SREC 8 Committeewoman Candy Noble updates us on the recent SREC meeting.

Ready for some exciting news from Austin? Well, the State Republican Executive Committee met this past weekend and boy do I have some good news-and some future challenges-to share in today’s update.

Let’s start with the election. Texas was already Republican Red… then here came “Battleground Texas”, poised and bragging about all their Obama operatives that were sent here to change the way Texans vote. Were they successful? Well, they were successful in getting Republicans fired up and working harder than ever. They PAID 250 employees to work for their cause. We mobilized 10,000 Volunteers, gave generously to our candidates, opened Victory Centers around the state and personally contacted over 2 million voters.

The Democrats worked too: they registered voters, and the research shows that they did a good job of registering more Republican-leaning Voters than Democrat Voters. If that doesn’t make you smile, nothing will. We registered voters, too. We concentrated on Gun Shows, NASCAR Races and Churches. We focused on Inclusion (outreach) efforts with everyone: Young voters, African American voters, Hispanic voters, Asian Voters and others. We saw those labors pay off in every demographic. And we turned out our base to vote, which was the biggest difference-maker between the two parties this election.

So how did we come out in the election? TOGETHER WE DID A REMARKABLE JOB!

Let me give you some numbers: in 2008 we had 2,395 Republican office holders in the state of Texas. Two years ago we set a new record of 3,210. As of today, there are 3,653 elected Republicans! That is 443 new Republicans in office in just the last two years. Our efforts made the biggest difference at the local level: today there are 514 Republican Justices of the Peace serving in Texas—an addition of 105 from 2012.

As of today, there are 3,653 elected Republicans! That is 443 new Republicans in office in just the last two years. Our efforts made the biggest difference at the local level: today there are 514 Republican Justices of the Peace serving in Texas—an addition of 105 from 2012.

Several Inclusion (Outreach) Victory Centers around the state will remain open and active through 2016. Victory Chair, Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick raised–and presented us with the a check–for enough money to cover on-going expenses for those centers, and the RNC has committed to paying the salaries of the staff (If Reince Priebus is re-elected at the RNC meeting in January).

Texas Republican Chairman Steve Munisteri has made no secret that he was only committed to remaining our Chair through the election. He has told us that he intends to resign either at the March or June SREC meeting. There are at least three men running for his spot right now, and we heard from each of them at the meeting (Jared Woodfill, Tom Mechler and Wade Emmert). The SREC approved a Bylaw change that will allow the chair to tender resignation “time certain” 30 days out so that there would be no gap in that position and no need for a separate and expensive additional SREC meeting to elect a new chair. Under Steve’s leadership we have gone from a debt of $750,000 to all bills paid to zero each month, an outstanding professional staff, very successful elections, and still have around $1.2 million in the bank. During his tenure as Chair so far he has raised $22 million.

The SREC was honored to have lunch at the University of Texas Club with Governor-elect Greg Abbott on Saturday. Governor-elect Abbott announced that he is establishing a new Award to be given to the most outstanding Republican in the State annually by the top Republican elected official. He gave the Award the name of its first recipient: The Steve Munisteri Award. Steve was so surprised and honored and touched that he choked up. Nicely done.

With the election behind us there is much to do as a Party. National Committeewoman Toni Anne Dashiell reported that the RNC has come up with a document called the “Principles for American Renewal” that will be used in the coming election cycle. It can be found at www.gop.comTake the survey here.

Our RPT General Counsel, Patrick O’Daniel reported that for the first time in over four years we have no pending legal suits against the Party. (I almost hate to put that in writing…seems that some folks might take that as a challenge). There is still legal work to be done, even without Lawsuits, for there have been problems with some of the older voting machines in Texas and ongoing local party questions for our legal team. Our volunteer legal team was involved in a County Commissioner race in Limestone County where for the first time a Republican won that position– by only 2 votes. Yes, each vote does matter.

The SREC voted to allow Live-streaming and archiving of our General meetings through the RPT website.

We also passed several Resolutions including these:

Grassroots Priorities for the Legislature for the 2015 Session. This one includes 8 topics: Senate voting, Border Security, Second Amendment issues, School Choice, No new taxes and unnecessary spending (including no new toll roads), Ending Obamacare, Transferring jurisdiction of the Travis County Public Integrity Unity, and Protecting our Constitutional Freedoms.

Resolution asking the Legislature to change the Date of the May Elections by one week to the first Saturday in May (in order not to conflict with the GOP State Convention).

Resolution Regarding HOA Restrictions on Flying flags (and other Constitutionally protected rights)

A Resolution asking that Conservative Legislation, supported by the majority of the Texas House and Senate, be swiftly moved to a floor vote for passage (removing committee roadblocks).

We heard from many elected officials, thanking us for our work on their behalf. Agriculture Commissioner-elect Sid Miller provided us with completely Texas-grown ingredient breakfast tacos. We heard from Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht, and Texas Supreme Court Justices Jeff Boyd, Jeff Brown, and John Devine. We also heard from Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Justices-elect David Newell, Kevin Yeary and Bert Richardson and Dustin Burrows, State Representative-elect District 88.

Will Hurd, US Congressman-elect, District 23, spoke to us about his plans for Washington DC. This man is impressive: he is the first African-American Republican Congressman elected from Texas, and he did it in a primarily Hispanic District spanning 27 Counties. After hearing him speak, I understand why he was elected. He formerly served undercover in the CIA and has been appointed to serve on the Homeland Security Committee. He has also been appointed to The Government Reform and Oversight Committee and hopes to investigate the EPA on their Privacy and Property Rights violations. He plans to invite the 59 incoming Congressional freshmen (mostly Republicans) down to tour the Border. We’ll be watching for him, and our other returning Texas Republican Congressional Delegation, to make a big difference in Washington DC.

The Grassroots Club, which I chair for the Texas GOP, is doing well. We currently have 1721 members. In our Senate District 8 we have 119 Current members. Many memberships have expired due to Credit Card expirations or replacements—this happened to me in September. Would you do me a favor and check to see if you are current in your membership? If you are not sure, let me know and I will check for you. Here’s the deal: Senate District 25 has more Grassroots Club members than we do. They have 144 members. I know we can beat them! If your membership has expired, just go to www.grassrootsclub.com and sign up for a new membership.

Grassroots Club members band together to financially support the Republican Party of Texas by each giving just $8.25 a month (or $99 a year) , and we make a giant difference. Perks include no fund-raising phone calls or mail, and quarterly phone calls with Republican leaders like Senator Ted Cruz. If you prefer to mail a check the address is:

Republican Party of Texas, Grassroots Club
1108 Lavaca, Suite 500
Austin, Texas 78701

(Be sure to include your name, address, occupation and employer).

I am blessed to be serving you on the State Republican Executive Committee. Thank you. On behalf of the Noble Family I’d like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Candy Noble
State Republican Executive Committee
Senate District 8
[email protected]