precinct chair – Page 2 – Carol A. Spencer

What a Difference One Vote Makes

This fall, Bastrop County voters have the privilege of voting for four Third Court of Appeals justices. A total of six justices make up the Third Court. Votes for the four Third Court of Appeals justices are likely the most important votes you will cast in November 2018.

We’re lucky in Texas to be able to vote for our judges and justices. Votes matter! Some justices are appointed, for example, US Supreme Court justices. Appointees matter! Appointing authorities matter!

US Supreme Court building

I recall answering one “what are your three most important issues” poll prior to the November 2016 presidential election with “Supreme Court. Supreme Court. Supreme Court.” I know many who felt that way. Prophetic.

Today, President Trump’s “Travel Ban” was upheld, by a 5-4 vote. It held “The President has lawfully exercised the broad discretion granted to him under 8 U. S. C. §1182(f) to suspend the entry of aliens into the United States; respondents have not demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits of their claim that Presidential Proclamation No. 9645 violates the Establishment Clause.”

Yesterday, by a 5-4 vote, our Congressional District 27 map was upheld by the Supreme Court. It determined “The District Court disregarded the presumption of legislative good faith and improperly reversed the burden of proof when it required the State to show a lack of discriminatory intent in adopting new districting plans;[…].”

And, last Friday in another 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court determined that government needs a warrant to seize historical location data from cell phones. It ruled “The Government’s acquisition of Carpenter’s cell-site records from his wireless carriers was a Fourth Amendment search; and the Government did not obtain a warrant supported by probable cause before acquiring those records.”

In each case, Neil Gorsuch was among the five jurists in the majority. Would the majority have ruled the same way if a Barack Obama appointed liberal jurist were sitting in the seat occupied by Neil Gorsuch? I doubt it.

Your votes for the Third Court of Appeals will have similar impact. Don’t let this incredible opportunity to have an impact on your own day-to-day lives pass you by.

Political Activism or Community Activism

The current CD 27 Special Election is critical! Republicans need a 50%+1 win on June 30 to avoid a September runoff that will be costly to Texas voters, costly to our candidate, and potentially costly to the balance of the House of Representatives if not won by a Republican.

Political strategists would expect the Bastrop Republican County Executive Committee (BRCEC) as a whole to be working hard to get out the Republican vote for this election. Sadly, that’s not the case.

Community organizing is apparently more important. The Republican chair has asked for volunteers for an Elgin community event all day on Saturday, June 23, exactly one week before Election Day.

Elgin is not part of CD 27. In fact, Elgin sits at the most northwestern tip of Bastrop County, far away from CD 27. It’s in Congressional District 10, Mike McCaul’s district.

But getting known in the community is important, you say. Yes, it is. But when the balance of the U.S. House of Representatives is at stake, political activism trumps community activism every time.

For those in my precinct, look for this postcard in your mail this week. It has information about the Special Election, how to contact me, and where to find Bastrop County Republican information online. Even if you’re not in my precinct, but are in CD 27, please share with your friends, and be sure to early vote or vote on June 30!

Intro Postcard - Front with contact information

Diverting Resources Loses Elections

The most qualified candidate for a position can easily lose an election by running a poorly planned campaign, by losing focus, or by letting the opposition distract or divert attention to things that don’t matter to the outcome of the race.

A perfect example of this is happening right now in Bastrop County.

Bastrop Democrats

Early voting for a critical special election starts in just a few days, but the Republican chair-elect has spent her time over the past few weeks with the Democrats, planning a joint fundraiser for a local civic group. On May 19, while the Republican Chair-elect was at a CEC meeting convincing Republicans to do a joint fundraiser with the Democrats, Democrats were on the bridge in Bastrop publicly supporting their candidates.
While support for local organizations is a worthy endeavor, the number one priority of a political organization is to win elections, and winning takes time and money.

It’s sad, but apparent, that the possibility of giving the Democrats two opportunities in two months to defeat our Republican candidate doesn’t matter to Bastrop Republican leadership. They’d rather fraternize with the Democrats than defeat them.

With such a short window before early voting in the CD27 Special Election, this wasn’t the time to divert Republican resources away from Get Out The Vote (GOTV) efforts. We’ve yet to see any Bastrop County Republican Party emails or postal mails regarding the June 30 Special Election, the impact of this special election on the November general election, or the candidates involved.

I am fully supportive of raising money and awareness for local civic groups. A cursory review of my bio shows a long history of civic engagement. But right now, Republicans should be laser focused on GOTV efforts to win the CD27 Special Election with more than 50% of the vote.

If our primary winner, Michael Cloud, doesn’t get over 50% of the vote and is forced into a September runoff, it gives CD27 Democrats two chances to defeat him in a two month time span. It’s sad, but apparent, that the possibility of giving the Democrats two opportunities in two months to defeat our Republican candidate doesn’t matter to Bastrop Republican leadership. They’d rather fraternize with the Democrats than defeat them.

More Hogwash

For more than thirty years, my focus has been growing the Republican Party and having fun while doing so. During my ten years in elected office, my focus was always implementing smaller, more effective, conservative government. It pains me to call out particular Republicans. That’s not my style. But if I am the subject of direct attacks, I will respond.

Mr. Namken: I’d welcome a conversation with you. My husband and I would be happy to take you to lunch. You have my email address and phone number. The ball is in your court. If you truly believe what you write about open discourse and civility, I’ll hear from you to arrange a lunch. If I don’t, that will speak volumes.

