GOP chair calls several leaders “out of order” multiple times during party meeting

Heated discussion regarding the Bandera County Republican Party newsletter and potential endorsement of a candidate led Chair Conrad Striegl to declare several executive leaders out of order during the party’s monthly meeting in April.

Striegl recommended the party endorse Julie Clark, who recently announced her campaign for Congress to represent District 23 following the censure of its current Congressman, Tony Gonzalez, by the Republican Party of Texas.

District 23 stretches from western San Antonio to El Paso, running along the majority of the border. Bandera County is not in the district.

Cammie Morgan, Precinct 306 Chair, recommended tabling the issue because the application process had not been officially opened. She said that by tabling the endorsement, the group would have time to see who else was running for that position in the primary.

Parliamentarian Darcy Hasty agreed, “It is too early to endorse someone.”

Treasurer Rene Leith remarked as soon as Clark declared her intent to run, she became subject to the “campaign finance” laws.

Striegl called several members ‘out of order’ as they tried to continue the discussion on the timeline feasibility of endorsing Julie Clark.

Striegl called for the vote and the motion was tabled.

“It is good that this comes before the party and we get to talk about it,” commented Leith.

Discussion became heated again later in the meeting when multiple errors in the party’s April 3 newsletter were pointed out, including wrong emails, grammar errors and incorrect titles for executive leadership. Several members of the Bandera County Executive Committee pointed out errors in the newsletter and suggested the entire committee reviewed the newsletter before it was distributed.

Morgan, listed as the wrong precinct chair on the newsletter, and Striegl engaged in a heated discussion regarding the errors, with Striegl deeming Precinct 407 Chair Elisa Greene “out of order” as she tried to continue the discussion.

John Mata, Communications Chair, thanked Kimberly Eischem for her help on the organization’s newsletter. Parliamentarian Darcy Hasty provided more information on the newsletter and information available through it, noting it was free to receive after signing up on the website.

In less heated proceedings, the party appointed Ken Denney as chairman of the Audit Committee. Members are Rene Leith, Dave Allen and Cammie Morgan. A recommendation for the independent auditors to be used will be discussed at May’s meeting.

In other meeting business, Albert Toress, State Director of the Texas Chapter of the Convention of States, presented a program on the mission of his organization.

He talked about bringing the United States together in a “convention of states” to make amendments that would balance the national budget, use fiscal restraint in overspending, reduce government overreach and create term limits for elected federal officials, the Supreme Court and appointed government officials.

According to Article V of the Constitution it takes 34 states to call for a convention, and then 38 states must approve any amendments proposed. Nineteen states have already passed the application to call for a convention of states. The Texas government voted in favor of a convention within an eight-year time frame, meaning its application expires in 2025.

All precinct chairs and appointed positions were represented at the meeting. Chairman Striegl related that he had gone to the Bexar County Republican Party meeting.

Striegl mentioned that Fort Hood would be renamed Fort Cavazos at a cost of approximately $250,000. He attributed this change to “woke-ism.”

A press release from the Fort Hood press center says the post is one of nine locations being redesignated based on the Naming Commission’s recommendations to remove names, symbols, displays, monuments and paraphernalia which honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America. General Richard Cavazos became the first Hispanic to reach the rank of brigadier general in the U.S. Army in 1976. He was promoted to become the first Hispanic four-star general in 1982 and retired from the Army in 1984. He served in the Korean and Vietnam wars. He died in Oct. 2017 and is buried at San Antonio’s Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery

Striegl recognized visitors from Bexar County and Medina County. He debriefed the group on ERIC (Electronic Registration Information Center) on voter registration and the compilation of statistics on Republican voting. He also led a discussion about the organization Gun Owners of America Striegl said over 9,000 bills were presented in the current legislative session.

“Hundreds of bills were filed in the Texas Regular Session that would strip you of your rights, he said.

Treasurer Rene Leith gave a Treasurer’s Report which was approved. Chairman Striegl reviewed the RCEC Action Plan, and he recommended the membership read the plan with an eye towards making a prioritized list.

Following a presentation from Mary Ellen Snell, Precinct Chair 3194 from Bexar County, about why Republicans should not support casino gambling in a resort setting, Parliamentarian Darcy Hasty read a resolution against casino gambling. The party voted unanimously to support the resolution against casino gambling.

The next meeting of the Republican Party of Bandera County will be on Thursday, May 11, at 7 p.m. at the Silver Sage Community Center. Guest Dennis London will speak about his proposed bill, “Don’t California My Texas.”