PRESS RELEASE: State College Republican Officers Resign, Replacements Announced
TEXAS COLLEGE REPUBLICANS
Office of Communications and Public Relations
Andres Bocanegra, Director of Communications
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 8, 2009
Contact: Andres Bocanegra
STATE OFFICIERS RESIGN, REPLACEMENTS NAMED
AUSTIN – The Texas College Republicans has the duty to announce the resignation of two of the organization’s state officers. Both Ryan Pitts (SMU) and Lance Kennedy (Texas) have announced their resignations from the organization.
In an e-mail to executive board members Ryan Pitts said, “With much gratitude and humility I would like to announce my resignation as State Treasurer. This was by no means an easy decision for me but after much thought and consideration I have decided this is the best course of action personally and for Texas College Republicans. I will be attending law school in the fall and do not feel confident I will be able devote all of the time needed to properly address the needs of treasurer.” Pitts will be attending the Texas School of Law in Austin in the fall. The executive board then approved Ryan Ellis (Texas-Austin) as Pitts’ replacement as State Treasurer.
Lance Kennedy (Texas-Austin) has also announced his resignation as State Chairman of the Texas College Republicans. Kennedy is resigning because he has been accepted, and will be attending Notre Dame Law School in the fall. Upon his resignation, Vice Chairwoman Nickole Heater (Texas-El Paso) assumed the position of Chairwoman.
In an email statement Heater said, “Not only do I want to congratulate Lance, I also want to take the time to thank him for all that he is done for the State Organization. He will be missed. … As Chairwoman, I am going to continue what Lance has started. I feel that it isn’t neccessary to wipe clean the great things that have been accomplished here in such little time. I want to continue to increase membership as Chair, because we will be working in a primary season, and I think it is important that we turn College Republicans into volunteers during elections.”
Geoffrey Geiger (Texas-Austin) has been appointed and approved by the State Board to replace Heater as State Vice Chairman. Geiger was recently re-elected by the chapters in his region to serve as Regional Vice Chair for the Central Texas Region. Central Texas includes schools such as University of Texas-Austin, Baylor, St. Edward’s, Texas State, Southwestern University, and others. Chapters in the Central Texas region will conduct a vote for a new Regional Vice Chair, which will take place on or before the first statewide meeting in November.
Texas College Republicans wishes the best to both Lance and Ryan as they move forward with their academic careers. The organization thanks both of them for their service to the organization and congratulates them on all of their achievements.
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Live Blogging: Texas College Republicans State Convention
Texas College Republicans’ holding their State Convention in Austin at the Texas State Capitol. Live Updates as we go along. This isn’t the best way to live blog, but I personally don’t like the comment system on wordpress … so this post will just be updated with new information as often as possible.
Called to order at 10:20AM
Officer Reports:
- Central Texas Regional Vice Chairman Geoffery Gieger (UT-Austin). Thanked everyone for their attendance and being involved in the Texas College Republicans. “We are the change we want to see” and “Texas is the last great hope for America,” were two of the memorable quotes from his report.
- West Texas Regional Vice Chair Nickole Heater (Texas-El Paso) recognized University chapters for being in attendance from the West Texas Region including new chapters of Texas Tech, Angelo State, among others. She also recognized Chairman Lance Kennedy (Texas-Austin) for his efforts at revitalizing the state organization and continuing to grow the organization.
- State Treasurer Ryan Pitts (Southern Methodist) gave a financial update. The organization raised upwards of $12,000 under the leadership of Chairman Kennedy and Mr. Pitts also notified everyone of the organization’s status as a PAC.
- State Secretary Frank Carni (Texas-San Antonio) again reiterated thanks for all those in attendance and also made mention of the vast progress made by the organization since the new administration took over in November of 2008 and revamped the Texas CRs.
- State Chairman Lance Kennedy (Texas-Austin) addressed the convention about the progress made in the organization since his Administration took office in November of 2008. He noted the speaker series that has brought Frmr. Atty Gen. John Ashcroft to Texas-Austin and Gov. Rick Perry to Texas Tech University.
Invited Speaker: Moshe Starkman, creater of YRNetwork.com addressed the convention about his social networking site geard toward young Republicans. He also addressed liberals’ use of technology to organize and get youth involved. He also adressed understanding the use of social networking and its benefits (for example: twitter.com, facebook groups, etc.). He stated making our message compatible with new technologies.
Official Business: Resolutions
- Res. 1: Recognizing the Travis Co. Republican Party and extending Honorary Membership to Travis Co. Party Chairman Rosemary Edwards, and Exec. Director Mistie Davis. – Passed unanamously.
