ALLEGAN, Mich. — The Allegan County Republican Party passed a resolution Thursday night calling for State Rep. Cindy Gamrat (pictured), R-Plainwell, to resign.
The local GOP approved the resolution by a vote of 14-4 with two abstentions.
The resolution states: “Whereas State Representative Cindy Gamrat has clearly violated and betrayed the Public trust by failing to maintain the character and integrity the Citizens of Allegan County deserve from their elected officials; and Whereas her actions severely denigrate the Public’s faith in elected officials, and do not exemplify the values or principles we hold as Republicans; and Whereas these violations of the Public Trust, and failures to maintain the character and integrity necessary to serve, make it impossible for her to provide the excellent representation Allegan County citizens expect and deserve; and Therefore, be it resolved: That the Allegan County Republican Party Executive Committee calls upon State Representative Cindy Gamrat to resign effective immediately.”
Gamrat and her husband arrived shortly after the meeting and she was given a chance to speak.
“We’re very disappointed and shocked was a lot of the initial conversation, and since then people have said OK we can forgive her mostly for the personal indiscretion, but the problem is she’s going to be totally ineffective in Lansing and in Allegan County as a result,” said Steve McNeal of the Allegan County GOP. “Unfortunately she’s been able to give just about everyone a black eye — Tea Party, Republicans, government officials, elected officials, Allegan County, everybody…”
Gamrat and State Rep. Todd Courser, both freshman lawmakers and conservative favorites, have admitted to having an extramarital affair, and Courser has claimed he was being blackmailed by powerful Lansing sources. Courser then tried to persuade an aide to take part in a bizarre coverup involving allegations that Courser visited male prostitutes.
On Wednesday, the Michigan House of Representatives voted to investigate whether the two are fit to continue holding office.
The two lawmakers are also at the center of an ongoing House Business Office investigation to determine whether they inappropriately used taxpayer-funded staff and resources to cover up their affair.
