In 2008, the Texas RLC focused on partisan efforts in the smallest GOP primaries, with even more focus on small non-partisan races like city councils, utility districts, and school boards. These non-partisan races are perfect for gaining experience in local campaigning with small budgets and low vote counts, and our winning candidates can be tested in “farm team” offices before making decisions on whom to promote into partisan primaries.
Texas RLC Electoral Victory
The first Texas RLC success using this model was Jerri Lynn Ward of western Travis County, who won her precinct chair race and then won election to her Travis Water Control Improvement District #17 Board in May of 2008, beating two incumbents by one vote! Our outreach tactics focus on fiscally conservative issues — we have already won new independent and even Democrat friends by working fiscal issues, like loud public opposition to the fall 2007 “Proposition 15″ State Cancer bonds, and the local Round Rock ISD school bonds on the Nov 4, 2008 ballot.
The 2008 State Convention was the best ever for the Texas RLC membership, no doubt because of the high profile Presidential race that included Congressman Ron Paul. The Texas RLC hosted a premium exhibit booth for the fourth consecutive Convention and sold t-shirts and memberships with the remarkably generous help of Penny Langford-Freeman.
Texas RLC Convention 2008
The RLC Texas State Convention on June 13 was packed and new, proven activists were elected to the Executive Committee core, like Brian Crumby at Secretary and Lisa Mallory at Treasurer. Of course Ron’s great popularity also came with a GOP cost. The controversy over Nueces County state delegates, reportedly caused by efforts to block new Ron Paul Republicans from “taking over” key GOP delegate positions, was not given fair treatment at the State Convention. According to Don Zimmerman, RLC Texas Executive Director, “In my experience of attending all State Conventions since 1996, this was not only an unjust manipulation of the rules, it was also business as usual for Convention organizers who MUST provide an abundance of positive media for the financial donors and candidates who sponsor the outrageously expensive affair.”
Don continued: “In my experience it is naïve to think that establishment political people are going to “play by the rules” or to allow fresh faces, with relatively empty pockets, to make a significant impact on a $million dollar convention party, which the sponsors intend to be for fluff, hype, good advertising and positive press. My suggestion is for us to use our people skills and make as many friends as possible, building a consensus of voters, and planning to WIN ELECTIONS as precinct and county chairs, instead of engaging in the efforts to make corrupt incumbents ‘follow the rules’. There is a difference in winning independence and building a consensus and collaborations among voters and activists.”
New Texas RLC Headquarters in Austin
The RLC-TX has established a new headquarters office in Austin. The office was leased in summer 2007 by Don Zimmerman to support grassroots activists working on Ron Paul’s presidential campaign and subsequently served as Don’s campaign headquarters for through the November 2008 election. Lisa Mallory and other Austin-area grassroots activists have joined together to keep the office open through the November 2010 elections and are making space available to the Texas RLC to provide a base of operations to conduct outreach and training for liberty-minded grassroots activists across the State.
Photos of the new Texas RLC headquarters:
Membership Renewal
The Texas RLC is asking all of its members to take a moment to renew their membership and continue to support our efforts to promote liberty-minded candidates and causes throughout 2009.
For 2009, we’ve also introduced a new recognition program. Members who renew or upgrade to Premium membership ($50 per year or an automatic payment of $5 per month via paypal) will be recognized on a display in the lobby of the new headquarters and our new 2009 brochure as “Friends of Liberty.”
Additionally, members who make a one-time contribution of $100 or subscribe for 12 months of automatic payments of $10 per month (via paypal) will be will be recognized as “Advocates of Liberty.” Members who make a one-time contribution of $250 or subscribe for $25 per month will be recognized as “Pillars of Liberty.” Members who contribute $500 or more or subscribe for $50 per month will be recognized as “Patriots” and will also receive an autographed copy of Ron Paul’s book The Revolution: A Manifesto.
Supporters who become Roundtable members will receive special recognition and VIP passes to all RLC Texas events. To renew your membership or subscribe, please send your donation by paypal to hq1@rlctexas.org or by mail to: RLC-TX PAC, 13219 Research Blvd., Suite I, Austin, TX 78750. Contributions are not tax deductible. Join online.
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