Harris County Republican Party Minutes of the Executive Quarterly Committee Meeting April 27, 2015 The Quarterly meeting of the Executive Committee of the Harris County Republican Party was held Monday, April 27, 2015 at Harris County Republican Party Headquarters, 7232 Wynnwood Lane, Houston, TX 77008 with County Chairman Paul Simpson presiding. The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Trebor Gordon opened with the invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Harris County County Clerk, Stan Stanart and the Pledge to the Texas flag was led by Harris County District Clerk Chris Daniel. Judge Jay Karahan led the National Anthem. Secretary certified that with 472 Precinct Chairs on the roll, 179 were in attendance for a quorum. The minutes were seconded and approved. Treasurer report was given by Cindy Siegel. The exhibit is filed for review. The Chair commented on growing the party and the Republican votes in Harris County. He also introduced office staff. COMMITTEE REPORTS Committee reports not needing a vote from the Executive Committee to approve action have been included as written reports in the handout. Vacancy Committee- given by Travis Bryan A motion arising from the report was to approve the following Prectinct Chairs: Raquel Ann Lewis, Pct 596; Robert Thomson, Pct 814; Elimelich Lubin, Pct 384; Andrew Dowell, Pct 436; Itzie Soliz, Pct 123; Jacob Winkerstein, Pct 540; Scott Bowen, Pct 416. The motion was adopted as amended.(see EXHIBIT A ) New Precinct Chairs were sworn in by Harris County District Attorney, Devon Anderson. Engagement Committee- given by Mike Bercu. (SEE EXHIBIT B ) Ballot Security- given by Kelley Horsley (SEE EXHIBIT C ) Military Partnership given by Betty Avery Training and Development given by Charlotte Lampe The County Chair appointed Joe Pennington as Sergeant at Arms. Appointment was seconded and approved. Michael Robertson moved to approve the Chair s appointments to the Local Government Committee, Chris Busby and Jorge Villareal. Motion was seconded and adopted. Mike Bercu moved to approve the Chair s appointments to the Engagement Committee, Wendell Champion, Lily Truong, and Jessica Vu. Motion was seconded and adopted. NEW BUSINESS Resolution Supporting SB- 182: Statewide Decrease in Rollback Tax Rate was moved by Scott Bowen, seconded and adopted. (SEE EXHIBIT D ) Resolution in Memory of Earl Charles Lairson was moved by Nelda Eppes, seconded and adopted. (SEE EXHIBIT E ) Resolution Opposing the Special Interest Lease Agreement Between Houston Botanical Gardens and the City of Houston was moved by Ronald McLeland, seconded and adopted. (SEE EXHIBIT F ) Resolution Automotive Free Market was moved by Matthew Howerton, seconded and adopted. (SEE EXHIBIT G ) Resolution Ride- Sharing Companies was moved by Matthew Howerton, seconded and adopted. (SEE EXHIBIT H ) Motion to adjourn at 8:26 p.m. seconded and adopted. Party Secretary Approved (Exhibit on file at County Headquarters) Party Chairman
To: Harris County Republican Party Executive Committee From: Paul Simpson, Harris County Republican Party Chair Re: April 27, 2015, 7pm Harris County Republican Executive Committee Meeting Meeting Notice: This is your official notice for the regular Quarterly Meeting of the Harris County Republican Party Executive Committee. The meeting will take place on Monday, April 27, 2015 at the Harris County Republican Party Headquarters, 7232 Wynnwood Lane, Houston, Texas 77008. Directions: The meeting will be at the Harris County Republican Party Headquarters. We are located near the intersection of Loop 610 West and Hwy 290, off Hempstead Highway: From I-10: Exit Westcott/Washington. Turn north on Washington; merge onto Hempstead; turn right on Wynnwood. From 610 North: Exit W 18th; U-Turn under 610 back to Hempstead Hwy; turn left on Hempstead; turn left on Wynnwood. From 610 West: Exit T.C. Jester; drive to Hwy 290; U-Turn under 290 to Hempstead Hwy; turn left on Hempstead; turn left on Wynnwood. From 290: Exit Mangum-Dacoma; take 290 and 610 service road to Hempstead Hwy; turn left on Hempstead; turn left on Wynnwood. The headquarters is three blocks down Wynnwood from Hempstead, on the left, the second office in. Park in any open spot nearby building parking lots that are not blocked. Check-in: Precinct chairs must check-in at tables in the large meeting room. Only those checked in will be allowed to sit in the seats for voting. Additional seating will be available for guests.
