Big Jolly Politics

politics in Harris County and Texas

Valoree Swanson is the clear choice in HD150-UPDATED

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Michael Shawn Kelly and Valoree Swanson
Michael Shawn Kelly and Valoree Swanson

Valoree Swanson, a long time Harris County Republican Party activist, is the clear choice to replace Rep. Debbie Riddle in Texas House District 150. She is running against Democrat Michael Shawn Kelly, who is attempting to distance his campaign from the Democratic Party and hoodwink voters into thinking he is a conservative. Or something like that.

Swanson not voting for Straus if he is challenged

There hasn’t been a lot of reporting on this race in the Houston Chronicle and what has been reported is questionable. Take a look at what reporter Matthew Tresaugue said:

First-timer hoping to wrest House seat from decades of GOP control

The other is Swanson’s criticism of state House Speaker Joe Straus, an establishment-style Republican – a stance Riddle said will prevent Swanson from getting the leader’s help on critical issues for the district.

“I want someone who will fight fiercely for our district, not just be a partisan,” Riddle said.

Swanson said Riddle was wrong in her criticism, saying she would work to maintain authority over subsidized housing and would vote for Straus.

(click here to read the article on HoustonChronicle.com)

When I read that Swanson was going to vote for Straus, I shook my head and said, just another flip flop politician. After all, that was a centerpiece of her campaign, is featured on her website and she received tens of thousands of dollars from the anti-Straus forces. But after thinking about it for 30 seconds, I knew it had to be a mistake. I contacted Mrs. Swanson’s campaign and received an emphatic no, she didn’t say that. Other supporters of hers were not as nice and attributed it to “bad reporting”. Still others said that they had heard Mrs. Swanson in Austin telling lobbyists that she had promised her voters that she would vote against Speaker Straus and that she would keep that promise.

I tried contacting Mr. Tresaugue several times via phone and email over the course of the last three days. He did return one email, saying that he needed to review his notes. Early this morning, I sent another email to him, the Chron’s reader rep, the Chron’s city desk editor and the Chron’s editor/Executive VP, Nancy Barnes asking for clarification. I finally received the following response:

When I asked Mrs. Swanson about Speaker Straus, she indicated that she would vote for him because “there’s not going to be a race this time.”

What’s more, her campaign hasn’t asked me for a clarification or correction.

So, she didn’t ‘say’ it, she ‘indicated’ it. And only in the context of “there’s not going to be a race this time”. Well, duh! If no one runs against Speaker Straus, she will vote for him. As will the other 148 state reps. Good grief. I realize that Mr. Tresaugue is not a political reporter and doesn’t know much about the district or the anti-Straus dynamic, but his editors should have known this is a big deal. I hope that the Swanson campaign does ask for a correction because  Mr. Kelly’s supporters are using this on social media to attack Mrs. Swanson. What a shame.

A solid conservative

Swanson is a solid conservative Republican activist and has been for many, many years. She is conservative on both sides of the coin, which in Texas means fiscal and social conservatism. A few of the issues that she has been outspoken on:

  • Eliminate the business margins tax
  • Lower property taxes, lower property tax caps, reform appraisals
  • No government benefits for illegal aliens
  • Reduce regulation on businesses
  • Stop abortion on demand, funding for Planned Parenthood, partial birth abortions

I could go on but that is a good start.

The Democrat

I have to admit that when I read Mr. Tresaugue’s article, I was intrigued by a guy that quotes Jack Kemp. I am in the Kemp wing of the Republican Party – free markets and urban solutions instead of rhetoric. And perhaps Michael Shawn Kelly really believes in Kemp’s philosophy. Maybe after he has been on the scene for a few years and used his time, talent and money to promote those ideas, I could support him. But not in this race against a solid conservative Republican.

Bitter Republicans supporting Kelly on social media

It was a bitter Republican primary. Most are, especially when you are taking on an entrenched incumbent. Unfortunately, Rep. Riddle and her supporters remain bitter and have vowed to support the Democrat. Of course, 99.9{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} of that is just talk on social media. They aren’t doing anything of value to actually support the guy.

