Texas House – Carol A. Spencer

TX House Public Comment

The Texas House is going to discuss two topics at an Elections Committee hearing on August 3 at 11AM. Did you know you can submit comments up to and until they gavel the committee hearing adjourned?

The two topics are:
Technology in Elections: Study the growing role of new and rapidly evolving technologies in the election process and political communications.

Voter Registration: Study the state’s voter registration processes and
systems by conducting an inventory of the systems used by counties that
are offline and analyzing the impact of supporting multiple software
systems across the state. Recommend ways to streamline voter-roll
maintenance and improve efficiency.

Here are my submitted comments under Voter Registration:

Our county previously used a vendor that gave us years of voter history in an Excel format. It included the following fields for TEN years of voting: Election Code (date), Election Party Code (Rep, Dem), Election Vote Type (E, A, P). First, middle & last names were separate fields. It was simple to create 4 of 4, 3 of 4, 2 of 4 etc lists. It was easy to create Head of Household, targeted, election mailings. Then we were forced to use the SOS list. First and last names were one field. To split them in Excel is tedious and time consuming for thousands and thousands of voters. Voter history is worthless as it only shows the “date last voted”. Who cares? That could be 10/29/2020, 3/2/2024 or the like. ONE DATE. That does us no good at all in trying to determine voter history, which directly translates into who will actually vote in an election. It’s impossible to create a 4 of 4 or 3 of 4 list for any purpose: mailing, block walking…. any campaign or PAC needs. Vote History Reports out of the current state system are often incomplete or inaccurate and are limited to a single election. Incorporating vote history as described above into to the “Voter List” would be much more usable. I’ve written the SOS office about this. I’ve discussed this with Senator Schwertner and his office staff. I’ve provided copies of each spreadsheet in 11/2025: the sheet from our former county vendor and the one from the SOS. I’d be happy to provide that information to the committee. My background is 50 years in IT, 35+ years in the political world, including running 13 of my own races and serving 10 years in elected office. If everyone is required to use the SOS database, it needs to be designed by people who understand what those of us in the field do with the data. This needs to be fixed ASAP.

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 SENATE
Ken Paxton. Paxton has been a bulldog for Texans and Texas Values in his role as Attorney General. His opponents have not. Texas desperately needs a strong voice representing conservative Texans in the US Senate.

US HOUSE – CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 27
Michael Cloud. Michael Cloud is a strong Texas conservative and votes accordingly. He has earned positions on the Appropriations Committee and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. He deserves to be returned to Congress.

GOVERNOR
“Doc” Pete Chambers. Governor Abbott has, overall, done a good job for Texas. However, his endorsement of legislators based on one vote (School Choice) was inappropriate. I loved his bussing of illegals throughout the country as it brought that issue front and center for places that weren’t feeling our pain. I didn’t like his Covid decisions. Keeping big box stores open and forcing small businesses to close was unacceptable. Forcing bars to close because more than 50% of their revenue was alcohol while allowing restaurants to open and serve lacked consistency. Too many appointments and decisions seem to be made due to campaign financial support and I oppose that. Doc has said he will not appoint people to positions if they donate large amounts of money to his campaign. Refreshing.

LT GOVERNOR
Perla Hopkins. When Dan Patrick pushed for half a billion dollars for the movie industry every 2 years, he lost my vote. Texas Scorecard explained “The Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Fund would receive $500 million every two years over the next decade, amounting to $2.5 billion by the 2034-2035 biennium.” If I wanted to support that industry, I’d go to the movies. I’m frankly sick of dolling out tax money to the favorite industry of the day…. especially one that has no impact on my quality of life.

ATTORNEY GENERAL
Aaron Reitz. I’m strongly endorsing Aaron Reitz for Attorney General. Not only is he Ken Paxton’s choice for the next AG, but he has the tenacity, core values, and strength of character to protect Texas and to manage over 4,000 employees. Read my entire endorsement.

COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS, PLACE 3
Lesli Fitzpatrick. Lesli is the most qualified candidate. She has a broad range of legal experience including significant criminal courtroom experience. She had her own legal practice, has worked for the State of Texas in a position that provided extensive knowledge of the Texas prison system. This race is for a seat on the highest criminal court in Texas, the one that reviews every death penalty case. Lesli is a solid conservative Republican. With her criminal courtroom experience, Lesli is the best choice.

TEXAS HOUSE DISTRICT 17
Tom Glass. If you’ve been to your mailbox lately, you’ll understand this endorsement. More than 125 Political Action Committees have donated to Tom’s opponent. Texans for Lawsuit Reform has donated well over a quarter of a million dollars to Tom’s opponent. If you want a legislator that answers to the big money donors, vote for the other guy. But if you want a legislator who fights for conservative Texans in his district, vote for Tom Glass.