I have never met Jarrett Namken. I have never talked to Jarrett Namken. Jarrett Namken has never discussed my political philosophy with me, nor asked my opinion on any issue. Yet he has, in writing, defamed me and my profession, lied about me, and hurled false allegations at me. He has cited laws in his posts that don’t exist and has shown a complete ignorance of copyright law. As the subject of his direct attacks, I must respond.

My “crime” is to be friends with the former chair. Another “crime” was to have the audacity to start two Republican clubs: the Bastrop County Republican Club and the Lost Pines Republican Women, organizations have raised significant funds, had fun doing it, and expanded the opportunities to participate in Republican politics. For some unexplained reason, this infuriates Namken.

In a May 29 email (which someone else just sent me since I’m blocked from those as well), Namken once again states that he wants “more discussion, civility” without “fear of indimidation”:

Our political movement strives to achieve the vision that positively impacts the manner and nature of political discourse in Bastrop County. This effort will be spearheaded to foster more discussion, civility and positive benefits for local republicans.

We will strive to bring more conservatives to engage and participate in their political institutions without fear of intimidation.

Odd words from a man who blocks people from his Facebook page while writing accusatory, false posts about them. Odd words from a man who attempts to intimidate others on an almost daily basis. Odd words from a man who has brought his negativity to campaigns and to the County Executive Committee. Odd words from a man who vilifies and attacks others, even people he’s never met.

Mr. Namken: I’d welcome a conversation with you. My husband and I would be happy to take you to lunch. You have my email address and phone number. The ball is in your court. If you truly believe what you write about open discourse and civility, I’ll hear from you to arrange a lunch. If I don’t, that will speak volumes.

Practice What You Preach

Are you aware that the Bastrop County Young Republicans (BCYR) Facebook page has blocked any person or group that posts something with which BCYR President Jarrett Namken disagrees?

There is no such thing as “open discussion, substantive debate” on the Young Republican’s Facebook page.

That’s what makes his May 29 post below so stunning, so disingenuous. Namken does not practice what he preaches. There is no such thing as “open discussion, substantive debate” on the BCYR Facebook page. Be aware of that if you read its content.

I’ve been blocked. Those who questioned why I was blocked have themselves been blocked. The president of the Bastrop County Tea Party has been blocked. Various Republican candidates and elected precinct chairs have been blocked. The list goes on and on.

Namken claims blocking all these Republican leaders was necessary to bring civility to the discussion. These two uncivil posts got Russ Tepper blocked.

And, what about this comment isn’t civil? It got Simone blocked.

Beware!! Blocking opponents on Facebook is not the practice of Republicans. But silencing those who disagree is standard operating procedure for tyrannical dictators.

What a shame that any person or group has so little confidence in their own ideas that they feel it necessary to control page content so their readers hear only one side of every story. Beware, for blocking opponents on Facebook is not the practice of Republicans. But silencing those who disagree is standard operating procedure for tyrannical dictators.

The Thirty-Eight Day Countdown

On Saturday, June 30, just thirty-eight (38) days from today, all Congressional District 27 voters will go to the polls to elect an interim congressman. The winner of this race will serve until the full-term congressman, elected in the November general election, takes office in January 2019.

There are nine candidates in the race. This is not a primary, but rather a one-day special election. All nine candidates will be on the ballot and voters will choose one. If a runoff is necessary, it will be held in September.

The June 30 Special Election is not a primary. All nine candidates will be on the ballot and voters will choose only one.

Republicans include Primary winner Michael Cloud as well as Bech Bruun and Marty Perez. Democrats include Primary winner Eric Holguin as well as Raul “Roy” Barrera and Mike Westergren. Independents Judith Cutright and Christopher Suprun along with Libertarian Daniel Tinus round out the candidate list.

It’s very clear that if the Republican Michael Cloud or Democrat Eric Holguin (primary victors) wins the special election, he will have a leg-up for the November general election. While CD 27 has been considered a safe Republican district, complacency has been the cause of more than one stunning election defeat. Democrats are energized and if the 2017 race in Georgia’s Sixth District is any indication, out-of-state money will pour into this district to attempt an upset.

Winning the special election at the ballot box on June 30 with more than 50% of the vote would be decisive. Strategically, Republicans should work hard to top 50% for our candidate, eliminating the need for another election. With many Republicans out of their home districts for an entire week because of the RPT Convention (June 11 – 16), we need to double our efforts when on home turf to make this happen. And, those not going to Convention need to double their efforts during Convention time.

Republican friends: Let’s get to work! The clock is ticking. Keep Texas Red!

Identity Crisis in Leadership

We can’t keep Texas Red if our Republican leaders praise and support elected Democrats. Just because an office is non-partisan under Texas law, if an elected official’s voting record is solidly Democrat, the values he relies on to make decisions are solidly Democrat.

Thus, it was stunning to see this FB post from Republican Precinct Chair and Republican Chair-elect two days ago.

GOP Chair-Elect praises Democrat Mayor

Smithville’s mayor is a solid Democrat, voting in every Democrat primary from 2010 to 2018.

These non-partisan local offices are fertile ground for future leaders. Democrats know that. To keep Texas red, Republicans, not Democrats, should be running our cities.

Those of us who serve in Republican political party offices should understand that our primary goal is to elect Republicans. The values of the Republican Party are our values; the goals of the Republican Party are our goals. Any elected Republican leader who supports or praises elected Democrats should immediately relinguish that leadership position.

My goal is to keep Texas red, so giving Democrats free advertising and support isn’t in my playbook. And when I see local elected Republican Party leaders doing so, I’ll call them out publicly on this blog.

When Republicans act like Democrats, we lose. And, no one should undertand that better than elected Party leadership.