Yo, Harris County Republicans, if you want to see the future of the Republican Party first hand, you need to head out to Tony’s tomorrow. The Greater Houston Pachyderm Club will be hosting Houston Young Republican President John Baucum. From the GHPC invite:
John Baucum
Join the Greater Houston Pachyderm Club as we welcome John Baucum of the Houston Young Republicans (HYRs). John is a founding member and officer of the Houston Young Republicans. He will tell us about the HYR’s grassroots work to promote the Republican party and outreach to younger voters, and the group’s activities connecting with other groups like ours.
Professionally, John works in Information Technology and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). As a GIS Support Analyst, John has an eye for detail and the creativity to solve problems. His work has also included consulting jobs at major energy companies in the Houston area. In his spare time, John enjoys collecting election data and doing spatial analysis on voting trends. Technology is a very powerful tool to build networks and spread information. GIS helps to identify areas for targeting and identifying new individuals that are ready to get involved as grassroots activists to change bad laws.
He has served as the Treasurer of the Houston Young Republicans and was a founding member and former Treasurer of the Houston Republican Liberty Caucus. He is also the current Political Director for Republicans Against Marijuana Prohibition (RAMP). John is active with many other clubs in Houston as he continues to build onto the grassroots network in Harris County and beyond. John has a passion for volunteering and works with many organizations and charities in Houston.
That short bio doesn’t begin to tell you the influence that John has had in Republican circles in Harris County. He’s one of the hardest working volunteers in the party and is very effective at communicating with all ages. I gotta warn you though, that picture makes him look a whole lot prettier than he is!
Honestly, if you are like me and very discouraged with the current Republican Party, nationally, in Texas, or in Harris County, come out and meet John. Your spirits will be lifted. The future of our party is in good hands.
Conventional wisdom says that Ben Hall doesn’t have a chance in the Houston mayoral race. Maybe that’s true, maybe it isn’t. One thing is for sure – Hall isn’t giving up and continues to win over voters and pick up endorsements.
July 29, 2015
HALL WINS HISTORIC STRAW POLL
A first of a kind straw poll among African-American grass roots leaders goes to Ben Hall.
The event by the TPPAC “People’s Political Action Committee” was held at the Greater St. Matthews Church on Jutland Street.
Hall received 60 percent of the votes cast, with Sylvester Turner and other candidates sharing the rest.
“What a humbling vote of support from proven leaders in the African-American community,” says Hall. “They are tired of career politicians who don’t deliver. When I am Mayor, neglected neighborhoods will be neglected no more.”
The Hall campaign has already picked up a key endorsement from a leading religious leader in the Acres Homes community. Rev. Dr. F.N. Williams of the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. Williams has been one of many pastors from across Houston fighting the HERO ordinance.
“I have been the only candidate in the Mayor’s race willing to stand up for family values and the right to vote,” says Hall. “These are critical issues that overshadows neighborhoods. From West Houston to the Third Ward, voters have made their voices on these issues clear.”
In addition to the endorsement by Rev. Dr. Williams, Hall also picked up these endorsements:
Pastors supporting the petition drive for the Right to Vote on “HERO” endorse Ben Hall for Mayor
Reverend F.N. Williams Pastor Steve Riggle
Dr. Hernan Castano Dr. Wendy Castano
Bishop Prince E. Bryant Bishop Delegrantis
Reverend Elmo Johnson Reverend Charles Ingram
Reverend Ed Small Bishop Mark Smith
Pastor Luis Larrinaga Pastor Joel Montes
Reverend Carl Matthews Pastor Juan Carlos Jimenez
If the HERO is on the ballot, it is definitely going to impact the race and thus far, Hall is in the best position to capture a large portion of those voting to rescind it because he isn’t a “johnny come lately” to the issue. I don’t know all of the pastors on this list but Riggle is pastor of one of the largest churches in the area. And that straw poll, combined with the pastors in the African-American community, might be telling us that Sylvester Turner isn’t a shoo in for those voters.
