Republican Group Seeks Official Condemnation After Fair Vandalism, Business Harassment Campaign

MISSOULA, MT — The Missoula County Republican Central Committee met with County Commissioner Juanita Vero last Thursday seeking official condemnation of harassment and vandalism targeting the organization, but left without commitments for public statements as escalating safety concerns prompt some local Republican officials to conceal their identities.

The meeting came after MCRCC Chairman Ryan Darling sent identical letters September 9 to Mayor Andrea Davis and county commissioners requesting face-to-face meetings and public denunciation of coordinated attacks that began at the Western Montana Fair in August. The letters were sent just one day before conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated at a Utah college campus.

According to Darling, Commissioner Vero appeared unaware of the incidents described in the September 9 letter prior to the meeting, despite the detailed account of harassment and vandalism.

“After the meeting I felt she was up to speed, she asked a lot of questions and seemed to have motivation to get to the bottom of the issue, but seemingly had no knowledge of it prior to the meeting,” Darling said.

The meeting revealed additional details about the fair vandalism, including individuals “tearing off of Trump’s head (cardboard silhouette), and the girl smearing lipstick all over Trump’s cutout,” according to Darling.

MCRCC Finance Chair Clancy Kenck said the organization engaged law enforcement at the fair regarding the vandalism and pressed charges against two individuals. A third person who vandalized the booth was a minor whom police spoke with but did not charge.

Commissioner Vero described the meeting as productive but made no specific commitments regarding public statements or letters to the editor as requested by the MCRCC.

“County leaders and I met with the GOP committee last week, and I will update the other commissioners on it,” Vero said in an email. “The group had a productive conversation on how we all have a role in encouraging civility in our community and what changes can be made going forward to ensure public events like the Fair are a positive experience for all participants.”

Mayor Andrea Davis has not responded to the MCRCC’s September 9 correspondence. Through Communications Director Ginny Merriam, the mayor’s office acknowledged receiving a copy of the letter to commissioners but indicated Davis would not be available for comment until after Western Montana News’ deadline.

Darling said the lack of response from the mayor’s office sends a troubling message.

“Their silence seems like the city is condoning the negative activity,” Darling said. “I think it gives the bad actors what they want, not being exposed, free to operate and suppress Republican presence, ideas, and momentum.”

Physical Vandalism Revealed

The September letters revealed previously unreported physical attacks during the fair, expanding beyond the online harassment campaign Western Montana News documented in August.

“During fair hours, three incidents occurred where individuals willfully vandalized our property,” Darling wrote in the letters. “In addition, several others engaged in harassment and intimidation, using obscene gestures and abusive language toward our booth workers.”

The letters detail how attacks extended beyond the fairgrounds through coordinated online campaigns targeting businesses that sponsored the Republican booth’s civic trivia contest. The harassment resulted in fake negative reviews that caused one sponsor’s rating to plummet from five stars to one.

“This type of harassment, vandalism, and character assassination poses a serious threat not only to civic engagement but also to the economic viability of businesses in our community,” Darling wrote.

Safety Concerns Mount

The climate of harassment has reached the point where some local Republican officials are taking steps to conceal their identities out of safety concerns. Following the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah college campus, a female MCRCC official requested her name be removed from the organization’s website, citing safety concerns as someone living alone.

The MCRCC also expressed concerns about their upcoming participation in the University of Montana homecoming parade. During last year’s parade, families and children participating in the Republican float faced jeering from spectators, including harassment directed at children passing out candy.

University of Montana President Seth Bodnar said he was unaware of the harassment incidents from last year’s homecoming parade until contacted by Western Montana News.

“I was not aware of specific incidents regarding the MCRCC parade participants last year. I’m sorry to hear that these things happened,” Bodnar wrote in an email. “As you know, we work hard at UM to foster a climate where people from all backgrounds, walks of life, and political perspectives are welcomed, supported, and included.”

Bodnar said the university will enhance its Event Action Plan for homecoming to address the safety concerns raised by the MCRCC. Any incidents during the parade would fall under Missoula Police Department jurisdiction, he noted.

Escalation Warnings

Darling’s letters warn that without official intervention, harassment could escalate to violence against citizens for their political beliefs.

“One could argue that the failure of past city leadership to condemn prior acts of political theft, intimidation, and even violent threats has emboldened those who now seek to escalate hostilities,” the letters state. “Without intervention, we risk seeing these actions escalate to property destruction and violence against citizens for their beliefs.”

The MCRCC requested both the mayor and county commissioners issue public statements and submit letters to the editor condemning the harassment as “incompatible with Missoula’s values.”

“As the elected leader of this city, it is imperative that you speak out and condemn such acts,” Darling wrote to Davis. “Silence in the face of harassment and vandalism sends the dangerous message that such conduct is not only tolerated but also condoned.”

Previous Harassment Campaign

Western Montana News previously reported how businesses sponsoring the Republican fair booth faced coordinated attacks through fake online reviews and social media harassment. Targeted businesses included Skinner Sights, The Beauty Haven Co., Windermere Real Estate, and Family Dermatology. Western Montana News also sponsored the booth.

Real estate agent Loren Mostad saw his Google business rating drop to 1.0 stars from false reviews posted by individuals who admitted never working with his business. The harassment included threats and demands that sponsors withdraw their support.

“I have never met or had any dealings with either of the reviewers in any capacity,” Mostad said at the time. “However the negative reviews on my business and my social media posting have a massive affect on my ability to help my clients buy and sell homes.”

Troy Davis, owner of Family Dermatology, called the targeting “disappointing” and noted that “targeting people like this is not only unfair but illegal.”

The Republican booth featured a civic trivia contest testing fairgoers’ knowledge of city, county and state government, as well as the U.S. Constitution.

Despite safety concerns, the MCRCC plans to proceed with homecoming parade participation and continue pushing for official condemnation of harassment.

“Yes we will be in the parade and I’ll be wearing my red MAGA hat, loud and proud,” Darling said. “We will have cameras rolling to document anything that occurs, positive or negative.”

However, the harassment climate has created what Darling describes as a chilling effect on Republican participation.

“Republicans that have been around for a couple decades are seeing a trend toward more vitriolic reactions from the left,” he said. “This is creating a chilling effect. For example, we have Republicans not wanting to participate on the float in the homecoming parade. Not wanting to expose their children to the hate.”

The MCRCC plans to continue dialogue with county officials and may reach out to the Democratic Central Committee to speak out against political harassment. Much of the discussion with county officials focused on creating “an atmosphere of tolerance” at future fair events, according to Darling.

One MCRCC member noted that at minimum, they have made their concerns known to local leaders as a matter of record. If harassment behavior continues to escalate against Republicans while city and county leadership remain silent, it could serve as a “defacto endorsement” of such conduct.