By Phil Riske
Managing Editor, Rose Law Group Reporter
Prior to Saturday’s Pinal County Republican election in Florence, two of four candidates for GOP chairman were considered the top runners: Harold Vangilder of Casa Grande and Irene Littleton, the county party’s vice chair.
As it turned out, however, Party Secretary Seraphim Larsen beat out Littleton, who was outgoing chairman Stephen Kobhut’s handpicked successor.
But that wasn’t the big news of the day in Florence
Police were called to the meeting after a conflict between Republican National Committeeman Bruce Ash and Kohut, as first reported on Twitter.
Kohut did not give his version of events when asked by the Arizona Daily Star, but Ash told the newspaper Kohut had called him and forbade him from coming to the meeting, adding he’s be thrown out if he did.
Ash showed up anyway and found himself recording on his cell phone a heated argument between Kohut and Bill Brodwell of Casa Grande. The topic of the argument was not disclosed.
After that flareup, another occurred when Kohut demanded Ash leave the meeting, which he refused to do, prompting a call to police.
Sheriff Paul Babeu, who is a precinct committeeman, came to Ash’s rescue, telling police Ash had the right to attend the meeting.
Things then settled down.
