Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Grimes County Republican Party discusses TTC

GOP meets in Bedias, hears representatives from region

11/2/2005

The Navasota Examiner
Copyright 2005

The Bedias Civic Center was the site of the quarterly meeting of Senate Dist. 5 Republicans on Saturday, Oct. 29, hosted by the Grimes County Republican Party. Sixty-five persons were in attendance, representing nine of the fourteen counties of the senate district. After welcoming remarks by Bedias Mayor Mackie Bobo, Grimes County Judge James Dixon, and Republican chairman Gwen Petersen, the group listened to a presentation on grassroots training by SREC Committeeman Hal Talton.

Sen. Steve Ogden gave a report on various issues facing the state legislature, including the TransTexas Corridor. He offered his opinion that the proposed I-69 would not be built for 20-25 years, and that TxDOT would not begin purchasing rights-of-way for 10 years. He addressed school finance and stated that an overhaul of the tax structure is needed.

The next speaker was Bill Crocker from Austin, who is the Republican National Committeeman from Texas.

Sen. Todd Staples of Anderson County in East Texas spoke about issues he confronted in the state senate as well as issues which are addressed by the office of Commissioner of Agriculture, an office he intends to pursue in the 2006 election. One issue he addressed is Proposition 4 on the Nov. 8 ballot. Staples also made presentations to each county's Volunteer of the Year. The Grimes County volunteer recognized was Malcolm Green, who serves as Vice Chairman of the local Republican Party as well as Finance Chairman.

Rep. Terry Keel discussed his upcoming race for a seat on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and discussed problems the judiciary faces and how to resolve them.

State Rep. Lois Kolkhorst discussed the state budget, which increased 9 percent during the past session, not the 18.8 precent claimed by some newspapers. She expressed her disappointment in the legislature's failure to come to an agreement on school finance reform and property tax reform.

She encouraged the attendees to write the governor regarding their concerns about the corridor and stated that she knew her district, which covers four counties including Grimes, had sent over 3000 letters to the governor on this issue.

After reports by the county chairmen and a report on the SD 5 PAC, Congressional candidate Tucker Anderson of Calvert spoke. Anderson, an A&M graduate who worked four years for Congressman Pete Sessions and is currently in the cattle business, intends to challenge Chet Edwards for the opportunity to represent Grimes and other counties of the 17th Congressional District.

SREC Committeewoman Bernice Lewis of College Station gave a report on activities of the State Republican Executive Committee. Commissioner Pam Finke offered the benediction. The next meeting of SD 5 will be held in College Station in January. Grimes County Republicans plan to have a large contingent at that meeting.

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