Heck, if they don’t want to give the guy money or time, the least Riddle could do is help him with his campaign finance reports. They are a hot mess. In July, he reported having $106,600 cash on hand and $100,000 in loans in one place and $200,000 in loans in another. In October, he reported spending $24,951.91, zero cash on hand and $100,000 in loans. As well as a $200 donation from “Anonymous”. I didn’t realize the law had changed and we could now make anonymous contributions to political candidates. Apparently the curators of the state ethics website haven’t gotten that memo either:

Texas law does not allow anonymous contributions. Also, reports must disclose the actual source of a contribution, not an intermediary. Elec. Code § 253.001.

The best part for Harris County Republicans and Harris County Sheriff Ron Hickman is this contribution listed on Mr. Kelly’s finance report:

09/21/2016  Hickman, Ron (Mr.)  $1,000.00 donation

That’s right, the Democratic nominee for HD150 gave $1,000 to Republican Sheriff Ron Hickman, who is in a tight race with Ed Gonzalez and is the only Harris County Republican leading his opponent in the polls. I appreciate that donation! And I’m certain that Sheriff Hickman does too!

I’d vote for Swanson

Like I said, Michael Shawn Kelly might be a good guy and might be someone that I’d vote for some day. But not today. If I lived in HD150, I’d cast my vote for Valoree Swanson. As for you Republicans that are still bitter about the primary, get over yourselves and do the right thing for your district.

UPDATE – Houston Chronicle issues ‘Clarification’

The Swanson campaign did ask the Houston Chronicle to correct their representation that Valoree Swanson said that she would vote for Speaker Straus when in fact she did not say that. Here is how the article now reads:

Swanson said Riddle was wrong in her criticism, saying she would work to maintain authority over subsidized housing and indicated she would support Straus if he was not opposed for Speaker.

And they placed an Editor’s note at the bottom of the article:

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story said Swanson said she would vote for Rep. Joe Straus as speaker of the House, but did not include her caveat that she did not expect him to face a challenge.

That reads better than the print version of the clarification:

houston-chronicle-clarification-valoree-swanson-joe-straus

As we know, Swanson never “said” that she would vote for Speaker Straus, the reporter thinks that she “indicated” that she would. But at least they did let readers know they got it wrong.

An Open Letter to Debbie Riddle…I Forgive You…

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tony-noun_ted-cruz
Tony Noun with Sen. Ted Cruz

My name is Tony Noun and I was born in Lebanon to a Christian family.  Lebanon was, and is, a Christian Nation.  That almost changed in 1974 when the Muslims invaded.  At the young  age of 15, I joined the Lebanese army.  Just as they are today in America, the Muslim invaders were hell bent on claiming Lebanon as a Muslim nation, and we were just as determined to repel them back to their God forsaken, Sharia compliant donkey camps.  We struggled against their brutality for 6 long years when something happened that would give us hope.  Thousands of miles away in a country called America,  Ronald Reagen was elected President.  Soon after his election, which is still celebrated today in Lebanon, money and weapons started coming in to the Lebanese army and our successes began mounting.

After 4 years of military service and an honorable discharge, I married my high school sweetheart and decided I would go to America and start my family there.  Having watched westerns and John Wayne as a child, I wanted to go to Texas, the land of horses, oil wells, and cowboys.  

After arriving in Harris County, and as luck would have it, I landed a job in a gas station (I know, I know).  I worked 7 days a week and would often sleep in the store in the storage area.  Although I was fluent in French and Lebanese, English was difficult to learn, but I studied daily and mimicked phrases and words until I could master the language.  After 4 years of working in the store, I had saved enough money to get a loan and buy the store.  I ran the store for several more years, then I decided to open a car dealership.  Everything was working as planned and I was living the American dream.  I participated in the community, I voted, I paid taxes, I went to church, and all was well…so I thought.  In 2008, the economy crashed and those of us not in the ultra wealthy elite status suffered.  I lost several million dollars as well as property and assets.  I felt like the world was closing in on me, but my faith and family pulled me through.  After the recession, I rebuilt my business, and today it is even bigger than I could have imagined.

