From The Desk of RPT Chairman Tom Mechler

The following is an update from Republican Party of Texas Chairman Tom Mechler:

It has been a busy time here at the Republican Party of Texas. I want to take a few minutes to update you on our work, thank you for your support, and share our vision for the Republican Party with you. As you know, I recently was elected as the new RPT Chairman, in the wake of Steve Munisteri’s decision to pass the torch to someone else after his very successful tenure. Steve has set our party on the right path, both financially and strategically. His dedication and hard work have paved the way for me to continue the necessary work to ensure that the RPT grows in influence, active membership, and financial strength for decades to come.

I believe, as Steve does, that our party must continue the important work of expanding our base of support, while also adhering to our core principles. We must especially focus our efforts among our rapidly growing minority communities. In the 2014 elections, we dealt a severe blow to the Democrats, winning a historic election, picking up seats in the Texas Legislature, and winning over new voters. Senator John Cornyn, for example, won the Hispanic and Asian-American vote in his re-election bid, with 48% and 53% respectively. And Governor Abbott performed magnificently as well, carrying 46% of the Hispanic vote, and decimating his Democrat opponent in the process.

We must continue down this path of reaching out to new communities, and welcoming all voters who stand for our values of limited government, free markets, and individual liberty. As your Chairman, I will continue to invest the time and resources necessary to achieve this goal, and ultimately send Battleground Texas operatives back to Chicago and Washington, DC.

United We Stand
As we continue to grow and expand our party, we must also stay unified within our ranks. The Republican Party is a conservative party, and will remain so. We all share a common set of principles, and although we may differ on some policies, we must remember that we have more in common with each other than that which divides us. Your Republican Party of Texas will be a place where there is room for everyone that believes in our common values – regardless of where you fall on the conservative spectrum. This unity is important to me, and I know it’s important to you as well.

Traveling the State
Since beginning my service as your Chairman, I have traveled the state extensively. I’ve enjoyed spending time in Harris, Denton, Tarrant, Travis, McLennan, Hays, and Williamson counties. I’ve attended Lincoln-Reagan Day dinners, visited with our Republican Women groups, and spoken at local club meetings. Traveling around and meeting with grassroots Republicans is a great way for me to listen to what your priorities are, gather intelligence on local issues, and get feedback on how you want RPT to serve you. I will continue to travel as much as possible in order to stay connected with you, and also to keep you informed about what RPT is doing.

Legislative Priorities
One of our priorities for this Spring is adding our voice to the debate inside the Texas Legislature. I believe that RPT can play an important role in the legislative process, by finding issues that are central to our values, and weighing in at the right time with the right message.

It has been very busy under the dome in Austin, but we are sifting through all of the bills, and doing our best to engage in debates where we believe we can make a positive impact. If there are issues that you especially care about, please do let us know. We want to do our best to represent your voice at the capitol.

The State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) met in December of last year to determine what our legislative priorities should be this session. We are currently working hard to weigh in on a number of important bills. The RPT is supporting a budget that keeps spending in check, and that provides substantial tax relief to Texans. We are pushing for school choice for all Texas parents, and sent Dr. Robin Armstrong, our national committeeman, to testify for school choice at the capitol. The RPT is also working hard to protect your gun rights, by fighting any new regulations, and by supporting open carry legislation that would give law-abiding Texans another way to protect themselves and their families. It has been a very busy session, but we will continue to work hard on these and other important issues, and will do our best to keep you updated.

Thank you for taking the time to read this update. Please contact my staff if you have any questions about what RPT is up to. We are here to serve you, and to provide you with the tools that you need to be an effective Republican leader in your community. It has been an honor to serve as Chairman, and I am excited about the work ahead.