I grew in New Braunfels and my grandparents lived down the street. My grandfather, Lt. Col Robert J. Uhr, served his country and his party. He was a huge influence in my political shaping. He would take me to campaign rallies and to the voting booths where I sat quietly while he cast his vote. It made a lasting impression on me. He always told me voting wasn’t just about election day, it was about what goes on before and after that, and he encouraged me to understand the process.
After being elected to serve as the Kendall County Republican Party chairwoman, I began to learn more about the process. I attended the state convention, seminars, trainings, meetings and canvassed Kendall County voters. I have spent more time than not helping people understand the duties of the county chair and why those duties are so important to the grassroots process – remembering that “all politics is local.”
What a good county chair does varies from county to county depending on the size of the county, how much money and how many volunteers they have and the election atmosphere. My main mission is simple: To create a strong County Executive Committee (CEC). It is in effect, our “board of directors” and is made up of all 17 of our county precinct chairs. With that “board” in place, we then vet good candidates, educate voters and help get strong, capable Republicans elected. While the mission is straightforward, there are many working parts.
First, in order to connect with your precinct chair, every voter needs to know not only what county precinct they reside, but their voting precinct. Your voting precinct is the 4-digit number beginning with your precinct number; for example: 1010, 2020, 3050, 4100. Kendall County had 11 precincts, but since redistricting last year, we now have 17. What does that mean? We need more volunteers for block walkers, parade helpers and election integrity officials. Get involved: kendallgoptx@ gmail.com A county political party is completely unlike any other organization, and there’s no substitute for actual experience in the party as a precinct chair, committee chair, election judge or convention delegate. It’s every-day folks serving as volunteers that make RPKC special.
The county chair duties have minimum requirements set by state party rules and the Texas Election Code. Here are the requirements: Preside over County Executive Committee meetings.
Appoint party officers, committee chairs, and precinct chairs to fill vacancies; all of whom are presented to the CEC for confirmation. It is crucial that we get people who will engage in meaningful conversation and know they have a safe space to share their thoughts and concerns regarding the direction of our local party.
Submit lists of possible general election judges and clerks for consideration for appointment by the County Election Officer and/or Commissioner’s Court.
Accept filings for positions on the Primary Election Ballot.
Oversee the Primary Election, including chairing the primary committee, managing funds, working with the County Elections Department, appointing election workers, conducting the drawing for the order of the names on the ballot, etc.
Chair the County Convention. Our next one is 2024, so get ready to attend because from there we will be sending delegates to the State Convention in SA.
These requirements are crucial to maintain an active and healthy party. What truly makes a local party great is its volunteers, so I encourage you to get involved. If nothing else, get out and vote.
While this is not a Presidential election year, the ramifications will be deeply felt. Our county, state and nation need every Republican in Kendall County to VOTE. We must ensure victory.
When you go to the early voting poll, please review the entire ballot! There are unopposed candidates who are already declared elected. However, there are other Republicans who are opposed from top of ballot to the bottom that need your vote. We cannot rest on our laurels if we want to keep Kendall County RED. If you cannot get to the early voting poll, we have 11 polling locations in Kendall County to use on election day.
For me, voting engages that special sense of pride in my country, thanks to my parents and grandparents. I hope and pray you too have that sense of patriotism and commitment to our constitution and our nation. Candidates loose races, and bonds are voted in because people don’t vote; not necessarily because they do. Leaving voting to someone else will only lead to a diminished way of life; so please, GET OUT TO VOTE.
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