So back to the story…In 2014, I ran for State Representative in my district, HD150. My opponent in that race was Debbie Riddle,.  I knew I did not have a political advantage, and I also knew I did not look like a typical American, but I had no idea what I was in for.  From the announcement of my candidacy, I faced an onslaught of horrible accusations and slanderous words that reminded me of when the Muslims invaded Lebanon.  Mrs. Riddle accused me of being a Muslim, even though I told her I was not, and showed her the Cross I wear. She publicly and privately accused me of being the very enemy that tried to burn my 1500 year old family church, my hometown and kill my family.  Mrs. Riddle publicly and privately told people I was a thug and a thief, even though I have donated to Christian and Republican charities and causes for 20+ years.  Mrs. Riddle publicly and privately accused me of being in some sort of mafia, even though I am a family man who loves Christ, my family, and America above all else.  Mrs. Riddle grabbed my shirt at a polling location and told me to go back to my country, even though I am a proud American.  Mrs. Riddle, even though your heart is filled with hate and rage against me and my family, for whatever ill conceived notion,  I forgive you.  

I have laid awake for many nights over the past 2 years thinking of the horrible things Mrs. Riddle has said and done towards me and my family, and I write this letter not as condemnation, but as a way to finally close this chapter of my life both spiritually and psychologically.  I no longer have resentment toward you Mrs. Riddle, only pity.  Louis Guthrie once said, God does not offer free passes just because the lie was for political purposes.  I believe that 100{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986}, but I also believe in forgiveness.  May the Lord forgive you and be with you.

Tony Noun

Note: Tony Noun challenged Rep. Debbie Riddle in the 2014 Republican Primary.

Mark Ramsey on why Valoree Swanson is the best choice in HD150

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guest-columnRep. Riddle’s VOTING RECORD is THE ISSUE. She started off her legislative career with one of the best. I have supported her ALL ALONG THE WAY although somewhat reluctantly last cycle since there was no credible challenger. Riddle’s record, both fiscally and socially, has deteriorated to the point she (as known by her voting record) is barely recognizable from how she started. To wit:

1. She effectively killed THE priority Texas Right to Life bill that would have lowered YOUR insurance costs by making abortion coverage optional.

2. She personally and intentionally KILLED the anti-Sharia law bill, after she and her husband had a nice dinner with one of the chief liberal lobbyists in Austin, who sided with CAIR when hearings on the same bill were held in the Senate.

3. She voted with the Dems AGAINST the Rs to let a $15/hr bill out of calendars–clearly against the GOP platform and common sense–that the Dems planned to use and did use to “chub”–run the clock out on other good conservative legislation (like the ProLife bill).

4. She voted WITH THE DEMS AGAINST the majority of the Rs on Gov Greg Abbott’s signature Ethics and Transparency bill that had been passed UNANIMOUSLY in the Senate (both Ds and Rs) and instead voted for a ridiculously unconstitutional substitute. In the 83rd she had also opposed a similar transparency bill saying at the time that taxpayers had no business knowing what her relatives were involved in related to government contracts, etc.

5. In the 83rd, she voted for and championed a budget that the Wall Street Journal wrote about on its editorial page in an article titled “Texas Goes Sacramento” due to a whopping 26{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} budget increase, and later considered retracting since they could not find a similarly massive increase in California’s budget.

6. She accepted FAR MORE money from Austin and outside the state lobbyists than from her district. The anti-ALAC lobbyists above ALONE gave over 50{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} MORE money to her than her ENTIRE DISTRICT according to the TEC.

7. She voted against parental rights and against a priority parental rights protection bill championed by the venerable Texas Homeschool Coalition.
…and on and on and one…

Take a look at how the various conservative scorecards have rated Riddle over the years:

debbie riddle scorecard record

 

In contrast, http://www.ValoreeSwanson.com accomplishments for conservatives span her entire adult lifetime. She was recognized for this as “Volunteer of the Year” for Senate District 7 just a few months ago. Her endorsement list…both conservative watchdog groups and well known individuals, is one of the most impressive I’ve EVER seen for a challenger to a long-time establishment incumbent. A massive number of Harris County Precinct Chairs (and notably, a majority of District 150 Precinct Chairs) endorse Valoree Swanson. Just the MAJOR groups include:

Texas Right to Life
Texas Home School Coalition
Texas Values
The Texas Conservative View
Conservative Coalition of Harris County
Texas Patriot PAC
C Club
Empower Texans/Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
Texas Eagle Forum
Concerned Women for America (both “national” and “Texas”)
Kingwood Tea Party
Dr. Robin Armstrong
Operation Rescue
Liberty Institute
Barbara Cargill (SBOE member and former chair)
JoAnn Fleming
July McCarty
….and HUNDREDS more…

Very notably, the vast majority of these endorsing organizations and individuals, including myself, FORMERLY endorsed and even campaigned for Rep. Riddle.

