MCRP Vacancy Chair explains why vetting Precinct Chairs is so important
Judge Jay Wright swears in new Precinct Chairs Brigetta Millen, Mariann Siegert, and Susan Love.
June 15, 2023 | Conroe, TX
The Montgomery County Republican Party (MCRP) Vacancy Committee is tasked with recruiting, vetting, and interviewing prospects to recommend to the Party’s County Executive Committee (CEC) to fill Precinct Chair vacancies as they arise throughout the biennium. The Committee is led by Vacancy Chair and Precinct 59 Chair Allison Winter, who also has served on the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC).
“Precinct Chairs work to Get Out the Vote (GOTV), conduct our elections, and support strong conservative candidates starting at the county level, as well as state and federal levels.”
“Vetting is of the utmost importance because it results in committed, talented Precinct Chairs who truly desire to serve their respective precincts and promote conservative values that align with the Republican Party of Texas Platform,” Winter explained. “Our vetting process has grown and strengthened our County Party. Precinct Chairs work to Get Out the Vote (GOTV), conduct our elections, and support strong conservative candidates starting at the county level, as well as state and federal levels.”
Immediately after the Montgomery County Republican Party CEC appoints a Precinct Chair as specified by the Party Bylaws, this information is sent to the County Chair. It is a Texas Election Code duty of the County Chair (171.024.e) to promptly report these names to the Texas Secretary of State (SOS). Unfortunately, the SOS list for Montgomery County Precinct Chairs is riddled with inaccurate names due to the divide in the County Party.
Why is it important that Precinct Chairs be correctly listed with the Secretary of State?
The Republican Party of Texas (RPT) and other organizations rely on the information listed with the SOS to be accurate. Consequently, at the State Convention, the RPT confirms the credentials of its attendees, i.e., the elected Delegates. More on elected Delegates and the State Convention below.
Having incorrect names listed with the SOS causes confusion and the potential for the wrong person being placed as an Election Judge. Election Judges conduct the local, state, and national elections in each area precinct.
Additionally, having an inaccurate list of Precinct Chairs could create complications when the various conventions are held after the March primary. The Precinct Convention is the beginning of the cycle of important conventions where elected Delegates are chosen who determine the Party planks and principles. On election night, after the March Primary (in even years) the Precinct Chair typically runs their respective Precinct Convention. At the next level of conventions (the County or Senatorial Convention), the Precinct Chair also has an important role in continuing to shape the Party Platform.
How do Precinct Chairs impact the Party Platform?
At the State Convention, Delegates vote on the RPT Party Platform as well as the Party Rules. Why is the Platform so important? These are the principles we stand for as a Party, and what we as an organization are working to codify into law. We strive to hold our Republican elected officials accountable to the Platform in the work they do for the voting public, as they pledge to uphold the Party Platform as elected Republicans.
Precinct Chairs have great influence over how our Party functions via the RPT Rules, and what our Party stands for via the RPT Platform. The Republican Party of Texas is a bottom-up organization, meaning that the bottom level, the Precinct Chair level which is most akin to We the People, drives the Party through its collective voice.
Our Republican Party of Texas Platform is always under attack from cultural pressures and by special interest groups who would like to take the Party further to the left. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that our duly elected (or appointed) Precinct Chairs lead the way as our conventions commence in order to maintain the strong conservative Platform for which we continue to fight.