BASTROP COUNTY JUDGE
Don Loucks. I was shocked when, at a candidate forum, our current County Judge had to ask the emcee what an NGO is. What?? He’s reviewing, voting for, and presiding over a multi-million dollar budget that includes tax dollar payments to NGOs and he doesn’t know what one is. He struggles to run a meeting as seen by those who were at the last County Commissioner’s meeting: taking testimony after an item had already been tabled. That violates Robert’s Rules.

Don’s opponent has shown that he does not have the skill set to make decisions for a county whose population is exploding. The County Judge literally has the lives of over 100,000 Bastrop County residents in his hands. We need a leader trained in emergency management, who understands budgets and taxes, who is conversant with the public safety needs of a growing Texas county. We need a strong, conservative leader and that’s Don Loucks.

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 Group LLC) is also the consulting company for Protect and Serve Texas PAC. This PAC received $15,000 from Texans for Lawsuit Reform. They’ve sent several mailers for Stan.

Then there’s the Alliance of Texans for Conservative Leadership PAC. In our last post, we told you their only report to Texas Ethics showed they had no money. Zero.

Their 8-day report is very revealing. This PAC received $1.6 MILLION on February 5 this year. Yes, that’s right. Just 21 days ago, Texans for Lawsuit Reform put $1.6 MILLION into Alliance of Texans for Conservative Leadership PAC. They are the sole donor to this PAC. They then spent $692,762.63 on mailers. They failed to list the amount spent on each candidate, but Stan was a recipient, not once, but three times.

Candidates also have to file an 8-Day prior (to the election) report. We’ve already discussed the donations to Stan Gerdes from PACs in Sneaky but Legal Part 1 and Part 2.

The 8-day prior report covers just 30 days: Jan 23, 2026 – Feb 21, 2026.

Gerdes took in a whopping $549,682.65 in donations in that one month, overwhelmingly from Political Action Committees, not from district constituents.

Has someone been working the phones to raise money from Texas PACs and across the country to save his seat? Is Gerdes getting very nervous about the challenge from Tom Glass? This is a very long list of PAC donors directly to Gerdes in just 30 days.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC $237,448 (does not include their donations to PACs that sent mailers for Gerdes);
Weekley, Richard (co-founder Texans for Lawsuit Reform) $2,500;
Texas Conservative Majority PAC $67,750;
Dustin Burrows Campaign $50,000;
Protect and Serve Texas PAC $35,150.89;
Texas REALTORS PAC (TREPAC) $28,842.34;
Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund $19,259.83;
Troutman Pepper Locke LLP $5,473.25;
Texas House Republican Caucus PAC $5,000;
TX Diamondback Energy, Inc. PAC $4,000;
Texas Building Branch Asso General Contractors PAC $2,500;
Koch Industries, Inc. PAC (KOCHPAC) $2,500;
Rural Friends of Texas Electric Cooperatives $2,500;
Pape-Dawson Engineers PAC $2,500;
Texans for Reasonable Solutions PAC $2,000;
Texas Dairymen PAC $2,000;
Delisi Communications PAC $2,000;
Texas Manufactured Housing Assn. Committee For Responsible $2,000;
Texas Food & Fuel Assn. PAC $1,500;
Texas Society Of Anesthesiologists PAC $1,500;
AT&T Texas PAC $1,000;
Beer Alliance of Texas PAC $1,000;
Charter Schools Now PAC $1,000;
Congress Ventures LLC $1,000;
ConocoPhillips SPIRIT PAC $1,000;
Consulting Engineers PAC $1,000;
The American Electric Power – Texas – Committee for Responsible $1,000;
EYE PAC of the Texas Ophthalmological Assn $1,000;
Houston Police Officers Union PAC $1,000;
K & L Gates LLP Committee for Good Government $1,000;
Germania Farm Mutual PAC $1,000;
Gulf States Toyota Inc. State PAC $1,000;
H B Strategies (Jefferson City MO) $1,000;
Mike Toomey & Associates $1,000;
Moak Casey PAC $1,000;
NRG Energy Inc. PAC $1,000;
Stan Schlueter Consulting $1,000;
Texas Farm Bureau AGFUND $1,000;
Texas Optometric PAC $1,000;
Texas Pipeline Assn PAC $1,000;
Tenaris Global Services (USA) Corp. PAC $1,000;
Texas Nurse Practitioners PAC $1,000;
PNM Responsible Citizens Group (Albuquerque NM) $750;
Greenberg Traurig, P. A. PAC (Albany NY) $750;
Texas Chemistry Council/Assn. Of Chemistry Alliance FREEPAC $500;
Texas State Assn. Of Fire Fighters Action Committee $500;
ExxonMobil Corp PAC $500;
Hochheim Prairie PAC $500;
Longbow Consulting Partners LLC $500;
ONEOK Inc Employee PAC (Tulsa OK) $500;
P. John Kuhl Jr., PC $500;
Sampson Public Affairs, LLC $500;
Texas Dental Association PAC $500;
Schwartz, Page & Harding, L.L.P. $500;
Liriano Motors LLC $250;
Texas Conservative Coalition PAC $40;