We’ve reached the breaking point. It is past time for Ms. Riddle to retire and spend more time with her grandchildren.

More information on Valoree, her endorsements, and Ms Riddle’s record is at http://www.valoreeswanson.com or at Valoree Swanson for Texas Faceboook.

Thank you.

Respectfully,

Mark Ramsey
SREC SD7, Resolutions Committee Chair

 

2016 Republican Primary combined endorsement list

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As we’ve done in the past, we are publishing a list of the various endorsement slates for the 2016 Republican Primary. Because most of us at BJP are located in Harris County, that will be the focus of the list but others will be included if we know about them. So, if you know of a slate that you would like to see represented on the list, let us know in the comments section.

It’s early in the process and many of the slates haven’t released their results. The first iteration of the combined list has three slates, the United Republicans of Harris County, Dr. Steve Hotze, and the Conservative Coalition of Harris County. Click here to view the first list. For the most updated version, be sure and click on the menu bar selection just below the BJP logo. Note that the organizations are listed in the order I received or found them and are not ordered by importance or any other factor.

I’m somewhat surprised by Hotze’s support of Valoree Swanson in HD150. Rep. Debbie Riddle’s record is almost a mirror image of Hotze’s stands on the issues through the years. Maybe he just wants a change there. The United Republicans didn’t even weigh in on that race, a critical race in Harris County. Also surprising is the relative lack of consensus on the candidates by the CCHC and leaving so many races without an endorsement.

I’d like to single out the CCHC for their work in gathering up questionnaires from the candidates and publishing them on their website. There is quite a lot of useful information in the responses from candidates, as well as an insight into the process the CCHC uses to screen the candidates. If you pay attention to the questions, you can easily see the bias of the group and can predict who they will endorse in certain races. For instance, their questions on the Harris County Department of Education are so uninformed about the department it makes it clear which candidates running to control the HCDE actually know anything about the HCDE. Totally weird. Current HCDE Trustee Marvin Morris is spot on in his response to the group:

Alex,

I have attached to questionnaires you submitted. The questions asked cannot be answered in a yes or no manner and they show a lack of understanding as to what the HCDE does and the services they perform. I have been on the board for five plus years and find it one of the most worthy organizations in the state. Is it perfect, no. Can improvements be made, yes.

But to do away with the HCDE organization will serve no purpose for the tax payers of Harris County. The tax will not go away, as no taxes ever go away. The tax, like in 11 other counties in Texas, will be passed on to the county commissioners and they will place it in their general fund to pass out to the supporters of their office. Thus ending HCDE services to the local ISD’s. Then the services performed by HCDE will be thrown back to the ISD’s. The ISD’s will have to go to mostly for profit organizations in order to have or hire the people and rent the space to continue the services. Then they will, in turn, have to raise the taxes in their service area to cover these additional costs. Therefore, instead of deleting a tax, the end result will be increased taxes for all by closing HCDE.

I understand that your organization is endeavoring to be a watchdog for the peoples tax money. I have voted and been successful to keep lower tax rates to the people I represent for the last five years. If re-elected, I intend to see that the money is wisely spent and the tax rate remains at a level below the effective tax rate. The county published nominal tax rate was to be 0.00599. I moved that the board adopt 0.005422 and it was passed. As you can see, I am trying to keep the taxes as low as possible.

Warmest regards,
Marvin Morris
Harris County Department of Education
Position 1 – Precinct 2

And that is exactly why I’ll be voting for Morris in the primary. If people would take the time necessary to learn about the HCDE and how it helps local ISD’s save a ton of taxpayer money, they would ignore those self-appointed “watchdogs” over the department.

But kudos to the group for putting in the time and effort to get the questionnaires out there.

Be sure and let me know of any slates you want to see on the list.

 

Gee, is this why House Calendars Committee stopped the ALAC bill?

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Are you aware of the Texas Family Law Foundation Letter addressed to the Honorable Members of the Texas Legislature? Actually I am—have been for about seven months now. Your Texas State Representative and Texas State Senator should be aware of this letter too. It’s dated February 17th, 2015 from Jimmy Vaught, Chair, Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas and Diana Friedman, President, Texas Family Law Foundation.

Gee, maybe this letter explains why House Calendars Committee stopped the ALAC bill at the eleventh hour of the 84th Lege.

