Saline County Republican Headquarters at Market Street and Sevier Street in downtown Benton. (Photo by Shelli Poole)
Update May 12, 2026 – New Officers:
The Saline County Republican Committee (SCRC) recently voted in a new list of local party officers. MySaline reported several days ago that the SCRC met for the first time after a 16-month suspension. More on that below, but first, we have their new list of officers. Scroll down for more.
Speaking to political consultant and longtime member of the SCRC, Ken Yang gave us a list of the new officers in the party’s local committee, as well as District and Statewide committee representatives.
Justin Rue – Chairman
Gabrielle Harvey – 1st Vice Chair
Rusty Jackson – 2nd Vice Chair
Carlton Billingsley- Treasurer
Heather McKim – Secretary
Josh Mesker – Election Commissioner
Keith Keck – Election Commissioner
Ken Yang – 2nd Congressional District Committeeman
Tammy Schmidt – 2nd Congressional District Committeewoman
Doyle Webb – State Committeeman
Ann Clemmer – State Committeewoman
Update May 8, 2026 – The First Meeting:
The Saline County Republican Party was back in session for the first time on Thursday night after over a year, and they are looking to get back to business. They haven’t been able to meet since state leaders suspended the chapter in December 2024, and even banned some members from office for 20 years. Read more below.
It’s been a while, so first, here’s a little history…
It started in 2024 when members began to disagree on the focus of the local party, arguments became expected at meetings, and party leaders at the time were accused of mismanagement.
At one point, the insurance policy on the Republican Headquarters building lapsed. In July 2024, the owners of the building – a non-profit board, voted to remove the Republican Committee from meeting there.
- Part 1 – Owners of Republican HQ building votes to remove current Committee
- Part 2 – Local Republican Chair responds to vote to remove Committee from building
The Committee then moved meetings to the Senior Adult Center at Benton’s Riverside Park, but the disagreements stayed with the group. A divide now distinguished the group as either part of the “establishment” and those who had new goals, such as using paper ballots in elections, and removing books from the Saline County Library.
It all came to a head after a meeting in September, where a physical altercation transpired between one member, and a then-radio host.
- [VIDEO] Man assaulted by radio host at Saline County GOP meeting Thursday night
- Elected County Officials condemn “toxic culture fostered by the leadership of the Saline County Republican Committee”
- Democratic Party of Saline County calls local Republican Committee’s leadership “violent extremism”
- Saline County Republican Chairman defends Newcomb; Condemns violence from meeting
- [VIDEO] Update: Local GOP members want leaders ousted; See new video angle + Police Report
By December 2024, the State Republican Committee vote to suspend the Saline County Republic Committee until after the 2026 Primary Election.
Back to the present time… So here we are, 16 months later, the Committee meets again – in the Republican Headquarters building – to vote in new officers and determine goals.
Justin Rue, a former Justice of the Peace, was elected as Chairman. “We want to represent Saline County the best we can and bring professionalism back to it,” Rue said in a phone call with MySaline on Friday morning. “We’re focusing on getting the good people together. There’s a lot of work ahead.
“We’re not going to allow chaos. I welcome differing opinions but also we will be treating everyone with respect. We need to be strategic in what we’re trying to achieve.”
Right now, Rue said that means getting ready for the State meeting on June 6th, and getting delegates together.
The newly formed Saline County Republican Committee will meet on the first Thursdays of the month at 6:00 p.m. at the headquarters building in downtown Benton. The address is 125 N Market St, Benton, AR 72015.