After the 8-day prior report, daily reports over a certain amount of contribution and expenditure are required. Gerdes reported this daily contribution: AFSCME Texas Correctional Officers PAC $5,000.

Ask yourself when you vote: who will Stan represent in Austin: you or these PACs? If your issue conflicts with their priorities, with whom will he vote? The answer is clear if he wants to stay in elected office (or move higher up the ladder which requires more and more money).

Think about it before you cast your vote.

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, it’s obvious to even the most casual observer that our representative has never been to our neighborhood. He’s never had to leave anyone’s house on the Old 71, in River Crossing, in Double Eagle or The Forest at Colorado Crossing.

He couldn’t have even looked at a map before responding because he assured me that the lights would remain under the new overpasses.

So what? The 2 exits from Old 71 have no lights. Nor do they have access to a lighted intersection… anywhere!

I’ve personally met with TXDot, along with representatives from Old 71 neighborhood HOAs. I’ve attended public meetings and years ago, made suggestions. All to deaf ears. I’m not going to rehash what I wrote in my comment on Facebook but suffice it say, we’re stuck.

Representation requires understanding the situation and the complaint. Representation requires some study before response. Rep Gerdes knows me, knows my background. We’ve worked on a bill together and he knows I spent 8 years on a planning board and have dealt with significant traffic issues. To so cavalierly answer the concern of thousands of constituents is unacceptable.

He has an open invitation to visit my house at his convenience. And, I still look forward to a response as to how people who live here are supposed to get to Bastrop without risking our lives pulling out into 70mph+ traffic, not once, but twice…. once headed west, and then from the turn-around by Berdoll’s heading east.

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.

Empty seats in the TX House You may have seen that. Just like y’all, these people ran for office and that means doing the job. When the Governor leaves Texas, Dan Patrick assumes that position. If Trump were in the hospital, JD Vance would assume that position. When these people leave the state ON PURPOSE TO THWART THE BUSINESS OF THE STATE, there isn’t anyone to assume their positions, so they should be declared VACANT.

Airplane Cabin The key here is intent. They didn’t leave to attend a relative’s funeral or wedding. They didn’t leave because they are reservists and were called up to active duty. They didn’t leave during a called session for a vacation. They left to prohibit the Texas House from doing its work, the work of the people.

They could vote no. They could vote present, not voting. They could abstain. But what they can’t do is flee to stop business altogether. Doing so and remaining in-State calls for arrest. Doing so out-of-State to avoid arrest is grounds for removal.

Stan, you are my representative. You won a Republican primary. You won the General election with predominantly Republican votes. You need to represent Republicans in this matter, supporting fines, arrests if they return in-State after 3PM today, and adding your voice to the calls for the Governor to declare the State-fleeing Democrat seats vacant.

You claim to be endorsed by President Trump. President Trump has called for, wants and needs this map, which is appropriate for Texas to have proper and reflective representation. If you accept the endorsement of President Trump and his America First agenda, you must support fines, arrests and the Governor declaring the state-fleeing Democrat seats vacant.

Don’t confuse friendship with duty. These people are not your friends. You’ll know that when you leave office. They’d stab us all in the back in a heartbeat, which is exactly what they’re doing by fleeing the State. Take a stand!

Addendum: Governor Abbott says he’ll declare Dem seats vacant if those Dems aren’t in them at 3PM today.

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 than politics which enters into everything the legislature does no matter the bill number or issue, is there any reason this should not be done? No.

The diatribe coming from those in the opposing political party is no different than the diatribe that comes from any opposition party, unhappy with the fact that they don’t have the majority and can’t stop adoption should the proposing party stick together in their votes. Wipe away the political posturing and there is no reason this bill and map should not be adopted.

Voters ultimately get to choose by casting votes. Adopting this Big Beautiful Map and HB4 does not guarantee any outcome at the polls. That’s clear from the outcome at the polls in many elections. They’re called upsets. They happen in every election.

Texas House Redistricting Committee So, take a vote and pass the map immediately upon the end of public testimony. There will be a quorum and no reason to delay that vote. I doubt any member of the committee is going to change his/her vote, so get the job done. Do not adjourn until the vote is taken and the map is adopted!

