Carol’s Commentary

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  • Because you asked
    I’ve been asked quite a few times who I recommend on the ballot. I’ve written a lengthy endorsement for the Attorney General’s race. Since tomorrow is election day, I’m going to share a few other recommendations. US SENATEKen Paxton. Paxton has been a bulldog for Texans and Texas Values in his role as Attorney General. … Continue reading “Because you asked”
  • Bought?
    Did you see when Stan said on Facebook that he didn’t have any idea some of these mailers were coming from PACs until they arrived in his mailbox? Now that the 8-day prior to the election reports are out, we have a broader view of where the money is sourced. Stan’s consulting company (Catalyst Advisors … Continue reading “Bought?”
  • In Memory of Charlie Kirk
    If nationwide reporting happens, it’s good to have it be positive reporting. That’s not what happened to Bastrop County TX. After the Bastrop County Commissioners’ caved in the face of opposition on the Charlie Kirk Memorial Corridor resolution, articles appeared in “The Hill“, “The Western Journal” and it was a subject on the Charlie Kirk … Continue reading “In Memory of Charlie Kirk”
  • Financials~Local Races
    DEMOCRATS WITH OPPONENTS Dock Jackson: County Judge: Hasn’t filed one report for this election cycle: no Jan.15; no 30-day prior; no 8-day prior. Hasn’t even filed a treasurer appointment for this race. Tamara McIntyre: JP1: Hasn’t filed one report: no Jan.15; no 30-day prior; no 8-day prior. Hasn’t even filed a treasurer appointment. Ruth Todd: … Continue reading “Financials~Local Races”
  • Sneaky but legal: Voter Beware Part 2
    Not all PACs are created equal. There are Federal PACs, Federal Super PACs, Texas GPACs, Texas MPACs, Texas SPACs and others. They all operate under different rules. A Texas GPAC has to file income and expense reports with the Texas Ethics Commission (TEC) every January 15 and July 15. If it’s an election year and … Continue reading “Sneaky but legal: Voter Beware Part 2”
  • Sneaky but legal: Voter Beware
    UPDATE: Today four Stan Gerdes flyers arrived, all from Political Action Committees OUTSIDE Texas. Ask yourself why Alexandria VA PACs want Stan Gerdes in the Texas House so badly that they’ll do 4 mailings in one day? Two of the four have the same treasurer. Hmmmm…….(1) from American Energy Action Fund. This is a Federal … Continue reading “Sneaky but legal: Voter Beware”
  • Read Between the Lines
    Original post published Feb 13, 2024. Reprinted because it’s applicable for the 2026 election cycle. People collect things. I collect campaign literature. I have campaign literature going back probably 30 years. Some is good; some is awful; some is clever; some really, really boring. Some has colors that are just atrocious. Some was done with … Continue reading “Read Between the Lines”
  • Desperation
    Candidates go negative when they think they’re losing. It never fails. They twist facts, publish half-truths, all to make their opponent look like the devil himself (or herself). Instead of explaining to voters why they themselves are best for the job they seek, they want voters to think the worst of their opponent. I’ve been … Continue reading “Desperation”
  • Your Vote is Yours, not Theirs
    Two years ago, I wrote a column on candidates citing their endorsements. This year, let’s discuss the entities who make endorsements. What’s the value of those? Well, it depends. We’re going to use the email sent out from Bastrop County Conservatives with their list of endorsements as an example. The BCC website states: Process A … Continue reading “Your Vote is Yours, not Theirs”
  • A Failure of Responsibility
    Since when do elected officials, representatives of the people (allegedly), ignore constituents? When I served in office, my goal was more communication with the public, not less (or in this case, none). Even in the late 90’s when websites were just getting started, I created one for our town, complete with email access for the … Continue reading “A Failure of Responsibility”
  • Tax Dollars Up In Smoke
    Below is a portion of a post behind a parent-only section of the Bastrop ISD website. It was shared on a public FB group. I cannot vouch for the authenticity of this post because I don’t have children in the district. But the portion I’ve read says to me the response of the district is … Continue reading “Tax Dollars Up In Smoke”
  • Aaron Reitz is the Right Man for AG
    I’m not fond of endorsements from famous or connected people. I’ve written about that before. But I do support endorsements from grassroots voters who do their homework and research candidates. In that same blog post, I said “The only endorsement worth anything is that of the voters, your endorsement. You have the power. Don’t be … Continue reading “Aaron Reitz is the Right Man for AG”
  • Pervasive Fraud