- Res. 2: To voice disapproval at Repeal of the Mexico City Policy by Pres. Barack Obama – passed unanamously
- Res. 3: Encourage CR recruitment at the High School Level – Directs the PR Director (me) and Regional Vice Chairs to begin formulating connections to chapters at universities that they might have already applied to and to formulate connections with teenage Republcians and other organizations. – Passed unanamously
Officer Elections:
- Chairman Lance Kennedy (Texas-Austin) spoke as an unopposed candidate for re-election as Chair. He spoke on his vision for continued growth within the organization. He emphasized college Republican students getting not only involved within this organization but within campus organizations such as Student Governments and spreading Republican influence on the campus as a whole.
- Geoffery Tahuahua (St. Mary’s) – unopposed for State Secretary
- Ryan Pitts (Southern Methodist) – unopposed for State Treasurer
- The only contested race is for State Vice Chairman the candidates are Teddy Collins (Blinn) and Nickole Heater (Texas-El Paso).
- Teddy Collins
- Spoke on camaign platforms including “finding ideas that students are interested in.” He said that not everyone is always interested in campaigns or politics. He also spoke on 40 Days for Life.
- Questions were then entertained from the floor.
- Frank Carni spoke on Collins’ platform and said that the ideas Collins presented are ideas that the state organization has been working on. So what’s new? Collins responded: fundraising experience.
- Collins doesn’t seem comfortable entertaining questions, he might have been better running for the Regional Vice Chair position for East Texas.
- Geoffery Geiger asked if he supported elimination of dues, and he said he does support that and does not support one chapter one vote policies.
- Nickole Heater (Texas-El Paso)
- Was one of the most successful Field Reps for the College Republican National Committee. Named Top Field Rep out of 50+ in the country. Spoke about her working within the organization in the rebuilding process since November. And not only getting not only more college students involved along the I-35 corridor but as well as West Texas
- In response to question about relations with Regional Vice Chairs and possible infringment on their autonomy, Nickole Heater responded, “My name is Nickole Heater, not Adolf Hitler.” This means that she will respect the RVCs autonomy in the realm of recruitment and developing new chapters in their respective regions.
- Teddy Collins
Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams was the keynote speaker at the convention. He spoke on principles of the Republican party and dissaproval of liberal policies being persued by Pres. Barack Obama. “The President said he was all about hope and change. I hope that he changes,” said Michael Williams. The overall topic of the Chairman’s remarks was “Finding Freedom between Pharaoh and the Deep Red Sea.” Chairman Williams spoke out against the raising of the overall corporate tax rate, which is the second highest of “any industrialized nation in the world.” He made mention of other industrialized nations who have lowered their corporate tax rates to encourage economic growth. He also spoke on border security, making reference to the words at Ellis Island of “Give me your tied and poor…” saying, “we are a welcoming country.” However, he said it was essentially irresponsible for people to “jump in front of” others who follow the procedures and rules to get here. Williams also discussed his upcoming likely race for the United States Senate, if and when Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison vacates her seat to run for the Office of Governor of Texas.
Knox Nunnally of Vets for Freedom, and a Texas College Republican, spoke about the importance of grassroots movements and the Republican Party. He also discussed his experiences as a war veteran and the experience he had while founding the Vets for Freedom organization.
Elections were held for Regional Vice Chairs:
- North Region: Colt Ables (Texas-Arlington) was elected
- South Region: Josh Bart (Texas-San Antonio) was re-elected
- East Texas: Jacqueline Giroir (Texas A&M) – the vote was decided by a coin flip
- West Texas: Remmington Sutton (Texas Tech) – also decided by a coin flip
- Central Texas: Geoffery Gieger (Texas-Austin) was re-elected
Daniel Crocker, the Texas Director of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, spoke about the push to pass concealed carry laws across the country and in Texas especially. “Students lack a basic right,” by not being able to carry a firearm for defense against possible shooters and other “madmen” such as those at Virginia Tech, Northern Illinois, and Appalachian State School of Law(?).
Chairman’s Awards:
- Frank Carni (Texas-San Antonio) – Officer of the Year
- Geoffery Geiger (Texas-Austin) – Regional Vice Chairman of the Year
- Eugene Cook (Southern Methodist) – Director of the Year
Chairman Lance Kennedy announced
- Frank Carni – Executive Director
- Andres Bocanegra – Communications Director
- Jim Bentancourt – Political Director
- Matt Foster – Military Affairs Director
- Eugene Cook – Technology Director
- Charlie McCaslin – Fundraising Director
- Tory Summral – Convention Director
- Clint Peterson – Campus Activism Coordinator
- Hunter Hays – Internal Affairs Director
Perry 2010
