The letter is a result of a meeting Thursday night in which members met to discuss if Ridgway should retain his post in the party. Ridgway has been requested to appear before a formal hearing Dec. 9, when the allegations of his misbehavior will be addressed.

But Ridgway said that he's been singled out to be ousted from the party because he criticized the "disability" note that allowed beleaguered Mayor Nancy Workman to be removed from the county ballot and replaced with Ellis Ivory. Ivory lost to Democrat Peter Corroon.

Ridgway said the situation is similar to the "purge" of 2002, when nearly a dozen Republican leaders were removed from party posts for supporting Democratic County Councilman Randy Horiuchi.

"These are people that delight in taking out people for the sake of taking them out," he said.

But committee Chairwoman Tiani Coleman said Ridgway's behavior was discussed earlier in the year. The committee decided to wait until after the elections to address those issues so as not to bog the party down during the election season.

Ridgway said he was not surprised by what he read in the letter, which charges him with a host of wrongdoings including misrepresenting the process to obtain office, demonstrating abusive behavior towards party members and volunteers and maligning the intentions and reputations of the party to the media.

"I've already heard tell of every one of these smear allegations. They have been spun for years now and none of them are new," Ridgway said.

One charge states that Ridgway "cornered party members, blocked their exits and refused to move back, despite several requests, and has displayed other intimidating, abusive behavior by phone and in person towards party volunteers."

Not true, he said.

"I've never cornered anybody. There's no specificity to any of these arguments," Ridgway said.

Coleman said the letter lacked specifics only to protect the identity of witnesses that may testify on the party's behalf on Dec. 9. Despite Ridgway's denials, Coleman is confident that the allegations will stand. Ridgway was reprimanded for similar allegations two years ago and again in April 2004, she said.

"I can say that not every, but almost every, allegation is repeated with several witnesses where it has happened to them," Coleman said. "We believe it's serious. It's destroying the organization."

Ridgway is not optimistic that he will remain at his post. He is, however, hopeful that the hearings will bring to light what he said is corruption within the party.

Ridgway would not elaborate on his defense at the hearing, saying he didn't want to ruin the element of surprise.

"I've got plans," he said.