CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Confirming a report first made by LootPress today, WV Metro News is confirming that state party officials have demanded the resignation of Republican Executive Committee Chair Mark Harris.
Harris is being accused of inappropriate behavior and comments, particularly toward other GOP officials. Party leaders in the region and nation at large have complained about Harris, who has served less than a year. He is a medical doctor who was asked to resign as medical director of the Beckley Veterans Administration Hospital due to improper procedures used by doctors there.
Harris was declared Chair by a one-vote margin. That “victory” was highly disputed by those who attended the meeting.
Harris told MetroNews he was not aware of the communication asking for his resignation. LOOTPRESS does not routinely contact him because he refuses to take or return our calls. A reporter for the paper also maintains “Harris lied to me on the record” during their initial interview.
Sources say other state party officials are unanimous in demanding Harris quit.
“He has acted and spoken inappropriately in the name of the party” told LOOTPRESS on the condition of anonymity because he is “not authorized to speak for the party.”
Sources tell LOOTPRESS that some of Harris’ comments were of a sexual nature. “Not at all what a Christian Republican leader should be saying or doing,”she added.
The sources said Harris’ hand picked Executive director and Board of Officers members issued the statement on Saturday.
“Recently, multiple allegations of inappropriate behavior by Mark Harris, West Virginia Republican Party Chair, have been brought to the attention of the officers of the party, both individually and collectively,” the ED and officers stated.
“Given the nature and credibility of the allegations and the critical need for utmost integrity and continuity in the Republican Party, we see no other option than to request Mark Harris immediately consider resignation at this time.”
The officers did not detail the allegations against Harris.
“I’m not prepared to speak about it because this is news to me,” Harris told MetroNews.
Party sources told LOOTPRESS as early as Friday that Harris knew about an imminent call to resign.