It’s amazing to watch candidates morph into different creatures during an election cycle. For years, Bill King has self described himself as a moderate politician, catering to the whims of the business community at taxpayers’ expense. Now, suddenly, as he campaigns for Mayor of Houston, he wants to be known as a political outsider that will be a champion for taxpayers. From an email in my inbox today:
In the upcoming mayoral election, Bill King is the only candidate – the only candidate – who understands what needs to be fixed, and has the political courage to follow through and get the job done.
Bill is NOT a captive of the special interests that control City Hall. He will put an end to the City Hall culture that puts personal agendas and political insiders ahead of average taxpayers. He will focus on “fixing the streets, catching the crooks and balancing the city budget.”
Anytime a candidate says that he is the only one with “political courage”, beware. What he is really saying is that he won’t be afraid to increase taxes to pursue his agenda.
For three years, HISD has been fighting to keep a secret. Namely, e-mails exchanged between Bill King and the Superintendent of HISD Schools Terry Grier.
This week HISD lost the battle. The Texas Attorney General says taxpayers have a right to see them.
HISD first claimed releasing the King e-mails would interfere with a corruption case involving former school trustee Larry Marshall. HISD is no longer part of that lawsuit so they couldn’t use that excuse anymore.
This spring the argument changed. HISD now argued the e-mails would disclose legal advice Bill King gave to the Superintendent. You don’t hear it in the Mayoral commercials, but Bill King was paid $52,800 in tax money in 2012 as a governmental relations lawyer for the school district.
“Taxpayers may not have known it, but they paid Bill King to lobby for that huge 2012 HISD Bond Election, yet HISD has fought to keep secret exactly what he did for the money,” says Wayne Dolcefino, President of Dolcefino Consulting. “I think we should know what he did, who he talked to, and whether King was involved in soliciting campaign contributions from contractors.”
It is no secret the FBI has been investigating HISD contracting practices for years. Two years ago, an HISD contractor provided evidence to Dolcefino Consulting of improper payments to Houston School Board Members. That tape recording was also provided to the FB I. Published news reports have explored links between bond contributions and HISD contracts.
It has never been clear why HISD tried to hide Bill King Communications. At the time HISD was being sued by a contractor who claimed at least one school board member was soliciting bribes.
HISD has yet to turn over the e-mails. Stay tuned.
As for the “political courage” that the reinvented Bill King suddenly found, here is what Ben Hall has to say:
Ben Hall stood firm with Houston’s voters from the beginning.
As former Houston City Attorney, Ben knew Houston Mayor Annise Parker broke the law when she denied over 54,000 Houstonians the right to vote on HERO.
Ben didn’t make a political calculation. He followed the law and his faith.
Then there is Bill King, who sat on his hands and said nothing.
He did not voice opposition to the HERO ordinance nor the blatant suppression of voter rights. He did not protest when pastors’ sermons were subpoenaed as part of a campaign to silence critics.
He said nothing while Houstonians had to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars just for their day in court.
But now that the Texas Supreme Court has spoken, Bill King has suddenly found his courage. King now says the HERO ordinance was never needed and that voters should have the right to vote.
Harris County Emergency Services District No. 11 safety commissioners have called a special meeting this Thursday July 30. What’s on the very special agenda?
If you’ve followed the Fox 26 website then you know Cypress Creek EMS –with a budget of more than $20 million dollars to operate 15 ambulances for the District— is openly defying a ruling from the Texas Attorney General to tell YOU how THEY spend that $20 million in taxpayer money.
And if you read his blog then you also know Cypress Creek EMS is going to court this Friday to stop Dolcefino Consulting from seeing the public records and from getting Brad England, the head of Cypress Creek EMS under oath.
The special meeting will be held Thursday July 30, 2015 at 10:00am at 7111 Five Forks Rd, Spring, Texas 77379.
Kudos to The Leader News for publishing a story on the Bethel United Church of Christ, one of four Houston-area churches performing same sex weddings. In their article “Local church embraces marrying local LGBT couples” The Leader News performed a valuable community service by educating their readership that Bethel United Church of Christ is one of four affiliates in Houston performing same-sex weddings.
