There are four political party “Committees” in Texas: Democrat, Republican, Independent, and Green. Other Political Action Committees (PACs) can be established for general or specific purposes. Texas Government Code Chapter 251 and the Texas Ethics Commission “Campaign Finance Guide for Committees” are the primary governing documents for PAC administration. For example, the Bandera County Republican Women’s Club (BCRW) PAC was established in December 2003. It is registered and visible on the Attorney General’s website. The Bandera County Republican Party (BCRP) website identifies its goals, mission, and vision: https://www.banderacountyrepublicanparty.com/about. The BCRW and BCRP have worked closely together for years toward shared goals.
The Bandera County Conservative Coalition PAC (BCCCP) is a “General” committee registered on October 24, 2022, listing the treasurer as Frederick Tate, P.O. Box 953, Colleyville, TX 76034. The registered address is 1118 Main Street (P.O. Box 1178), Bandera, TX, with John Payne as the registered agent. There are three contacts: Johnny Boyle, Russell Hevenor, and Steve Stoops. The website identifies beliefs and solicits candidates for office: www.banderapac.com.
The BCCCP has distributed multiple items of correspondence to select Bandera County residents. The Bandera County Republican Party Chair did not receive these mailings. A BCRW member who holds no political office did not receive these mailings, but her spouse did. Other, select citizens, including elected officials, did not receive these mailings.
Since the fall of 2023, some individuals, including a member of the BCRW, have expressed interest in learning more about the BCCCP, including repeated requests for meeting information from one of the directors. No meeting information or invitation to join has been forthcoming. The latest request occurred on Feb. 15, 2024, but the director refused to provide a meeting date. However, the conversation contained assurances of the BCCCP’s adherence to the advertised purpose and that “mudslinging” and “mistreatment and disrespect” were not a part of their PAC, as opposed to issues of this nature they have attributed to the Bandera County GOP.
The BCCCP has endorsed candidates for seven Bandera County elected offices: five of these are for positions in the Bandera County GOP — County Chair and four of the ten Precinct Chairs. There was no endorsement for any candidate for County Sheriff. BCCCP has paid for various political advertisements and signage for the endorsed candidates. This includes the “Restoring Integrity Tour” which sponsors various events across the County for their candidates. Last week, the Bandera County Republican Party Chair, Dave Allen, was refused entrance at the Pipe Creek Community Center’s “Restoring Integrity Tour” event. “You are not welcome,” he was told, but the neighbor with him was told he was welcome.
The political advertising paid for by the BCCCP states, “Restore the Bandera County GOP,” and “We have a Grand opportunity to put the right people in office and take back the Bandera County GOP,” implying that the BCRP is in need of repair and the BCCCP supported candidates need to take control of it. It says “vote for these fine, upstanding candidates… will work for you and represent you with integrity, decency, and transparency.” Integrity is “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.” Decency is “behavior that conforms to accepted standards of morality and respectability.” Transparency is “the quality of being easy to perceive or detect… quality of allowing light to pass through so that objects behind can be distinctly seen.” This implies that candidates endorsed by the current GOP Chair and Executive Committee members do not have these moral qualities.
What is the intended outcome of having a Bandera County Republican Party and a separate “Conservative”, not “Republican” PAC? What are the possible unintended consequences of having this division? On January 12, 2024, the Texas Tribune reported that the new “Texas Majority PAC” funded by George Soros, registered within a month of the BCCCP, and populated by “alums of Beto O’Rourke’s 2022 campaign,” is focused on “turning Texas blue”. Specifically, the group is “‘helping to build party infrastructure at the regional level, because the various regions of our state are distinct and therefore require different strategies’ a Texas Majority PAC official said.” They are partnering with other Democratic PAC’s across the state, building the fulltime staff and fundraising to do so. The Texas Hill Country, including Bandera, is a rural “region that is on their radar.”
Two separate, competing PAC’s in Bandera may very well be feeding right into the strategy of the better-funded everyday Texas Democrats. Is this the best Bandera business, community, and political leaders can do? Isn’t this the time, before it is too late, for Bandera conservative Republicans to unite? The Bandera County Republican Party is the recognized County arm of the Republican Party of Texas. Do the directors of the new BCCCP have unity of purpose and strength in action together with the Bandera County Republican Party in mind? Actions do indeed speak louder than words.
Susan Junker Concerned Bandera County Republican Voter
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