Early Voting - Day Two

Well the second day of early voting has concluded and the number of voters is really setting some new high water marks for the entire country and things are no different right here in Milam County.

Here are some of the stats here in Milam County after two days of Early Voting.

For October 25, 2016

Location – Voters (2012 Voters)

County Clerk’s Office – 245 (223)

Rockdale Juvenile Justice Center – 243 (177)

Buckholts Community Center – 36 (21)

Thorndale VFW – 91 (41)

Ballot by Mail – 4 (17)

Military – 0 (2)

Total – 621 (481)

Two Day Totals

Location – Voters (2012 Voters)

County Clerk’s Office – 506 (483)

Rockdale Juvenile Justice Center – 515 (358)

Buckholts Community Center – 52 (37)

Thorndale VFW – 175 (107)

Ballot by Mail – 369 (222)

Military – 14 (12)

Total – 1633 (1219)

As you can see we are on a tremendous pace to break some Early Voting Records here in Milam County, even without any contested races in the local elections. Currently, Early voting is alread7 33% more than in 2012, that's pretty impressive!!

On the issue of malfunctioning machines, refer to my blog from yesterday where I addressed this issue. In summary, the issue comes when a voter uses the straight-ticket selection. 

If you vote straight-ticket, the machine will need you to select "Cast Ballot" more than once in order to count your vote. In the past it only took selecting "Cast Ballot" once to do so; however, now it will require you to view the summary before actually casting your vote to make sure you actually want to use the straight-ticket selection.

As a rule of thumb, make sure you see the completion screen with the flag on it before you vacate the polling booth. If you don't see that Flag Screen then ask for help, the Election Staff will be more than happy to assist you.

So let's all get out and vote. vote Early or on Elections day but please do go out and vote.

Thanks,
Bill

Early Voting – Day One

As we all know, this year’s Presidential Election is anything but normal.

After looking at opening day totals, I would like to thank everyone for all their support. The first day or early voting saw large numbers of voting throughout the state and Milam County is no different.

Below I have posted the voting totals for yesterday below and the 2012 totals of Milam County Voters.

For October 24, 2016

Location – Voters (2012 Voters)

County Clerk’s Office – 261 (260)

Rockdale Juvenile Justice Center – 272 (181)

Buckholts Community Center – 16 (16)

Thorndale VFW – 84 (66)

Ballot by Mail – 365 (205)

Military – 14 (10)

Total – 1012 (738)

The total of 1012 voters casting ballots yesterday represents nearly 7 % of the eligible voters in Milam County. Not bad for the first day of voting

The number of voters voting yesterday was a 137% increase from the 2012 election and we have already received 15 more ballots by mail than the total received in 2012.

With these numbers showing up all over the state and country, it would appear 2016 may break all records for voter participation.

Early voting runs through November 4^th and the County Clerk’s office will be open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm Saturday, October 29th for voting as well. You can vote at any of the locations.

There are still a limited number of Trump signs available, email me for directions on how to get one.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at milmgop@yahoo.com or at 254-482-0354.

Thanks,

Bill

Voting Machine Issues

Good Afternoon,

As we move through early voting I am already receiving phone calls of voting machines that are not registering votes correctly.

Currently we are not having any machine issues. The issues that folks have called about concern straight-ticket voting so let me explain how that works. Since you are straight-ticket voting and not selecting each candidate individually, the voting machine will make you look over the summary page before it allows you to cast your ballot. If you try and cast the ballot too quickly then it will make you verify your selection and possibly select the “Cast Ballot” button again.

Apparently, this is a verification step to allow each voter to verify that they are indeed voting for whomever they want and not skipping a down-ballot race they might have wished to vote in.

I would recommend that everyone take their time and use care when voting to make sure your ballot counts as cast.

If you have any concerns or thinks something is out of the ordinary, please contact one of the following; myself at the number below, the Milam County Clerk’s Office at 254-697-7049, or you can call the Ballot Integrity Hotline at 512-766-4597.

