Weekly Town Hall – ‘Table Discussion’ with Dan Barker (D), Mike Colson (R), and Nick Contos (R) – “What is the purpose of a political Party?”

Dan Barker, chair of the Bonneville County ‘Democrat’ Central Committee, Mike Colson, current chair of the Bonneville County ‘Republican’ Central Committee (BCRCC), and Nick Contos, former chair of the BCRCC, will all join us for a table discussion on “what is the purpose of a political Party?

There has been some turmoil within the Idaho Republican Party lately wherein the ‘Party’ has chosen to censure some of Idaho’s Republican legislators and a Republican Precinct Committeeman for not adhering to the Party’s ‘Platform’.  This censuring has been referred to ‘tribunals’ and ‘purity’ tests.  Some within the Idaho Republican Party believe that whereas a political Party (Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, etc.) is a ‘private’ organization formed to pursue a certain political ideology, the Party should hold its members to the ideology and standards the Party espouses.  However others within the Idaho Republican Party believe differently.

So ‘what is the purpose of a political Party’?  The current chair of local Democrat Party (Dan Barker), and the current chair (Mike Colson) and the former chair (Nick Contos) of the local Republican Party, along with help from the audience, will endeavor to answer this question.  This IS NOT a discussion of political ideologies and their differences (i.e. Democrat vs Republican).  It’s one of what are political Parties, what is their purpose, should or should a Party not hold members to the Party’s platform, should we even have Parties at all?.  This is bound to be a very interesting discussion.

As always, attendance to our Town Halls is free but donations are greatly appreciated.

Snake River Event Center (Shilo Inn), 780 Lindsay Blvd., Idaho Falls
6:30pm (Doors open at 5:30pm)
We will start promptly at 6:30