Want to watch the August 1 (final) TX House committee hearing? It’s here: https://house.texas.gov/videos/22418

ADDENDUM:
Every member of this committee with the exception of Tom Oliverson and Hillary Gail Hickland voted to impeach Ken Paxton. They voted based on data provided with less than 24 hours notice. Now, the Committee Dems are whining about only having the bill and map 48 hours before today’s hearing. Yet, on Ken Paxton: silence! Disingenuous!

Chair: Rep. Cody Vasut (Y on Paxton, Rep)
Vice Chair: Rep. Jon E. Rosenthal (Y on Paxton, Dem)
Members: Rep. Josey Garcia (Y on Paxton, Dem)
Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (Y on Paxton, Dem)
Rep. R. D. “Bobby” Guerra (Y on Paxton, Dem)
Rep. Ryan Guillen (Y on Paxton, Rep)
Rep. Cole Hefner (Y on Paxton, Rep)
Rep. Hillary Gail Hickland (N/A, Rep)
Rep. Jolanda Jones (Y on Paxton, Dem)
Rep. Christian Manuel (Y on Paxton, Dem)
Rep. Tom Oliverson (absent, Rep)
Rep. David Spiller (Y on Paxton, Rep)
Rep. Carl Tepper (Y on Paxton, Rep)
Rep. Terry M. Wilson (Y on Paxton, Rep)
Rep. Gene Wu (Y on Paxton, Dem)

Vote NO on Subsidizing the Movie Industry in Texas

I’m ADAMANTLY opposed to subsidizing the movie industry. That bill is SB-22 and it’s on Sunday’s calendar in the Texas House. As we in Bastrop well know, they’re coming here without that subsidy.

Film, soda, popcorn If I wanted to support the movie industry, I’d go to movies. Think “user fees”. If I use it, I pay. I don’t go to the movies, so why am I being forced to pay for them?

I’m really sick of government forcing people to pay for that which they don’t use or need. Think DOGE. The Feds are trying to cut out excess spending and the State of Texas just spends more and more and more on things like this… everyone’s pet project. Just where is this in the Texas Constitution? Picking government winners (in this case, the movie industry) and losers (in this case, the taxpayers) needs to STOP.

My daughter told me a few years ago that one of the best lessons I taught her, one that has allowed her to save, is to understand the difference between wants and needs. Our legislators need to recognize the difference between wants and needs, between who is paying the bill and who is benefiting.

The movie industry is moving from CA anyway. Gavin Newsom is having a very hard time keeping them there, but he’s working hard at it. They’re expanding the CA subsidies. Will Texas have to do so in 2 years? This is nothing more than a race to see which state will give them the most money.

The old argument about all the jobs they’ll bring is a bunch of BS. No one ever talks about the other side of that equation: the COST of the growth that comes with them: roads, schools (have you seen the latest bond indebtedness of our schools???), WATER (we don’t have enough), infrastructure of other kinds, quality of life due to overcrowding.. The costs are massive, but those trying to sell this government waste ignore that.

Let those two multi-millionaires invest in their industry to encourage that industry to come here. I don’t go to movies and I don’t want to invest in them. I urge my rep, Stan Gerdes, and other House members to vote NO on SB22.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT ADDENDUM

Will we be paying for films glorifying the Muslim religion at the same time that the Governor and others are trying to stop the EPIC development near Dallas? “Faith-based” doesn’t mean just Christianity.

See this language in the bill:

(f) A moving image project qualifies for a faith-based moving image project grant under Subsection (a)(5) if the project is designated by the office as a faith-based moving image project according to rules adopted by the office. The office is not required to designate any moving image project as a faith-based moving image project and has sole discretion to make that designation.

One denial and a court case will follow. Texas will lose that court case. Does “faith-based” apply only to Christian films? Is it defined in Texas law? I couldn’t find it. I found “religious organization”, but not “faith-based”.

Religious discrimination is illegal. It’s how Mosques, Buddhist temples and any other “church” or “worship center”, Christian or non-Christian, are built anywhere in any zone. I know of 3 such situations that occurred in neighboring towns when I was in elected office in NJ. Under Federal law, they could not be stopped. One was in a former commercial building, another on a large open tract of land, and the third in a residential neighborhood.

When any bill calls for “faith-based”, think long and hard about whether you’d want the provisions of that bill applying to other than Christian religions. Because this is the Bible-belt, I think that Texans too often think only of Christianity. But that’s not the case under Federal law. Substitute any religion you are adamantly opposed to in place of “faith-based” in the bill and decide if you’d still support it. Food for thought.