    There are many types of fraud: theft of government property, theft of government services, fraudulent applications for government funds. Some are small… a few hundred dollars here or there. Some are larger… thousands received under false pretenses. Some are massive… millions or billions stolen right in front of our eyes. I served as the mayor … Continue reading “Pervasive Fraud”
  • Old 71 Lock Up
    TX Representative Stan Gerdes posted the other day how wonderful it is that the traffic lights will now be eliminated on 71 up to Tucker Hill (McDonalds near Travis County). It’s been funded. That’s great for all the commuters, but what about those of us who live off 71? In a shocking exchange on Facebook, … Continue reading “Old 71 Lock Up”
  • IMPORTANT CALENDAR ISSUE
    If you’re only on the BCC email list, you may have noticed that you don’t ever see Lost Pines Republican Women events on its “Events Around the County” summary. But you always see Lee County events. Odd. Exclude Bastrop County Republican events but include Lee County events. When President of LPRW, I personally reached out … Continue reading “IMPORTANT CALENDAR ISSUE”
  • Come on, Candidates
    Campaigning = Communicating I don’t care if you’re a local candidate representing a county or portion thereof. I don’t care if you don’t have an opponent (yet). I don’t care if you’ve raised money or not. Have a website. Have the courtesy to communicate in some detail why you are running and what you hope … Continue reading “Come on, Candidates”
  • Follow the Money
    It’s that time again. Candidates must file to run in the March 2026 primary no later than December 8. As I’ve written before, where candidates get their campaign funds will tell voters a lot about a candidate’s loyalties should they get elected. Look for out-of-state donors, lobbyists, other candidates, Political Action Committees (PACs), leadership (like … Continue reading “Follow the Money”
  • Election Integrity: Highest Priority
    For many elections, I have served as presiding judge of the Early Voting Ballot Board, Signature Verification Committee and Central Count. This position is critical to the validity of our elections. (These committees are described below.) I filed to run for Republican Precinct Chair in my precinct, 1008. A few weeks later, so did someone … Continue reading “Election Integrity: Highest Priority”
  • Who’s To Blame?
    I spend a lot of time on X (formerly Twitter). I have always liked the short format with links to deeper dives. I liked that even when Twitter was limited to 140 characters, although sharing info in 140 characters was often very difficult. When it changed to 280, we had the opportunity to be truly … Continue reading “Who’s To Blame?”
  • Running for Precinct Chair
    Ready to Serve Republicans in Precinct 1008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 23, 2025Contact: Carol A. Spencer RepublicanCarol@gmail.com Republican Carol Spencer has filed for a place on the ballot in the March 2026 primary to serve as Precinct Chair in Bastrop County (TX) Precinct 1008. Spencer is currently president of the Bastrop County GOP Club. She served … Continue reading “Running for Precinct Chair”
  • We are all Charlie Kirk
    I had the amazing privilege of meeting and talking with Charlie Kirk on May 1, 2021. As the president of Lost Pines Republican Women, I had reached to Charlie’s organization in 2019 to see if we could have him speak at one of our events. At that time, he was filling in for various radio … Continue reading “We are all Charlie Kirk”
  • Killers Amongst Us
    Twenty-four years ago, the Twin Towers and those working within were destroyed. People who woke up that morning like any other day and went to work. Two thousand, nine hundred, seventy seven people, innocent people. Now we have other killers amongst us, killers who target their political opponents or those with whom they’re angry or … Continue reading “Killers Amongst Us”
  • Stan Gerdes: Take a Stand
    Yesterday I posted on Twitter (X) to @GregAbbott_TX Give them 48 hours to return during which time the Speaker should fine them. If they don’t return, declare their seats vacant. Then vote with the lower quorum. You may have seen that.  Just like y’all, these people ran for office and that means doing the job. When … Continue reading “Stan Gerdes: Take a Stand”
  • Redistricting TX.
    [Comments will be taken online at this link https://comments.house.texas.gov/home until the committee meeting is adjourned. The bill number is HB4 and the map is Plan C2308.] Is it illegal to redistrict now? No. Is Texas growing significantly? Yes. Do the districts as drawn by Plan C2308 comply with applicable law and court decisions? Yes. Other … Continue reading “Redistricting TX.”
  • No Hotels in Bastrop?
    UPDATE: June 24 Council meeting at 1:35:46. City Manager and Mayor referenced my comments. Mayor stated that “she is in opposition of the retreat, agenda item…. it’s not an item. She is just in opposition of the retreat.” NOT TRUE. I expressed my opposition to my estimated cost of $7,473 by doing this retreat in … Continue reading “No Hotels in Bastrop?”

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