Thanks,

Bill

Bill Whitmire

Chairman,

Republican Party of Milam County

254-482-0354

Saturday Meeting in Rockdale - August 13, 2016

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to drop a quick note to let you know that this Saturday, at the Rockdale branch of Citizens National Bank (104 E. Cameron Ave) there will be a training meeting for GOP Leaders and those interested in helping the party.

The meeting will be led by the SD-5 SREC leaders with folks from the RPT helping to lead the training.

I would invite anyone interested in the workings of the RPT and electioneering in the coming year.

Meeting starts at 10:00 AM.

Thanks,

BIll

Do They Really Need the Water?

Over the years, and recently far-too-often, Milam County and like other rural Central Texas counties have been made fully aware that the ground water we enjoy is greatly coveted by the ever growing Urban areas that surround us. With the I-35 Corridor between Georgetown and San Antonio being one of the fastest growing areas in the entire country, urban water usage is an ever-growing issue that threatens all of the surrounding regions water sources.

Be it the “Oppose the San Antonio Hose” signs around Milam and Burleson Counties to the morning conversations of the coffee drinking farmers and ranchers of the area, the water grab is a major topic of concern to many folks in rural Central Texas. If the water was required to meet the needs of an increase in population that would be one thing; and while that is the claim by those in power, that isn’t the entirety of the reason. NO, there are other, less-necessary issues that cause this requirement for water like water parks, HOA’s and Golf Courses to name a few.

Water parks are the epitome of first-world ridiculousness. They already abound all along the I-35 corridor here in Central Texas with more of them on the way. Not too very long ago it was enough to have the multiple lakes and rivers around Central Texas; however, now we need the added benefit of a water park every few miles to make it easier to get to watery fun!

Home Owners Associations have become the norm over the last 50 Years or so. And with those HOAs come the inevitable requirements for a well-watered and manicured lawn. Regardless of the drought conditions, the lawns in the neighborhoods must be maintained. If water usage and conservation was truly a concern of law-makers and developers along the I-35 corridor, then more communities would be embracing low water use lawn systems like other areas of the Southwest United States. Instead, they still continue to worry more about the appearance of their beautifully marketed green neighborhoods than they do the water they are wasting.

Lastly, there are golf courses. Now before anyone jumps the shark and deems me an anti-golf tree-hugging loon, let me assure you nothing could be farther from truth. I love playing golf. I’m not any good at it, but I love the game. That said, this is a tremendous waste of water in urban areas. At my count there are at least 16 full-sized golf courses in Williamson County alone and there are a couple more on the way. Now don’t get me wrong, I love golf, but in all honesty it is a huge waste of water in an area that apparently can’t sustain its own water use.

To Summarize, if simple population growth was the main reason for this water grab, then most rural residents in Central Texas would be less apprehensive; however, it’s far from that simple. These few examples are just the tip of the iceberg, but they easily demonstrate how the first-world excess the urban areas “require” can create a demand for rural water that is far an above that of mere sustainability. And remember, rural water is a must when you think that most of it is used for the very agricultural necessities those same urban areas require.

Surf’s Up!

Bill

The Milam County Health Department

Yesterday during Commissioner’s Court the members voted on turning over the Milam County Health Department to the Texas State Department of Health Services Region 7 control. This proposal had been tabled for a while to allow the county commissioners to research the issue and touch base with their constituency in order to make an informed choice.

Yesterday, after a short discussion the topic was voted on and it was agreed to keep the status quo and continue to operate as the Health Department has since its inception in the 1940’s.

Prior to and following the vote, many folks have asked me what is the position of the Republican Party of Milam County on this topic. Officially, the local party has not convened to discuss the Health Department and therefore has no stance on this issue. For me to offer an opinion on this topic as the party’s stance would be a disservice to those who work so hard for the Republican Party of Milam County.

