MASSACHUSETTS REPUBLICAN PARTY
August 16th, 2023
Clayton Sova
28 Fort Square #3
Gloucester, MA 01930
Re: Misuse of Republican Charter for Committee
Dear Mr. Sova:
It has come to my attention that you have sent emails purporting to be the chairman of the Gloucester Republican City Committee, have used the committee logo without permission of the leadership team, and have changed the name applied to your personal email address to appear to be committee official email.
The party appreciates your desire to support Republican candidates, however the party and the Office of Campaign and Political Management (OCPF) govern the recognition of Republican committees. Please note that on July 28, 2023, the Massachusetts Republican State Party (MassGOP) issued a letter settling any dispute as to the current officers of the Gloucester Republican City Committee. I am attaching this letter for your reference.
Unless or until there is a reorganization conducted within the guidelines outlined by the MassGOP in which you are duly elected to a position within the Gloucester Republican City Committee, you must cease and desist purporting to speak on behalf of the Gloucester Republican City Committee. We are aware that OCPF does not list you as a member of the Gloucester Republican City Committee as of August 2, 2023.
The name “Gloucester Republican City Committee” derives from a charter issued by the state Republican Party. You may not use it without permission of the MassGOP, and we do not grant permission or authority to declare yourself the Gloucester Republican City Committee Chair at this time.
The term REPUBLICAN is authorized under MGL C56 S40. The MassGOP controls permission to use the word, and violators who use the term REPUBLICAN without permission from the MassGOP are subject to penalties. The MassGOP Bylaws Article VIII, Sections 1-3 cover how permission is granted.
MGL 56:40 “Section 40: Using names of political parties; restrictions
Section 40. No organization consisting of two or more persons, other than a political committee duly elected in accordance with law or a corporation organized prior to January first, nineteen hundred and twenty-three, under the laws of this
commonwealth and having as a part of its name the name of a political party, as
defined by law, shall, in order to promote the success or defeat of a political party or principle or of a candidate in a public election, in any circular, advertisement or
publication use in its organization name the name of such a political party, except
with the written consent of the duly elected state committee representing such
political party.
Any member of an organization subject to this section who participates in a violation of any provision of said section shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than six months or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, or both.”
In reference to the Massachusetts General Laws quoted above, and to my letter dated July 28, 2023, we request that you cease and desist naming yourself the chairman of the Gloucester Republican City Committee, and cease and desist sending out emails purporting to be the committee, as you do not have authority to do so.
We appreciate your enthusiasm for the Republican Party and welcome your involvement in ways that do not infringe on the rights of the existing committee.
Sincerely,
Amy Carnevale
Chair, Massachusetts Republican Party
400 West Cummings Park, Suite 5650, Woburn, MA 01801
T: (617) 523-5005 • MASSGOP.COM
But you can use the term ‘republican’ with a small ‘r’ all you want. There is nothing that the MassGOP RINOs can do about that! A ‘republican’ is ANYONE who supports a republican form of government as opposed to, for example, the TOTALLY CORRUPT DemocRAT BIDEN JUNTA.