The executive committee of the Campbell County Republican Party Central Committee says it’s concerned that the Wyoming GOP is intentionally trying to keep women out of politics.

The committee sent a letter last week to the state Republican Party executive committee, criticizing it for not doing anything about a Park County precinct committeeman who used vulgar language toward a state senator last month and pointing out that it was quick to censure a Republican woman last fall.

The letter was sent last week. No mention was made of the letter at a Monday meeting of the state party’s executive committee, said Campbell County state committeewoman Heidi Gross.

“It does surprise me that absolutely nothing was said about it,” she said. “Campbell County is the third largest county in the state. When our party sends a letter … they should at least acknowledge they received it.”

The letter calls out the Wyoming GOP for being inconsistent when it comes to disciplining elected officials.

“We are concerned the Wyoming Republican Party’s misogynistic actions are calculated to keep women out of Wyoming politics,” the letter reads.

In September, Troy Bray, a precinct committeeman from Powell, wrote an email to Sen. Tara Nethercott. He referenced her handling of a bill that died in the last legislative session that would have prohibited the state from requiring COVID-19 vaccines. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 4-1 against the bill in March. Nethercott, a Cheyenne Republican and lawyer, is the chairwoman of the committee.

In the email, Bray concluded, “If I were as despicable a person as you, I would kill myself to rid the world of myself. You sicken me. Thank you for ensuring that the people of Wyoming are subjected to tyranny once again. F— YOU C—.”

Since that time, the state GOP has not taken any disciplinary action against Bray. The state party called his comments inappropriate, obscene and vile, and said the Park County Republican Party’s officers were right to disavow them. The state GOP said the matter should be handled by the Park County party.

(Last month, the Park County Republican Party’s Central Committee addressed Bray’s email in an executive session and rejected motions that would have asked him to resign or censured him.)

However, Campbell County’s letter says that, “The silence on the word choices, and the demeaning nature of the communications is deafening, and it shows the Wyoming Republican Party’s attitude toward women.”

The Campbell County GOP contrasted that with JoAnn True, a Natrona County state committee woman who was censured by the state GOP for her involvement with a political action committee committed to electing female candidates from both major parties.

True founded the Cowgirl Run Fund with the goal of increasing the number of women in elected seats, regardless of their political affiliation. The fund contributed to both Republicans and Democrats in the 2020 election, along with numerous female candidates for nonpartisan positions in municipal and county government.

Gross said she was “very surprised” that the state GOP didn’t censure Bray, especially since it was so quick to censure True. 

“Unfortunately I think our [state] Republican Party has become selective in the things they address,” she said. “If your comments fit their narrative, that’s fine, and if it doesn’t … you’re called a RINO.”

The letter was signed by the Campbell County GOP executive committee, which includes Gross, chair Heather Herr, vice-chair Sam Clikeman, state committeeman Tom Lubnau, Charlene Camblin and Alison Gee. They urged the state party to “do the right thing” by encouraging women to participate in the political process, to stand up for women who are verbally abused and “make it clear that asking for someone to commit suicide and calling them F------ C----, is unacceptable and will be dealt with in the harshest possible manner.”

The letter demonstrates a shift in the philosophy of the Campbell County GOP central committee. In October 2020, in light of the state GOP censuring True, a resolution condemning the state party’s actions failed on a 13-33 vote.

(CJ Baker contributed reporting.)