GOP deserts ‘We the People’
Editor: Buried in the Texas Election Code Sec. 172.088 is a statute that was passed in 1985 that allowed voters, by petition, to place a ballot proposition on a political party’s primary election ballot.
A referendum is a non-binding survey of registered Texas voters. The referendum is first created by a sponsor and then presented to the public by way of a petition.
The requirements are two-fold, the first being that a minimum number of signatures are needed to approve of the petition. The number required this year is 97,709 signatures. The second requirement is that the petitions be delivered to the Republican GOP offices no later than 6 p.m. on December 11, 2023.
Roughly six months ago, the Texas Nationalist Movement (TNM) sponsored a petition to place the following referendum on the March 2024 Primary Republican ballot question that would read, “Texas should reassert its status as an independent nation.” YES or NO.
This is nothing more than a survey of “we the people” (Texas voters).
TNM gathered 139,456 audited signature. These were delivered to the GOP headquarters six hours prior to the deadline specified in the statute.
It is obvious that the Republican Party committee is afraid of what the results of this survey may show. Texans are fed up with the members of government that continue to blatantly break and bypass the law (Constitutions) -- i.e., “criminals.”
When submitted, Matt Rinaldi, chairman of the GOP committee, rejected the petition based on a twisted and irrational interpretation of the lawful statute, thus denying Texas citizens the ability to submit an opinion very important to the people of Texas.
TNM is now suing the Texas GOP organization. If this situation alarms you, as it should, I ask you to take action by contacting your state representatives. Further, submit a protest to: www. Texasgop.org/contact.
Jack Baker Boerne resident
Commission talk about banning books
Editor: First let me thank Kendall County Commissioner Andra Wisian for responding to my previous letter. I appreciate her candidness. The whole intent of my first letter was to bring up the awareness of Commissioners Court and the banning of books.
Commission Wisian, you are a public figure and you are my commissioner. You helped me with an issue I had with the county, for which I thanked you. Any concern I have about policy is not directed to you personally, but to you as my elected official.
The whole issue of banning books or cutting funding to the libraries began at Commissioners Court July 13, 2023, when Commissioner Chad Carpenter brought up the subject of withholding funds because he didn’t agree with the content of some of the books in these libraries: “I don’t think that libraries reflect the values of the community.”
The Court moved on to give the Comfort and the Boerne library the same 4% as last year and give Kendalia an increase to 6%.
During the Commissioners Court Special meeting August 8, Commissioner Carpenter stated constituents had come to him regarding the Patrick Heath Public Library with concerns of contents with some of the books in the library, and wanted to establish a method to verify if such books existed and establish a procedure to remove these books or withdraw funding to the library; Comm Wisian agreed.
At the October 23 meeting, an agenda item involved the procedure for appointments to the library board. Commissioner Carpenter again brought up the issue of banning books. The item was tabled.
While the overall action of the Commissioners Court did not cut library funding, there was considerable discussion on banning books, which to me is unacceptable. Richard Caldwell Boerne resident
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