AGENDA Quarterly Meeting Harris County Republican Party Executive Committee Harris County Republican Party Headquarters 7232 Wynnwood Lane, Houston, Texas 77008 Monday, April 27, 2015 6:00 pm: Light Snacks and Refreshments 6:15 pm: SD 13 caucus: Elect one member to Rules Committee & one member to Local Government Committee. 6:30 pm: Presentation on Public Pensions (Josh McGee, The Arnold Foundation) 7:00 pm: Call to Order 1. Invocation / Pledges of Allegiance / National Anthem 2. Certification of Quorum 3. Review and Approval of Minutes of February 2015 Executive Committee meeting 4. Treasurer s Report 5. Chairman s Update 6. Committee Reports (NOTE: Committees not needing a vote from the Executive Committee to approve Committee action will provide only written reports) 7. New Business 8. Adjourn
SD 15 Appointed to Ballot Security is Clay Mills ELECTION STAFFING BALLOT SECURITY: The committee has begun preparing to staff early voting and Election Day polling places for the 2015 election cycle. The BSC members who signed up for each County Commissioners precinct run 3 deep. This is the first time we ve had bench strength for these critical positions. BSC volunteers are working with HCRP HQ staff to de-dupe databases of election workers to facilitate appointments of judges, alternate judges and clerks for 2015. With help from the County Party Chair and legal counsel, the BSC intends to challenge the County Clerk s list of GOP election judges they do not want to invite back to serve in future elections. We ll stand up for those who have been incorrectly sanctioned, but will support the County Clerk s recommendations on others who did not serve well. We re still working on our program to build a standing army of highly trained, highly motivated election workers for the critical 2016 elections. Election Law Several members of the BSC have been traveling to the State Capitol each Monday for the past 6 weeks to testify before the House Elections Committee on pending legislation that will affect election integrity throughout Texas. Several of the bills we authored with help from Party Counsel Ed Hubbard are winding their way through the legislature. We ve also testified before the Senate State Affairs Committee which handles election legislation in the Senate. We ve been joined by representatives from the Harris County Clerk s office and the Harris County Tax Assessor/Collector Voter Registrar s office. Our appearances on the live stream video of the House hearings have apparently motivated other GOP election officials from other counties to begin attending and testifying. Threats to Election Integrity There are several initiatives still underway in Austin and elsewhere that we believe threaten the integrity of future elections. We are leading resistance to these initiatives which include: online voter registration, online deputy voter registrar training with no background checks and county-to-county reciprocity and a new move by the League of Women Voters to introduce online casting of ballots. Other initiatives which threaten election integrity include allowing teens who will be eligible to vote in the November general election to vote in the spring primaries, BEFORE they re legally eligible to vote. Surprisingly, many of these initiatives have the support of Republican legislators for reasons we can t explain. It s become obvious to us that many Texas legislators who are writing and passing election laws have never actually worked an election as an election judge or alternate. If they had, they d know the problems that will be caused by many of the bills now pending. YOUNG LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE: WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT DEVELOPING A TRAINING COURSE TO INCLUDE: 1. Party Structure and Function Review of the structure and functions of the Harris County Republican Party and the State of Texas Republican Party. 2. Campaigns Exploring the necessary means and functions of winning candidate campaigns. Voter data, micro-targeting, digital presence, messaging, and GOTV. 3. Fundraising Learning the tools to effectively raise money for candidates and issue campaigns. Fundraising events, bundling, large and small donors, etc
4. Government Day An examination of the functions of Local, State, and Federal Government. (Invite elected officials to participate) 5. Advocacy Learn how to effectively run an issue campaign and how to lobby your elected officials. Messaging, coalition building, 6. Media Day Explore the world of digital media, campaigning, press/media training. 7. Graduation Event Leadership committee s final project. Successfully tie in the skills acquired during the program to create a fundraising event, which brings in individuals for consideration in the next Leadership Development Committee. CANDIDATES COMMITTEE: The Candidates Committee is working with the Republican Party of Texas on a candidate training seminar this summer. We are also exploring specialized training for judicial candidates. Our next meeting will be Wednesday, May 6, 7 p.m., at HCRP headquarters. ACCOUNTING REVIEW COMMITTEE: The Accounting Review Committee held its fourth meeting on Thursday, April 7, 2015. The Committee had an extensive discussion on whether to have an audit of the Harris County Republican Party. The discussion included the cost/benefit of the audit, the process of selecting an auditor and the Committee s role in the overall process. An audit is expected to have a dramatic benefit on the Party s ability to raise additional funds. At the end of the discussion, Party Chairman