When the plan was revealed to the party leadership, they strongly advised him to not implement it because they feared it would hurt the party and be perceived as a scandal. Handley then decided to have the Secretary of State order an election for the office in November, and Handley himself ran for the position.
After revealing his plan to the party leadership, they strongly discouraged him from carrying it out, fearing it would damage the party's reputation and be seen as a scandal.  Handley then decided to have the Secretary of State call an election for the office in November, and he himself ran for the position.