Preparation begins for '24 elections
The Executive Committee of the Menard County Texas Republican Party (MCTRP) held their most recent meeting on Sunday at the Menard County Courthouse. Texas House of Representatives Dist. 53 candidate Wesley Virdell was present to address meeting attendees.
A Facebook post on the organization’s page— which can be found by searching ‘Menard County Texas Republican Party’ on the social platform— encouraged attendance: “All Republicans in the county are welcome to attend,” it reads. Meeting information was posted just after 1 p.m. Saturday prior to the Sunday afternoon gathering. County Republican Committee Chair Susan Williamson did not respond to the News’s email request for comment and details of Sunday’s meeting.
In response to a Facebook user’s comment lamenting the relatively short notice given for Sunday’s meeting, the page assured the assembly was primarily housekeeping in nature: “New voter list, and election judge’s appointments before Nov early voting begins [sic],” read the comment. It also stated, “I will report anything of remarkable substance.” The page’s response, signed by and presumed to be authored by Williamson also confirmed: “If anyone wants to discuss resolutions or anything controversial I will table until adequate public notice can be accomplished.”
When the meeting adjourned, District 53 Texas House of Representatives candidate Wesley Virdell addressed the gathered Republicans. Virdell will oppose Rep. Andrew Murr who has been in office since 2014.
“[Sunday] I spoke about the issues we have had with our current State Representative and how I will work hard to represent HD53 and not cater to Austin styled lobbyists who do not serve our best interests,” Virdell, from Brady, told the News. “I am strongly convicted of my values and pretty hardheaded and the swamp does not like those traits in a legislator. They want someone they can manipulate into doing their will instead of the will of our district.”
In an email response for comment, Virdell recapped how he has watched many times over the years where “certain Republican legislators” campaigned claiming to share the same priorities as the Republican voters and the Texas Republican Party. Then they go to Austin and do the opposite of what they promised voters. “It is time we change who we send to represent us. Every year, politicians promise they will fight for us, shrink government, and fight corruption, and every year we end up worse off than we were before.”
Lacking input from the county chair, current information regarding Menard County’s Republican Party is scarce. The Secretary of State website lists Jimmy McCollum as Menard’s Precinct 5 chair; information from the meeting contradicts that. Barry Kniffen, an attendee of Sunday’s party meeting, was willing to contribute a list of current Precinct Chairs: Pct. 1- Lisa Clark. Pct. 2- Gary Roberson. Pct. 3- Virginia Hill. Pct. 4- Penny Wade. Pct. 5- Vacant. Pct. 6- Janice Hardesty. In Texas, county political party precinct chairs and county chairs are elected positions. Every two years, in even years, candidates must run in the primary election. Menard’s Elections Officer Tim Powell explained the role of a precinct chair involves the duty to “represent the party and encourage the people to vote in that party.” Kniffen relayed that a Republican individual interested in running to chair their precinct or the county is to contact current county chair Susan Williamson at susanjwilliamson@ verizon.net. Powell confirms if there are no candidates for a precinct, the Committee can appoint a chair.
Precinct chair filing began September 12 and closes Monday, December 11 at 6 p.m. Precinct chairs file with their county chair, Williamson. There is no fee for precinct chairs. Kniffen communicated to the News that he was told the application is available on the MCTRP Facebook page. That paperwork did not seem to be available by press time; however, the application is available online at www.texasGOP. org.filing-information or by emailing Wiliamson at the address above.
County chair filing begins November 11 and closes Monday, December 11 at 6 p.m. All county chair candidates, including current county chairs, file with the current county chair. There is no fee for county chair.
This process also applies to the Democratic party within a county in Texas. Menard County Democratic Party County Chair Chad Phillips reported his party has no ongoing business at this time.