February 4th Milam County Reagan Day/Texas Independence Day Dinner

Good Morning to All,

I hope everyone is having a great start to their 2016.

We are closing in on the Reagan Day/Texas Independence Day Dinner to be held on February 4^th, which is next Thursday. Currently ticket sales are going well, but we want to pack the house.

This year’s event will feature the five contested races we have locally in Milam County, and the two major state and national campaigns for the State District 20 House seat and the U.S. House seat representing Congressional District 17.

All of the Congressional candidates will be represented next Thursday as well as many other statewide candidates for offices like the Railroad Commission, State Courts, and the Texas Board of Education; SO we need to pack the house to show that Milam County cannot be taken lightly when making decisions in state and federal government.

I know the lion’s share of the attention is focused on the Presidential Race; however, regardless of the policies and views of the Presidential candidates, actual policy and law is formulated and created by those we send to Congress, not the White House. This is your chance to meet those candidates, question those candidates, and formulate your own decisions on who you will vote for.

AND, the local candidates need your support at this event as well. This year the Sheriff and Tax Assessor-Collector’s offices are contested races along with the County Commissioner, Precinct 3 and Constables in Precinct 1 and Precinct 2.

I can’t stress how difficult it can be to get good quality folks to run for office. Many people don’t want to run for office because they feel being in publicly elected office is a difficult and thankless job that no one cares about. The best way to inspire those thinking of a run for office and show them you do care is to get out and show your support at events like the Reagan Day/Texas Independence Day Dinner.

Like I said, we need great attendance for this event so let’s make sure you are one of those who attend. There will also be a live and silent auction. AND THE FOOD!! Remember, the food will be outstanding with the Kostroun’s catering their fantastic Prime Rib Dinner and Bob Terry’s Shrimp appetizers. I’ve had many a state and national candidate tell me the meal alone is worth the trip!!

Tickets are $50 and are available from any member of the Republican Women of Milam County. The women will be available tomorrow night, January 28^th from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Budget Host Inn & Suites in Cameron; OR get in touch with me and I will be happy to get you set up.

These are indeed important times for the country and we need all the help we can get, so come out next Thursday and support the candidates, the GOP, and most importantly the Republican Women of Milam County with their only fundraiser of the year.

I’ll See Ya There!!

Bill

milamgop.com

254-482-0354

Pay no Attention to Those Spewing FEAR!!

A week or so ago I posted a blog talking about civility and keeping things positive, yet here I am again. As much as I continue in leading the county party with the goal of civil campaigning, I am always amazed at the mud that is slung and the fear that is spread in the midst of an election.

This is a normal part of campaigning for some folks in order to literally “scare” up votes for one particular candidate over another. I would like to say this is rare; however, this type of fear-mongering is a little too common for my taste, and for most of the voters as well.

Remember, NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING DOES NOT WORK IN SMALL COUNTIES……..PERIOD!!!

In the normal course of an election I speak with all the candidates, especially those in contested races. Without exception, I feel fairly certain that I have a good idea of what to expect once the winning candidate is sworn into office.

This year is no exception.

I will make this as general as I can as I don’t know all of the specifics of the situation; only what I was told.

This weekend I was asked by several folks if it was true that there would be mass firings in one of our county offices if a particular candidate won the race.

The quick answer is this, NONE of the current crop of GOP Candidates in Milam County have expressed any interest in mass firings should they win their respective race. To do so once they took office would be the most ignorant and self-destructive act imaginable for a newly elected office holder.

For Instance, how many people actually know the workings inside an office such as the county Tax Assessor-Collector’s office? With such a small number of people understanding how to handle the work in this office, it would make no sense for someone to win election and then step into that office and fire the individuals who know how to do the job in hand.

I don’t mean to pick on the Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office because the same can be said for a Commissioner’s office, the County or District Clerk’s office, or any of the other county office. Yet it seems like every election there’s one candidate, or one of the candidate’s surrogates, that makes this claim that there will be mass firings should a certain candidate get elected.

For the record, Mass firings didn’t happen in 2010, didn’t happen in 2012, didn’t happen in 2014, and I don’t see it happening in 2016 just because one candidate is elected over another candidate.

As a matter of fact, from what we have seen in the past, regardless of party affiliation, elected department heads have fought to keep the jobs of those working for them and increase their pay rather than let them go.  It’s doesn’t always work, but I have yet to see one locally elected candidate (of either party) who walked into office on day one and fired everyone.

So when you go to the polls. please don’t let the nay-sayers and the Doom-and-Gloom folks get to you. Go to the polls and vote for the candidates who you feel are the most qualified and who you think will do the best job.

Thanks for your support.

Bill

2016 Reagan Day Dinner - GET YOUR TICKETS BEFORE THEY'RE GONE!!

Hello Everyone,

We are really getting excited about this year’s Reagan Day Dinner to be held February 4^th at the Cameron VFW.  Tickets are going fast so get yours today!!

With this being an Election Year we are looking forward to our local Candidates being the main focus of our Dinner this year and letting them speak to us about their outlook on holding elected office here in Milam County.

State and Federal Candidates will also be in attendance and we look forward to hearing them speak with us; however, our local candidates are brushing up their stump speeches and readying themselves to share with us their positions and future plans once elected to office.

