Members of the Columbia County Republican Party will vote on new officers on Saturday, March 11 as infighting within the notoriously fractured party continues.
Behind the scenes, former Columbia County School Board member Lee Muns, who is running for chairman, is once again trying to gain control of the party by sheer force of will, sources say.
“He picks fights for no reason with people he has known his entire life. He is a colossal ass,” one source, who wished not to be named, said.
Outgoing Chairman Debbie McCord says the whole process has left her frustrated.
“(Muns) just wants to be in control. He is trying to control everything,” McCord said.
McCord has served as chairman for four years, and due to term limits, she is not running for the current chairmanship.
Muns has been known to be combative and has displayed anger issues in the past. In 2008, Muns was accused of domestic violence by his then-wife, and the incident was witnessed by Kim Muns’ employee, who dialed 911, according to a police report.
In that incident, Muns was cited for disorderly conduct but not arrested.
In 2021, while attending the Republican State Conference in Jekyll Island, another conventioneer asked Muns, who was speaking loudly, to please tone it down. According to the police report filed, the other conventioneer, Sidney Curry, told police Muns approached his table, slammed his shoulder to the table preventing him from moving and “spoke to him in a threatening manner.”
Curry decided not to press charges in the matter.
Former Columbia County Commissioner Dewey Galeas was at the conference and was interviewed by police on the scene and said the entire situation was just the regular modus operandi for Muns.
“(Muns) did his usual thing and ended up assaulting an octogenarian,” Galeas said.
Columbia County Commission Chairman Doug Duncan, who is a member of the party and a delegate, says he only wants what’s best for the party and prefers to stay out of the fray.
“I will be attending the convention to simply ensure we get the best slate of candidates,” Duncan said.
When reached by phone, Muns refused to comment, but did send a packet of information stating why he wishes to be chairman. In the information, it states he is currently the first vice chair of the Columbia County Republican Party and oversaw membership and public relations. He said for public relations, the organization now has multiple social media outlets, and he received permission for a new website.
In his background information, Muns said he has worked as a project manager for Muns Services, LLC for the past eight years. He was a member of the Columbia County Board of Education from 2000-2004. He was appointed by Gov. Sonny Perdue to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission as a commissioners and vice chairman.
Muns resume states he has been involved in several civic organization, including but not limited to being on the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Augusta, chairman of the Columbia County Republican Party, state committee member of the Georgia GOP, and chair of the Augusta Character City Coalition.
In his letter, there are 10 things he said his role should be as chairman, including: “diffuse personal agendas and build a team that will succeed; assign members to tasks that best suit them so our image in public portrays our party beliefs and positively engages the public to participate and volunteer when needed; establish a budget and raise funds that will allow party to impactful and deliver positive results; value every opinion – good or bad and at the end of the day make good hash.”
Besides Muns, Russell Wilder and Joe Edlemon filed paperwork to run for chairman.
Wilder owns Top Shelf Cigar in Martinez and has been involved in Republican politics locally for several years. He ran for county commission in 2015 but was not elected. He decided to run after his daughter was married because he first wanted to focus on raising her.
“Once I didn’t have that responsibility anymore, I was like, I need to get involved,” Wilder said. “I can’t complain if I’m not actively doing something to improve.”
Wilder has been on many boards and committees, including the Columbia County Planning Commission, the greenspace advisory board, is chairman of the Columbia County Library Board and chair of the Greater Clarks Regional Library board, and more.
As for why he wanted to run, Wilder said he didn’t have it on his radar, but people kept reaching out to him about it. He spoke to his wife about it and while she didn’t want him to get involved with another board, said if he doesn’t do it, who will.
What Wilder said he brings to the position is his experience with small businesses. He said that what’s important is marketing and getting word out there about the organization. He wants to recruit people into the Republican party and get out into the community so people know the members are just like them.
The Augusta Press was unable to reach Edlemon for comment as of deadline.
