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GOP addresses public concerns, names new precinct chair

September 14, 2022 - 00:00
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Editor's Notes: 

 

  1. A September 14 article by Cari Golyzniak headlined “GOP addresses public concerns…” misrepresented a quote from Lynn Haueter about payment and work on the website. That full quote, delivered in an email, is as follows: “The website which was originally paid for by myself and built by me and Shirley Grohman, was not wiped! Yes. The time sensitive and unique content to my term was removed. However, the website platform and domain stayed in place for any new person to upload their preferred content. I spent weeks and many hours of my own time building this website. It was my first priority as the new chair.   I wanted to make sure every Republican in Bandera County could find us and would have a way to keep updated and invited to ALL meetings and events.”
  2. A quote about a dividing point was incorrectly attributed to Conrad Striegl. This quote should have been attributed to Ken Denney.
  3. The article said there was a 9-1 vote. The vote was actually 8-2.
  4. The Bulletin apologizes for the errors and has corrected the mistakes online with a note reflecting the changes.

Just over a week after temporary restraining orders were served to multiple members of the Bandera GOP on behalf of their fellow precinct chairs, the party gathered at the Lakehills Area Library for their monthly meeting. The evening’s happenings featured heated public comment and the election of a new precinct chair, among other agenda items.

During the public comment segment, Parliamentarian Darcy Hasty BCEC presented several questions posted on Facebook anonymously.

One of the questions posed was: “Why won’t they release bank statements and details of how the money has been spent?”

Treasurer Rene Leith responded, “Every one of them has a balance.”

She stated the headquarters account, funded by donations, was at$994.05. The primary account, funded by the Secretary of State, had a balance of $3,072.22. The Bulletin was not able to confirm the amount of the administrative account by its press deadline. Leith said this account is funded by individual members of the party’s executive committee.

County Chair Conrad Striegl said the process of going through the closed bank accounts under the previous chair was a long, arduous process that is still ongoing.

“It is a laborious process, but we are determined,’’ said Leith.

The previous chair Striegl referred to is Lynn Hauter, who issued the following response to the Bulletin: “Everyone knows that detailed bank statements and photos of cashed checks can easily be acquired from any bank. The public should be demanding this information. They should also demand a full and detailed audit of all monies collected and spent this year. That would expose much of the lies and corruption that has taken place.”

Next, local shirley Grohman voiced frustration for the board’s alleged exclusion of content from a prior meeting’s minutes.

“I’ve seen the minutes from August 11. The statement that Conrad had read regarding two of our precinct chairs is not included in that, so that needs to be included,” she said.

If ya’ll don’t have a copy of that statement, I do have a copy that I can submit so that those minutes don’t get approved until that statement is copied in.”

The Bulletin reached out to Streigl to respond to Grohman’s statement, but did not receive a comment by its press deadline.

Later, an agenda item to approve August’s minutes was tabled to add the missing statement and put it on the next agenda for approval.

“My concern for this county is based on the temperature reading of this GOP, the antagonizing articles from the Bandera Bulletin were pointing to individuals within our county,” Grohman said, referring to opinion pieces published in the Bulletin by Streigl.

She continued, “The county chair asked for the county to be reunited, but the unwarranted attacks continued with misrepresented occurrences. Know that your efforts to unite this county will be futile until all people in this county are listened to and sincere attempts are made to unite this county.”

Striegl asked, “What is the dividing point? I agree with you that the temperature is hot and there’s all this discontent.”

Grohman responded, “Do you really want to know? It’s the lies. I have a list of lies. To be politically correct, untruths, that this body should be accountable for.”

Grohman offered to read her list, although she was informed by Hasty her time to speak was up.

An individual in the crowd asked the board if there was a website where Grohman could register her complaints, to which Striegl stated they were working on building the new website.

“On the 13th of July, the website was completely wiped out by the previous chair,” said Striegl.

Hauter told the Bulletin the website, which she said was paid for by herself and Grohman, was not wiped.

“Yes, the time-sensitive and unique content to my term was removed. However, the website platform and domain stayed in place for any new person to upload their preferred content,” she said. “I spent weeks and many hours of my own time building this website. It was my first priority as the new chair. I wanted to make sure every Republican in Bandera County could find us and would have a way to keep updated and invited to all meetings and events. It took me about a month.”

The website can be viewed at banderacountygop.com.

Attending to an item on their business agenda, the executive committee recommended and unanimously approved applicant Dave Allen for Precinct 409 Chair, vacated after previous chair Kevin Holdsworth resigned due to a move.

Striegl said Allen was fully vetted by the board. After being sworn in to the position, Allen took a seat at the board table to finish the rest of the board’s agenda. The Bulletin reached out to Allen for a statement, but did not receive one by press time.

The party worked through the rest of their business covering the treasurer’s report, the budget draft for next year and also voted 9-1 against adopting their own version of the Smith County Republican Party Cease Fire.

That resolution read: “We will suspend all censure activities, all commentaries critical in nature that are demeaning to Republican candidates and office holders and instead, acknowledging the primary elections are complete and that it is vital to give 100% support to our elected slate of officers, we will direct all efforts in getting Republicans registered to vote and then turning out to vote for early voting and on election day.”

At the end of Thursday’s meeting, each member of the Bandera County Executive Committee introduced themselves and listed their precinct number.

“You’re the voter, we work for you. So we need your input. We want your input. If we don’t hear from you, we don’t know what you want,” announced Striegl.