current Chair of the County Committee has failed to do so in a meaningful manner, and
Whereas, Article VII Section 1 of Bylaws provides, in part, that “[T]he Executive Committee shall have the power and authority to disburse all County Committee funds. All persons designated to disburse such funds shall be bonded by the Executive Committee,” and
Whereas, Brian Miller, the current Chair of the County Committee has willfully violated the Bylaws by expending large amounts of County Committee funds without the authorization of the Executive Committee and further by entering into long-term financial obligations for which the County Committee is financially liable and doing so without authorization or bonding by the Executive Committee, and
Whereas it is the fiduciary responsibility of the Executive Committee to strictly enforce the Bylaws which govern expenditure of funds in order to protect the continued viability and accomplish the objectives of the County Committee,
Therefore, it is hereby resolved by the Executive Committee, that
1. Article V Section 2 of the Bylaws remains in full effect and Brian Miller, the current Chair of the County Committee, is directed to cease and desist making any public statement or comment, as Chair of the County Committee, unless prior authorization to act as the official spokesman for the County Committee for a specific issue or item has been expressly granted by the Executive Committee, and
2. Article VII Section 1 of the Bylaws remains in full effect and in order to exercise the fiduciary responsibility of the Executive Committee under that section, Brian Miller, the current Chair of the County Committee, is directed to immediately take the following actions:
a. Return any and all County Committee banking account checks and credit cards to the County Committee Treasurer,
b. Cease and desist, while acting as agent or representative of the County Committee or Executive Committee, from entering into any contracts, agreements or financial obligations that create any amount of financial liability for the County Committee,
c. Return all keys to the County Committee headquarters offices.
d. Return medallions and all other property and documents to the County Committee headquarters offices.