Simpson asked the Committee to begin the process of planning for an audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015. Ed Hubbard and Virgil Vickery were asked to prepare a proposal to be sent to the prospective audit firms and to review the description of the Committee in the bylaws to determine whether any changes should be made. Treasurer Siegel asked the Committee s input for the formation of an advisory committee to provide specific knowledge about business and operations to advise the Party staff. The idea was well received, but no further action was taken by the Committee. The next meeting of the Committee is expected to be in May to discuss, among other things, the proposals being drafted by Hubbard/Vickery. Respectfully submitted, Virgil Vickery, Chair Committee Members: Larry Lane (SD 4) Jamie Jamison (SD 6) Virgil Vickery (SD 7) Kenneth Moore (SD 11) Michael Baker (SD 13) Josh Flynn (SD 15) Bob Sumicek (SD 17) Open (SD 18) Ex-Officio Members: Paul Simpson (County Chair) Cynthia Siegel (Treasurer) Cathy O'Briant (County Secretary)
Ed Hubbard (HCRP Legal Counsel) Cynthia England (Assistant Treasurer) ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE: Mission: Win Hearts and Votes of All Motto: Engagement is Everyone's Job The Engagement Committee engages organizations and sponsors events in communities that the Harris County Republican Party has identified a need to increase the Republican vote. The committee provides leadership, funding, and volunteers. We collect names and work with the HCRP to get these people in Nation Builder for further follow-up. Since getting votes is everyone s job we must facilitate ways for the Harris County Republican Party and activists to be more active in engagement. Since January 1 st, we have sponsored and/or participated in about 10 events in the Asia, Indian, Hispanic, African-American and Jewish communities. We have collected names from about 300 attendees for follow-up. Many lean our way and/or are Republicans that regularly vote. We realize that we may be missing important organizations and/or events to engage with. As such, we will be surveying HCRP members and elected officials for additional data. In addition we are researching other resource to learn more about organizations in Houston. We encourage all of you to volunteer to man our booths and/or attend the events. We publish this information weekly in the HCRP newsletter. Mike Bercu, Chair (mbercu@hotmail.com) 713-906-7507 Members: Kumar Bhattacharjee SD 15 Mark Brown SD 13 Reina Brunig SD7 Wendell Champion County Chair Appointed Cheryl Dalton County Chair Appointed Bryant Gaudette County Chair Appointed Trebor Gordon County Chair Appointed Tony Leatherman SD17 Artemio Muniz SD6 Ron Plante SD11 Alan Powell County Chair Appointed Leonila Olivares- Salazar County Chair Appointed Lily Truong County Chair Appointed Brian Vachris County Chair Appointed Ed Vidal County Chair Appointed Jessica Vu County Chair Appointed Paul Simpson Ex Officio Cathy O Briant Ex Officio Vacant SD18 Vacant SD 4 Rules Committee: No Report Military Partnership Committee: No Report
Local Government Committee: No Report Vacancy Committee Recommendations to HCRP Executive Committee: As of the date of this call, the Vacancy Committee has recommended the following candidates for approval by the Harris County Republican Executive Committee to fill vacant Precinct Chairs on April 27 th, 2015: PCT Name VUID SD HD Primary Voting History ( 14, 12, 10, 08, 06) 596 Raquel Ann Lewis 1189152435 7 150 -, -, -, -, - 814 Robert Thomson 1116085587 17 149 -, -, -, D, - 384 Elimelech Lubin 1186859825 13 131 -, -, -, -, - 436 Andrew Dowell 1111355615 17 133 R, R, -, -, - 123 Itzie Soliz 1108155289 15 147 R, R, R, R, R
Supporting SB-182: Statewide Decrease in Rollback Tax Rate Whereas: Whereas: Whereas: Texas voters elected conservative Republicans in unprecedented numbers to the Texas House and Senate, and by considerable margins to all statewide offices; and, This mandate was delivered in part due to Republican candidates promises to decrease the burden of taxation upon Texas citizens, especially that of property taxation; and, Section 26.08 of the Tax Code of the State of Texas protects taxpayers in school districts by requiring an election to be held after any tax increase which would increase the revenue of the district by more than 8% over the previous year, but a petition is required for taxpayers to exercise this option against other local taxing authorities, including municipal governments; and, Whereas: S.B. 182, introduced by Sen. Paul Bettencourt of SD-07, and its equivalent H.B. 365, which was introduced by Rep. Gary Elkins, would decrease the cap to 4% per year and would extend the automatic election to all local taxing authorities, eliminating the need for petitions; and, Whereas: A similar bill introduced by Rep. Dennis Paul, numbered H.B. 1965, would address the same issue by instead indexing the rollback tax rate to the rate of inflation. Be it resolved: That the Harris County Republican Party calls on the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate to strengthen citizens protections against property tax increases by lowering the rollback tax rate and by eliminating the requirement for a petition prior to a rollback election; and, Be it resolved: That, in order to enshrine those protections into law, we urge the passage of S.B. 182 in the Texas Senate, the passage of either of its companion bills, H.B. 365 or H.B. 1965, in the Texas House, and the signature and swift enactment of the same by Governor Greg Abbott; and, Be it resolved: That this resolution shall be certified by the Chairman of the Harris County Republican Party and physically or electronically mailed to all Republican State Representatives and State Senators within five (5) days of its passage. Respectfully submitted, Scott Bowen Precinct 724 Chairman, Harris County
