County Republicans elect delegation, censure state representative

The Cass County Republican Convention was called to order at 10:54 a.m. May 16 at the Cass County Law Enforcement Training Center in Linden where delegates were elected to the state convention and resolutions passed including the censure of state Rep. Chris Paddie.

According to the convention minutes, the roll was called, and a quorum was present. The total number of delegates attending the start of the convention was 21.

The Cass County delegation to the 2020 Texas State Republican Convention is Eileen Collins, Gina Worley, William (Jack) Salmon Jr., Robert (Lonnie) Lynch, Joe Harrison Jr., Gloria Sheffield-Davis, Joe Harrison III, David Martinez, David J. Mandella, Peggy Harrison, Alma Harrison, Jerry Collins, Sally Hunt, John McIntyre, Jackie Salmon and William (Paul) Hunt. Alternate delegates are Judi Lynch, Amy Martinez and W.G. Davis.

Among the resolutions passed by the delegation—the censure of Rep. Chris Paddie for House District 9 of “sponsorship of Transgender Bathrooms Amendment.”

In 2017, Paddie sponsored an amendment to state Senate Bill 2078. SB 2078 related to the duties of school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, the Texas Education Agency and the Texas School Safety Center regarding multi-hazard emergency operations plans and other school safety measures.

The bill’s amendment called for “the right of each student to access restrooms, locker rooms, and changing facilities with privacy, dignity, and safety by requiring the provision of single-occupancy facilities for use by a student who does not wish to use the facilities designated for use by persons of the student’s biological sex”, according to the house committee report.

In May 2017, Paddie told the Texas Tribune, “I believe it accommodates all children and I believe that the House has taken a very thoughtful, reasonable approach to trying to address concerns that have been raised up to this session… I believe we did it in the right way.”

SB 2078 died in May 2017.

The convention minutes cite Rule 44 of the Republican Party of Texas which pertains to the censure process and its penalties.

A County or Senatorial District Convention or a County or District Executive Committee may by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting adopt a resolution censuring a Republican public or party office holder representing all or a portion of that County or District for three or more actions taken during the current biennium in opposition to the party’s core principles.

“If such a request is included, the delegates of the State Convention by majority vote, or the State Republican Executive Committee by a two-thirds vote of the full membership, may vote to concur with the resolution of censure and declare that no rule or bylaw enacted by any division of the Party at any level that demands the Party be neutral in intraparty contests shall be observed with respect to the named candidate, and no financial or other support shall be provided to their campaign by the Party except that which is required by law”, according to the party’s website.

The minutes do not account for vote totals. However, Linden attorney and county convention Parliamentarian John McIntyre, who called for the passage of the resolution to censure Paddie, told the Journal-Sun it passed, unanimously.

“It was a resolution that was voted on and unanimously adopted”, McIntyre reasoned, “It [amendment] was brought in by Joe Straus and his bunch, the former speaker who got censured by Cass County.”

“This isn’t our first censure resolution for a speaker of the house or a state representative. Our county also censured Joe Straus, a sitting speaker of the house, and then he ended up not running for reelection.”

McIntyre said of the resolution, “It should be sent to the state convention, that’s the meeting in Houston and then it can be further voted on by the other five counties in House District 9.”

House District 9 comprises Cass, Harrison and Marion, Panola, Sabine and Shelby counties.

Paddie issued his response to the Journal-Sun, “The resolution as passed is factually incorrect. The amendment that I authored was in line with the Republican Party Platform on the issue and was supported by all but one Republican in the Texas House of Representatives. It is shameful that a former political opponent would willfully mislead the delegates at the Cass County Republican convention by saying that my amendment did the exact opposite of what it actually would have done.”

Additionally, 15 resolutions were passed at the convention which affirmed the party’s platform and legislative priorities.

The delegation voted to support the Second Amendment, flag etiquette, faith-based activities at any public gathering, college university or schools and that all people competing in school or college sports must compete in the gender they were assigned at birth.

Resolutions to defund National Public Radio, withdraw from the U.N., strengthen efforts to combat illegal immigration, and that there be no laws or special treatment granted to those of the gay, lesbian and homosexual lifestyle were also passed.

The 2020 Texas State Republican Convention is scheduled for July 16-18 in Houston at the George R. Brown Convention Center.