Long-time Greene County Republican leader challenged by Springfield school board member

The leader of the Greene County Republican Central Committee was challenged for the first time in more than a decade Tuesday night. Danette Proctor, who has served as the committee chair since 2007, was challenged by Steve Makoski, a member of the Springfield school board.

Makoski told the News-Leader he was seeking the leadership role as a way to provide a civil service and steer the party to be "more successful in educating our community" and electing more Republicans to public office.

While the reorganization meeting remained civil most of the time, tensions rose as members of the committee spoke about the two slates of candidates and the procedures for the election. Proctor appointed a temporary chair, retired circuit court judge Dan Conklin, to preside over the nominations and vote for the seat since she was running for the position. But before nominations were fully underway, Makoski motioned to appoint a certified parliamentarian to ensure all procedures were followed according to law. Despite a motion and a second, the committee never voted on the matter and the parliamentarian was not appointed.

Speaking for his nomination to the chair position, Makoski said that instead of the two minutes that had been allotted to each speaker, he believed 10 minutes would be proper, according to state statute. As his two minutes were up, he sparred with committee secretary Mavis Busiek, who called him "plain rude." Makoski, meanwhile, argued that Busiek's involvement in the process, which was supposed to be led solely by the interim chair, was improper and out of order. Busiek had directed other speakers before Makoski to speak about the slates rather than giving speeches, while making note of their time limits, as well.

Proctor's slate included attorney Clate Baker as vice chair, Busiek as secretary and Greene County Treasurer Justin Hill as treasurer. Makoski was joined on his slate by former Springfield City Council councilwoman Angela Romine as vice chair, Christine Vande Griend as secretary and Hill as treasurer.

Legacy leadership versus changing landscape

Makoski and the rest of his slate were nominated by new committeewoman Dianne Ely, who is the founder of Springfield's Back on Track America political action committee, which aims to "preserve God-given rights and liberties of the people." The PAC has been active in school board election endorsements.

Speaking about the slate, both Makoski and Ely focused on conservative talking points within the schools like teaching Marxism, hanging pride flags in classrooms instead of the American flag, pushing "an agenda for the LGBTQ community" via safe space stickers and confusing students and leading to discipline issues across local schools.

While Proctor did not speak herself, those speaking for her slate emphasized her years of institutional knowledge and experience leading the party to help Republicans be elected.

"The challenge before us is to win over the independents, which there are more and more independents in this city," Former Greene County Prosecuting Attorney Darrell Moore said while speaking in support of Proctor's slate. "We have to present ourselves as attractive, not as hateful, not as discouragers, not as personally attacking people. We need to advance our ideas in a positive, firm manner, and we will win elections."

Those on the opposing side appreciated Proctor's long-held leadership but said that the country and its political landscape have changed in recent years.

Lop-sided result once vote taken

With votes tallied, Proctor's slate received a large majority of the votes, 51 to Makoski's 22, with one committee member abstaining. Makoski said he believed that if a parliamentarian been presiding over the process, the results might have been different.

"It's only the fair and the right thing to do, that everybody has a fair, equal opportunity, and a parliamentarian would just help us do that," he told the News-Leader.

Proctor said this year was the first time that she faced a challenger both in the primary election, when Linda Lundstrom ran against her, and for the chair position since joining the party committee. While she had heard whispers about the challenge and expected it Tuesday night, she said she was "shocked" when she first learned about it, particularly because it was a friend.

"I don't know why he did this other than he's on the school board," she said.

Proctor noted that much of the discussion surrounding Makoski's slate was focused on schools and youth, while she views the role of the central committee to be broader and more focused on educating voters across all elected offices rather than aimed at a "special interest."

More: SPS board member elected to Republican National Committee vows to fight 'socialist agenda'

Makoski's presence at the Tuesday meeting meant he did not attend the SPS board meeting happening the same night, which featured a substantial agenda. He said he attended the GOP meeting instead because the date was set before the SPS board meeting was scheduled. The date for committee reorganization is set out as the third Tuesday in August in state statute while SPS board meetings are scheduled several months in advance.

While he failed to garner the votes to lead the local Republicans this time around, he said he will vie for the chair seat again in future reorganizations. Committees reorganize every two years.

Makoski is not the first from the SPS school board to seek a role in politics, as school board positions become increasingly politicized. Earlier this year, Springfield school board member Maryam Mohammadkhani was elected to represent Missouri as part of the Republican National Committee .

Marta Mieze covers local government at the News-Leader. Have feedback, tips or story ideas? Contact her at mmieze@news-leader.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Long-time Greene County Republican leader challenged by Springfield school board member