Will someone in the Ector County Republican Party come forth and explain the process to allow a candidate the right to run for County Chair? I keep reading that there’s a clause which keeps Tisha Crow, the County Chair, from having an opponent. Surely, this is not possible.
I’ve been told that the precinct chairs have the right to decline a candidate. Precinct chairs? I’ve never heard of a precinct chair. I have no idea what a precinct chair does. I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen a precinct chair on a ballot. Who is my precinct chair? Did my precinct chair support Casey Gray? If so, I don’t trust their judgement and they definitely don’t represent me. Why do they have a say on who can run for County Chair or or not? What about democracy?
And if the precinct chairs hold so much power why aren’t they speaking out on this issue? Why doesn’t anyone know who their precinct chair is? Why is the precinct list on the Ector County Republican Party website not updated? Who are these people that have been appointed to run the local party. Don’t voters deserve to know who is supposedly representing them? Why all the secrecy?
From what I’ve been told there are only two duly elected precinct chairs, Richard Pierce and Mark Matta. Mark Matta is also a City Councilman.
Will Matta keep his own constituents from voting for County Chair? If so, won’t that be a bit hypocritical for him to in turn ask for their votes if he should run for office again?
To be honest, I’ve just started keeping up with local politics. Until just recently, I had never heard of Tisha Crow. But it seems as if Tisha Crow and her executive board which consists of the appointed precinct chairs had a huge hand in electing Mayor Joven, Denise Swanner and Mark Matta to our city council. And also in the hiring of the new City Manager. Why? Aren’t these positions nonpartisan?
I would like to understand how one becomes County Chair, how one becomes an appointed precinct chair, how the board is chosen, and if it’s true that only two on the executive board have been elected. I’m really just asking for clarification.
Because if what I’ve been reading is true, we all need to start focusing a lot more on local politics. And if what I’m reading is not true, will Tisha Crow and her appointed precinct chairs come forth and clarify?
Dana Henry
Odessa
