Primary Election Bylaw Restrictions for TX Federation of Republican Women Chapters

The Primary election cycle is well underway with the official ending of the filing period. With many offices sought by multiple Republican candidates, I wanted to ensure that we review and abide by the bylaws of the National Federation and Texas Federation concerning endorsements.

Special Note: Comptroller Strayhorn has served the Republican Party with distinction and many of us have worked very hard for her during her past election campaigns. She has and, I am sure, will continue to be supportive of the Texas Federation of Republican Women. Her reason for filing as an Independent is her own. She is however, now an Independent and as such if invited to speak at a meeting will place the local Club in violation of our bylaws.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP, Section 3. Requirements: A. A state federation or local unit may be admitted to and continue in NFRW membership if its bylaws are not in conflict with the NFRW Bylaws and its purposes. Neither a state federation nor a local unit that advocates a split party ticket or supports a candidate running on an opposition ticket shall be admitted to or continued in membership.

ARTICLE II OBJECTIVES - to foster loyalty to the Republican Party and to promote its principles and candidates in all elections including non-partisan elections.

ARTICLE III - POLICY, SECTION 1. Candidate Endorsement: The President of the Texas Federation of Republican Women, the Vice President - Campaign Activities, and local clubs, their Presidents and Campaign Activities Chairmen shall not publicly endorse any candidate for public office in contested Republican Primaries, Runoff Elections, Special Elections and/or non-partisan elections when more than one Republican is in the race.

ARTICLE IV - Membership, Section 2. A local unit shall include the following provisions in its bylaws: M. A statement of policy that no local club shall publicly endorse or work for a known candidate of another party in a partisan or non-partisan race where a Republican is in the race. When more than one Republican is in a non-partisan or partisan race, no local club, local club President or Campaign Activities Chairman shall publicly endorse or work for any candidate in said race. If a local club violates this policy, it shall be the responsibility of the TFRW Executive Committee to remove the local club from the Federation.

As leaders of the Federation, we have the responsibility to ensure that we do not intentionally tarnish our excellent reputation. I expect that many of you have already considered the issue and have come to the same conclusion. If you wish to discuss this with me further please feel free to call me.

'Borah Van Dormolen President Texas Federation of Republican Women 254-947-0150 (HOME) 254-947-0151 (FAX) castle@vvm.com www.tfrw.org

"One Annoying Gramma" Carole (insert name here) Strayhorn is getting the cold shoulder from Texas Republicans. It's about time!

Those rules don't look to be very well drafted. It appears that a local could, in fact endorse either Stray-horn or Kinky without breaking the rules, since they repeatedly reference 'party' and don't seem to deal with independents.

They could try (most won't), but peer pressure is strong among TFRW and unlikely any chapters would risk the wrath of the rest of TFRW to go out on a limb for someone as annoying as Carole (insert name) Strayhorn or Kinky (I'm a joke) Friedman.

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