Teddy Kissell, acting interim pastor, described Bethel United Church of Christ as an “open and affirming” congregation reflective of the community:
“There are 14 UCC affiliates in Houston, and the beauty of our denomination is that we are locally governed,” Teddy Kissell, acting interim pastor, said. “We reflect the community. There are four of us in Houston performing same sex weddings. We four are what we call ‘open and affirming’ congregations. We try to personalize each wedding – a wedding should be personal – but keep the worship in it too.”
So exactly how “open and affirming” is the community to a point of view that Bethel United Church of Christ is not an “of Christ” church? And what does “the community” worship?
The Leader News printed this Letter to the Editor from Liz Theiss in which she highlighted Goal 26 in the 1958 book “The Naked Communist” and opined that the recent SCOTUS ruling will be a watershed moment for true Christian churches who may be litigated right out of existence:
“The story covering the LGBT “marriage” by the false “church” Bethel United Church of Christ reveals what Vladimir Lenin described as “useful idiots” back in the 1930’s. This not of Christ “church” is actually a handmaiden of communism. A 1958 book written by a retired FBI agent, The Naked Communist lists the very explicit goals for tearing down the United States from within. Goal #26 states: “Present Homo-sexuality, degeneracy, and promiscuity as “normal, natural, healthy.”
Obviously, this “church” is more acquainted with communism than Christ and the Bible. True churches will find themselves eliminated under communist authoritarian regimes as true Christians will be persecuted. Currently, the SCOTUS ruling will be the watershed moment for true Christian churches who may be litigated right out of existence or denied tax-free status. A Christian couple in Oregon has been fined $135,000 for refusing to bake a cake for a lesbian couple for their wedding who were “offended.” In Kentucky, a County clerk has refused to perform a gay marriage and is willing to go to jail for his beliefs. These are the true Christians. As Reverend Franklin Graham stated after the ruling: “America’s not going to like what’s at the end of this rainbow.”
Here’s how two “open and affirming” community members felt about The Leader News!!
For publishing a letter highlighting a 1958 book on Communism and an opinion that militant gay rights activists wish to identify business owners conducting their business in accordance with their First Amendment religious beliefs and litigate them right out of existence, The Leader News was chastised for disrespecting the worship of—Vladimir Lenin!
Hmm—how will the free market capitalist supporters in Houston’s gay and lesbian community appreciate being lumped in with other Lenin worshipers of Marxism and its tenet belief in forced confiscation of private property?
Feel free to post your thoughts in the comments section but before you do, here’s one of my favorite (snarky!) scenes from Dr. Zhivago where Yuri learns the Holy Cross Hospital has been “reformed” and his house appropriated to accommodate living arrangements for twelve more families:
Congratulations to Jared Woodfill and team for their successful appeal to the Texas Supreme Court regarding Houston Mayor Annise Parker’s unlawful attempt to keep citizens from voting on her Houston Equal Rights Ordinance. From the opinion of the court:
We conclude that the Houston City Council has not performed a ministerial duty and there is no adequate remedy by appeal. Accordingly, we conditionally grant mandamus relief.
…
The legislative power reserved to the people of Houston is not being honored. Accordingly, without hearing oral argument, TEX.R.APP.P.52.8(c), we conditionally grant the writ of mandamus lest the actions of city officials “thwart[] . . . the will of the public.” See Coalson, 610 S.W.2d at 747. The City Council is directed to comply with its duties, as specified in the City Charter, that arise when the City Secretary certifies that a referendum petition has a sufficient number of valid signatures. Any enforcement of the ordinance shall be suspended, and the City Council shall reconsider the ordinance. If the CityCouncil does not repeal the ordinance byAugust 24, 2015, then by that date the City Council must order that the ordinance be put to popular vote during the November 2015 election. The writ will issue only if the City Council does not comply.
Parker forced this upon citizens and then tried every trick in the book to keep citizens from voting on it. Thank goodness her term in office is almost over. Council can choose to repeal it or they can put it on the November ballot, which will add a lot of spice to the open race for Mayor. Click here for background.