The letter begins as follows:

“During the Texas Legislature’s last two Regular Sessions, bills have been filed to prohibit certain foreign or religious laws or court decisions from being applied in family law cases.

We want you to know that your colleagues who served in past Texas Legislatures have already given Texas family law judges the tools they need to protect Texans from laws and decisions of countries and cultures that may be abhorrent to our values. Attempts by other state’s legislatures to target a specific religion, or the enforcement of religiously-based agreements between family members, have been found unconstitutional and unworkable. You’ll be happy to know that, working with Texas family lawyers, prior Texas Legislatures have made such legislation unnecessary in Texas.”

The letter from the Texas Family Law Foundation doesn’t specifically mention SB531–colloquially known as the “American Law for American Courts” bill but it’s inferred—and the date of the letter does coincide with the first reading of SB531 on February 18th, 2015 according to the Texas Senate Journal.

You can read the letter here. alac.pdf

Back on May 31st I wrote this post where Act! for America Houston issued a news alert publicizing the failure of SB531 (ALAC) to receive enough votes to move the bill out of the House Calendars Committee before the May 24th deadline, which meant the bill could not progress in the 84thLegislative Session.

Act! For America Houston wanted to know what happened at the eleventh hour.

They asked:

“Why is it at the eleventh hour (literally), GOP Reps. Riddle and Harless adopted reasoning adversarial to our Lieutenant Governor, House Judiciary and Senate State Affairs committees, ten Governors, ten Lieutenant Governors, ten State Chambers and ten House Chambers of ten sister states. What expertise do they suddenly now possess that guide their new found reasoning?”

Gee—maybe the expertise Representatives Riddle and Harless suddenly possessed came from staff who brought this Texas Family Law Foundation letter (and perhaps other letters) to their attention?

Reminder – HCRP Executive Committee meets tomorrow

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hcrp logo

Yea! A Saturday meeting. Instead of rushing halfway across Texas in the middle of traffic on a Monday night, the Harris County Republican Party Executive Committee will meet on a Saturday morning. This is a great change, even if it is for only one of the quarterly meetings.

Several items of note on the HCRP Executive Committee agenda. There are two items put forth by grassroots committees that Chairman Paul Simpson is against – apparently because they didn’t talk to him and get his permission to put them forth. You should have received an email from the Chair yesterday outlining his objections. Funny, I thought that the grassroots were supposed to have a bigger voice in his administration and wouldn’t need his prior approval. Oh well.

There are also three resolutions from precinct chairs. The first one seems to only have one sponsor, Clint Moore, and basically lays out State Rep. Debbie Riddle’s arguments against low income housing and the input that a state representative should have. I thought that a resolution needed at least ten precinct chairs to support it before being placed before the HCRP Executive Committee but I admit I don’t know the rules all that well.

The second resolution is against online voter registration. I’ll guarantee I’m in the minority on this one but I’ll be voting against it. If I can fill out a mortgage application online, buy a car online, and renew my Texas Concealed Handgun License online, why the heck can’t I register to vote online? This is yet another example, in my opinion, of a backwards Republican Party. We have to use the technology available to us to increase participation in the political arena.

The third and last resolution is a no-brainer, which is why I signed on as a co-sponsor. Thanks to John Baucum for pushing it. Here it is in full:

Honoring and Remembering the life of Bob Lee

WHEREAS, Robert Crayford Lee, 90, passed away peacefully on February 12, 2015 at the home he built in Houston, Texas surrounded by his family. He was born August 12, 1924 in Austin, Texas to Robert E. and Georgia Lee.

WHEREAS, Bob graduated from Waco High School, he then served in the United States Navy and graduated from the University of Texas in 1950.

WHEREAS, Robert devoted a long and full life to his family, his country, and God:
those things which he most loved. Bob was a lifelong Republican, activist, and co-founder of Republicans Against Marijuana Prohibition.

WHEREAS, He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, activist and Precinct Chair, Ann Edwards Lee, of Ponchatoula, LA; He is also survived by sons, James Lee, Michael Lee, Robert Lee, Richard Lee, Donald and his wife Susan Lee; four granddaughters; 2 great-grandchildren; sister, Georgiabeth Mercier; and brother, James E. Lee.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Harris County Republican Party honors and remembers the life of Bob Lee. We appreciate his commitment to activism and service to our great country.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, a copy of this resolution be awarded to Ann Lee in remembrance of Bob Lee.