Plan on being there early for the Meet and Greet portion of the evening where you can best get to know the candidates and ask them the questions you want to know on a one-to-one basis. There will be a live and silent auction, AND the wonderful meal prepared by Jerry & Agnes Kostroun – The Best Part of the Evening!!

Tickets can be purchased by contacting me, or any of the Republican Women of Milam County. There will only be a limited number of tickets available at the door so get them early. The women will be selling tickets this Tuesday and Thursday at the Budget Host Inn & Suites in Cameron from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm those nights.

The Women are also asking anyone with sold tickets or ticket money to please turn those in on one of these two nights as well. Please let me know if you can’t make it those nights so we can make other arrangements.

And for our candidates and supporters, Auction Items are still being accepted….Hint, Hint, Hint!!

As Always, I appreciate all the support and look forward to seeing everyone soon.

Thanks,

Bill

Bill Whitmire

Chairman,

Republican Party of Milam County

254-482-0354

Why You Need to Vote in the Primary

As in years past, I have heard many ask why they should vote in this year’s primary election when it comes to the Presidential Election. I always here “My vote doesn’t matter,” or “the race has already been decided by the time Texas holds it’s primary.”

In years past there was a significant bit of truth to this; however, this year’s primary election is going to be much different in the GOP Primary. Your primary vote will count more this year than ever before when it comes to the Presidential election.

There are two reasons for this and I will do my best to explain them in a short and concise manner.

First, the time between the first caucus/primary and the Texas Primary will be about 4 weeks instead of the 10 plus weeks that it was in 2012. That means that in 4 weeks more than half of the GOP primaries will be complete rather than the drawn out three and a half months that is took in 2012. That gives Texas and many other states a much better say in who will be the GOP nominee for President.

Along with this move there was another change that many folks had called for long ago. As part of the process to move the primaries up on the calendar, all the states holding a primary prior to March 15^th will have to distribute their delegates proportionally rather than winner take all as had been the policy before.

That means that rather than the winner of the Texas Primary getting all the delegates at the national convention, the delegates will be distributed proportionally between the candidates based on their percentage of the Primary vote. That means your vote does count in giving your candidate a better chance to get some delegates.

AND, if you’re not certain who you like as a candidate for President, don’t worry!! On this primary ballot there will be a space for “Uncommitted” so you can vote that way and there will be an uncommitted group of delegates at the Convention. Of course the delegation is held to their primary votes only on the first round of balloting, then they can choose who they want.

That brings us to the delegates, their votes, and a brokered convention…...BUT…...I’ll discuss that in a few weeks as we get closer to the Primary.

So for now, pay attention and pick you candidate. Your vote will be counted and your voice can be heard. Come to the Precinct Conventions and the County Convention on March 19th. Be a part of the process.

I look forward to seeing y’all!!

Thanks,

Bill

Campaign No-No’s – I Promise this is SHORT!!

Each campaign season we start off with the highest of aspirations as I pray that we have honorable and up-beat elections based on the issues of the office being sought and the qualifications of the individuals running for those office. Ideally the hope would be that a candidate is qualified to handle the office, understands the entirety of the work done by the office, and wants to serve the constituency that elects them – IDEALLY!!

Sadly, there are some folks who run for office based on one issue; be it to run as a stepping stone to another office, a grievance towards the current officeholder, or an ego that feels the need to occupy that office. Inevitably we have one, or maybe two candidates that fit this bill just about each election cycle.

In the last few days I have had some talks with some concerned voters about a couple of issues and I feel the need to speak out and clear up a few things as they are currently known to the best of the knowledge of the Leadership of the Republican Party of Milam County – AND ME!!

I’ll make these quick and Easy.

1.       Currently, all the candidates running for office are in good standing with the Republican Party of Milam County.

2.       Currently, the entire slate of Republican Candidates is in good health and prepared to continue in or assume office following this year’s elections.

3.       AND, Currently, none of the candidates running for office in Milam County is in any trouble legally, and/or civilly.

Like I said, this is to the best of the knowledge of me and the leadership of the Republican Party of Milam County, and we stay pretty well informed.

So if you hear anything to the contrary, hear any GOP candidate making derogatory comments towards their opponent or another elected GOP officeholder, or you have concerns about something a candidate says, then feel free to give me a call, shoot me a text, hit me up on Facebook, or send me an email and I will be happy to discuss this with you.

I am here for all the candidates; however, I have and always will work towards the goals of fairness and civility in the election process here in Milam County.

Thanks,

Bill

williamwhitmire@yahoo.com

254-482-0354

Convention Delegate Numbers Released

Got word today that we will have 11 delegate positions for the 2016 State GOP Convention this May 12-14 in Dallas. This means that we will have spots for 11 Delegates and 11 Alternates to go to the convention.

This year's convention is during a Presidential election so we will be selecting the delegates for the National Convention to be held in Cleveland, Ohio. This convention will be held July 18-21, 2016 and we will have the opportunity to send folks from here in Milam County is you wish to put you name in for consideration.

But first off it is important to remember that it all starts off with the Local Precinct and County Conventions to be help March 19th. Site of the convention has yet to be determined. That information is in work and should be announced in the next week.

This is the process so get involved!!

Thanks,
Bill