In Memory of Earl Charles Lairson WHEREAS Earl Charles Lairson CPA, 87, passed away on April 2, 2015, after a full life dedicated to his family, his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and his community; and WHEREAS Earl Lairson was a caring and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, as well as an inspiration to his many friends and associates; and WHEREAS Earl served his nation honorably in the U.S. Army at the end of World War II and later in the Oklahoma Air National Guard and U.S. Army Reserves; and WHEREAS Earl was involved in many CPA organizations and community organizations, was the founder of his own CPA firm, and was a two-term member of the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy, including a year as chairman; and WHEREAS Earl Lairson was active in the Republican Party since 1960, including involvement in the Draft Goldwater campaign in 1964, in George H.W. Bush's first campaign for Congress in 1966, and numerous other campaigns; and WHEREAS Earl served as a Republican Precinct Chair for 35 years, most recently as Chair of Precinct 578 in Houston, and on the Texas State Republican Executive Committee for ten years; and WHEREAS Earl was a charter member of the Greater Houston Pachyderm Club, the founder of the Pachyderm Club of Northwest Houston, and the recipient of the Pachyderm "Tough Tusk Award" in 2011 for outstanding service in politics; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Harris County Republican Party recognizes the life and accomplishments of Earl Charles Lairson; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be presented to Earl's family in gratitude for his years of patriotic service. Submitted by: Vergel Cruz, Precinct 578 / SREC SD15 Angelina Gooden, Precinct 537 Nelda Eppes, Precinct 505 / RPT Sergeant-At-Arms Patricia Phillips, Precinct 189 Ned Watkins, Precinct 444 / SD15 Chair Claudette Rogers, Precinct 448 Josh Flynn, Precinct 407 Keith N. Kerr, Precinct 927 Tom Cottar, Precinct 386 Chester Roundtree, Precinct 543 Mike Knox, Precinct 262 JoAnn McCracken, Precinct 207 Annie Goedicke, Precinct 710 Rolando Garcia, Precinct 802 Kumar Bhattacharjee, Precinct 467
RIDE-SHARING COMPANIES WHEREAS the Republican Party has long been the party of technological innovation, supporting an entrepreneurial spirit beginning with Abraham Lincoln that has lasted through today and WHEREAS the modern entrepreneur is faced with challenges within the system, as regulatory laws are used as a tool to prevent new ideas instead of fostering them and WHEREAS liberal bureaucrats and unions are working to prevent ridesharing companies from competing in the marketplace WHEREAS the 2014 Republican Party of Texas Platform states that we believe in a free enterprise society unencumbered by government interference or subsidies and that we support the immediate removal of government barriers to free market solutions and WHEREAS the Republican National Committee has launched a petition in support of Uber and the removal of regulatory practices that keep such companies from being successful, therefore BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Harris County supports legislative solutions to regulatory barriers for transportation entrepreneurship, to allow other ride sharing companies to compete openly for business in our state. Respectfully Submitted, Matthew Howerton, Precinct 442 Approved 4.27.15
Automotive Free Market WHEREAS Texas has proven that when you remove frivolous government regulations and support free market competition, job creation and innovation inevitably follows; and WHEREAS the 2014 Republican Party of Texas Platform states that we believe in a free enterprise society unencumbered by government interference or subsidies and that we support the immediate removal of government barriers to free market solutions; and WHEREAS the ways in which consumers purchase goods, whether it be a computer, smart phone or a pair of blue jeans has evolved with the development of a modern day economy; and WHEREAS Texas consumers are currently prevented by state law from buying a vehicle directly from a manufacturer, limiting consumer choice and furthering a business monopoly; and WHEREAS the 2014 Republican Party of Texas Platform further states that the RPT believes that it is our duty to protect the American free market, private sector actors and our economy; and THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Harris County Republican Party favors allowing consumers in Texas to be able to purchase cars directly from manufacturers. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that in order to advance this policy goal, the Harris County Republican Party urges the passage of HB 1653 and SB 639 by the Texas Legislature. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that to encourage these bills to be heard by the state legislature, this resolution shall be certified by the county chairman of the Harris County Republican Party and physically or electronically mailed to all Republican State Representatives and State Senators within five (5) days of its passage. Respectfully submitted, Matthew Howerton, Precinct 442 Cindy Coker, Precinct 532 Iris Gaddis, Precinct 561 Scott Bowen, Precinct 724 Jarrod Keeling, Precinct 420