Mr. Shorten,

Thank you for your email dated July 16, 2018. It pains me to see infighting in our local county executive committees. We are capable of so much when we work together towards our common goals. 

As State Party Chair, I have not and do not take sides in matters of local county executive committees. Republican Party of Texas Rule 1f only allows the State Party Chair to clarify ambiguity in the RPT Rules. It does not allow me to opine on legal matters or tax liability. 

Section 1

Question

Did you receive such request? If so, when?

Answer

Yes, Mr. Reed requested clarification on July 13th.

Question

Did Mr. Reed identify the actual issue that his question was in reference to the existing Montgomery County Republican Party passing new Bylaws that completely replaced the old Bylaws on June 26, 2018 with a majority vote rather than a 2/3 vote?

Answer

As State Party Chair, I have not and do not take sides in matters of local county executive committees. Republican Party of Texas Rule 1f only allows the State Party Chair to clarify ambiguity in the RPT Rules. 

Section 2

Question

When is the next scheduled meeting of the SREC?

Answer

There is a special meeting of the SREC scheduled for August 11th. The agenda for this meeting is brief. The next regular meeting of the SREC is September 22nd. 

Question

Since you also stated in your response that Mr. Reed’s question was NOT ambiguous, does that mean you did not provide a clarification to his question in your response? 

Answer

The SREC makes the final decision of the meaning of the RPT Rules, including RPT 1f. It is my opinion that there was nothing under RPT Rule 1f for me to offer clarification. There is no ambiguity as to what threshold is required for the adoption of bylaws or rules. 

Question

Since Mr. Reed’s question was NOT ambiguous, will the SREC vote to confirm your clarification regarding the majority vote in Montgomery County when new Bylaws completely superseded the old Bylaws on June 26, 2018?

Answer

Whether the question was ambiguous or not, the SREC has no obligation to take up the matter. In order to take up Mr. Reed’s question, the SREC would first need to determine that RPT Rule 1f allows them to clarify a question where the State Party Chair determined there was no ambiguity.

Question

Can you define “brought into being”?

Answer

I cannot. That is a phrase from Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised. RPT Rules discuss the requirement of an organizational meeting. The term “organizational meeting” is used in Robert’s Rules for the purpose of creating a society.

Question

Does “brought into being” mean a newly formed organization?

Answer

Please see the reply to the previous question.

Question

Under RPT or any other authority, is the Montgomery County Republican Party re-created every two years even though it has the same tax ID number and legal structure for the last 54 years?

Answer

As State Party Chair, I have not and do not take sides in matters of local county executive committees. Republican Party of Texas Rule 1f only allows the State Party Chair to clarify ambiguity in the RPT Rules.

Question

How does RPT Rule 8 impact the adoption of County Bylaws at the biennial meetings?

Answer

RPT Rule 8e determines who calls the organizational meeting and the requirements needed to protect the rights of the executive committee members. 

Question

Does RPT Rule 8(d) apply when Bylaws are amended?

Answer

RPT Rule 8(d) applies to the bylaws of the SREC, not the bylaws of a county executive committee.

Many of the questions you raise that do not touch on RPT Rules create interesting academic questions. These questions touch on legal principles that the Republican Party of Texas has taken great interest in to defend our associational rights.

I pray that the local party is able to work together and heal the fractures in relationships. There is great need to treat each other with respect if we are to succeed in our attempts at self governance both within our organizations and within government.

James Dickey