I will say that the Republican Party of Milam County is fully supportive of the process the County Commissioners’ Court used to explore this plan, research the issue, and then make the decision they felt was best for the people of Milam County.

On a personal note, as a Republican I believe in a representative form of government where the elected represent and govern based on the beliefs and values of the constituency that elected them. Regardless of the social welfare arguments, big-government/small-government issues, or any other such politically-fueled squabbles, the important issue is that those with the authority to make decisions do so in a manner the best represents and serves those that elected them to public office.

In this case, I personally believe the Commissioners’ Court got both the process right and the decision right; however, if you disagree there is always another election coming up in the future.

See you at the polls!!

Bill

Milam County Resolutions for the State Party Platform

Every two years, county political parties conduct Precinct Conventions and a County Convention in preparation for the State Convention held every two years. During the Precinct Conventions, Resolutions are considered and if passed, are forwarded to the County Convention.

During the March 19th County Convention, the Resolutions Committee considers the resolutions passed from the Precinct Conventions and they are presented to the Convention for passage. Those resolutions that are passed are then sent on to the Texas State Convention for consideration and possible inclusion in the State Platform.

This is why the Precinct and County Conventions are so important if you really want to be a part of the process of how the parties work. Below I have included the resolutions that were passed out of the most recent Republican Milam County Convention.

Thanks,

Bill

1.       Resolution One - Delegates to the RNC National Convention

be it resolved THAT for the Republican Party, no delegates having voting power within the nomination framework shall exist without being selected by or bound to a vote from the primaries or caucuses of the States which they represent; that no unpledged “super Delegates” currently exist or will ever be created to interfere with the states intent of the people.

2.       Resolution Two – Campaign Finance Account Limitations

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Campaign accounts of candidates, whether elected or not, should only be allowed to be opened for a finite period of time rather than the current system which allows candidates to keep their campaign accounts open for an unlimited time period. Accounts may be open and funds may only be raised from a time period of four (4) months prior to the filing period for an election and that all accounts must be closed out in a timely manner following the end of a candidate’s campaign, regardless of the outcome.

3.       Resolution Three – Total Delegates to the State Convention

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Convention of the Republican Party of Texas has become too cumbersome to manage properly with the current number of delegates allowed to the convention; therefore, the number of Delegates should be reduced to a more controllable number of delegates from the state with a system being similarly based on the number of gubernatorial votes from the counties; however, the numbers should then be reduced on a curve where the county with the largest number GOP Gubernatorial votes would receive fifty (50) delegates and the remainder of the counties would have their delegation determined based on a percentage of that same calculation with no county receiving less than three (3) delegates.  This process would, reduce confusion and disruption at the convention, lower the cost of the convention, provide a wider variety of venues for the convention to be held, and increase productivity of the event.

4.       Resolution Four – Congressional Term Limits

BE IT RESOLVED THAT service in the Texas State Legislature and the United States Congress should be controlled and restricted by a set of term limits. The terms of service would be limited to the length of time as laid out below.

Texas State Legislature – Total Service of eight (8) years.

Examples:

            Four (4) terms in the State House;

or Two (2) terms in the State Senate;

or Two (2) terms in the State House and one (1) term in the State Senate.

United States Congress – Total Service of twelve (12) years.

            Examples:

Six (6) terms in the U.S. House;

or Two (2) terms in the U.S. Senate;

            or Three (3) terms in the U.S. House and one (1) term in the U.S. Senate.

5.       Resolution Five – The Reorganization of the Texas House of Representatives

Be it Resolved that we urge the Texas Legislature to enact legislation amending the Texas State Constitution to allow the Texas Senate to continue to be districted based on populations, but require each member of the Texas State House of Representatives to represent two (and only two) geographically-attached counties defined by a like rural or urban population size, thus reducing the size of the House from 150 members to a total of 127 Members while presenting a geographically based house of the legislature.