“It is with great pride and a deep sense of honor that I officially begin my campaign for re-election.”
- Governor Rick Perry

Please join Governor Rick Perry and First Lady Anita Perry as he announces his candidacy for re-election as Governor of the State of Texas.

January 11, 2006

SAN ANTONIO, 12:30 p.m.
Reyes Industries
1554 Cantrell Drive
San Antonio, Texas 78221
View Map

CORPUS CHRISTI, 3:15 p.m.
Corpus Christi Medical Center Doctor’s Regional Hospital Conference Center
3315 South Alameda
Corpus Christi, Texas 78411
(use Fort Worth Street entrance)
View Map

BROWNSVILLE, 6:00 p.m.
Valley Baptist Medical Center - Brownsville
1040 West Jefferson Street
Brownsville, Texas 78520
View Map

Congressman Lamar Smith of South Texas will present the “John Tower Leadership Award” to Teddy Peterson. We invite you to be part of this special evening.

BREAKING NEWS:  Alamo City Republican Women have accepted a last-minute request from South Texas Republicans to organize the event program, call potential guests, and greet guests at the reception table. Kudos to ACRW President Freida Wright!!!

Date:  January 25, 2005 (Wednesday)

Location: THE PLAZA CLUB, 21st Floor of the Frost Bank Building In San Antonio

Reception:  5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Program:  6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (Time certain)

Cost:  FREE

Sponsorships:  Silver $20, Gold $50 and Platinum $100

Graham Weston is hosting a fundraiser for Grace Kunde on Wednesday January 18, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Weston Centre in downtown San Antonio. 
[Mr. Weston founded Rackspace in San Antonio, Texas.]

For information regarding the fundraiser please call Suzanne Bellsnyder @ 512 804-1106.

(Biased) Commentary: Grace rocks!!!  Please try to meet this special lady on the campaign trail. She is really working hard to reach out to grassroots voters in the large 4th court district. We like candidates who know that campaigning is more than direct mail and signs. It is about earning your confidence and your vote. This lady gets it!!
 

As a parent who participates in “back-to-school night,” I certainly am used to receiving stern lectures from teachers as part of the pilgrimage. But this year was different. The lecture came from my child’s Spanish teacher and the topic was “Why did the legislature delay getting textbooks into our classrooms?”  While there is plenty of blame to go around, one of the contributing factors was an actual or unspoken debate over the funding needs for textbooks versus laptops in the classroom. 

Some sincere advocates for better education see computers as the savior for our classrooms. And certainly we all want to embrace any technology that truly enhances the learning process. But many respected experts warn that we must not make the mistake of thinking that hardware by itself can teach by merely providing access to the Internet. Many a business owner knows the dilemma of investing in technology to advance while avoiding wasteful spending that might preclude paying for near term needs.

            As a legislator who has felt the need to speak out on the crisis of textbook funding, I can appreciate both points of view. But in looking to the future, we need to focus beyond such conflicts, either real or perceived. The fact is, most providers of instructional materials stand ready to supply either text or digital formats, but need those preferences to be specified with timely payment assured, unlike the embarrassing past experience.

            The real key for the future is to work for a plan that provides three key elements: 

1)      Categorical funding. Simply stated, this means putting dollars into materials that teach the specific subjects on which we test our students.

2)      Some added flexibility for local districts in the use of the funding granted to them (perhaps up to 30 percent along with permission to buy over a two-year period).

3)      Budget allocations dedicated specifically to hardware, support and services (those computers don’t manage or service themselves!). 

            If we are truly giving schools flexibility, we should also allow local boards and administrators to use these funds to determine progress in the classroom. Specifically, categorical funding should be broadened to include the purchase of formative assessment and other online assessment and digital tools that enhance the effectiveness of the adopted programs. 

            True instructional content, whether print or digital, provides a structured and sequential approach to the learning of required essential knowledge and skills. This learning is aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards and is integrated with assessments that test mastery and prepare students for Texas’ high stakes exams.

            What we really are talking about is common sense. 

            Nothing is more important to our state than the education of our young.  And our Constitution spells out our state’s responsibility to provide the funding to pay for instructional materials. I for one do not want to see a repeat of the spectacle we all witnessed this year. Our State Board of Education, our administrators, teachers and most of all, our students, deserve to have high quality instructional materials available on a predictable timeframe. That also is vital and just plain fair to the publishers that have invested in the preparation of Texas-specific instructional materials.

            As the Texas Legislature comes back to address these issues, I am hopeful that we can get a better system in place, and that the time of textbooks in warehouses is a faded memory, along with any textbooks versus laptops debate.

Web Site of Representative Straus:

http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist121/straus.htm

Commentary by South Texas Republicans: Friends, you heard it here first. We are going to do something that is not sane or logical. We are going to make a political prediction for 2006. (I know this is Texas politics where you can’t even trust family members.) Here it goes. 

Let us paint the picture first: Speaker Craddick has approximately 12 Republican state representatives who consistently vote with the Democrats. He would love to send them on a one-way trip to Bangladesh, but unfortunately they would somehow find their way back. 

It is our belief that State Representative Straus will be an important player in helping broker deals between the 12 quasi Republicans and important conservative Democrats in the upcoming session in Austin that will focus on education funding.

BREAKING NEWS:  The Rough Riders of Bexar County Invite You To A Northeast Town Hall Meeting for 118th State Representative Candidates (Bexar County- City of Live Oak)

Date: Wednesday, February 1, 2006

Location:  The Rough Rider Room at the Live Oak Civic Center, 8101 Pat Booker Road, Live Oak, Texas 78233-2600, 210-653-9494 www.ci.live-oak.tx.us 

Time:  6:00 p.m. till 8:30 p.m.

Cost: FREE

Special Bonus:  PIZZA PARTY after the meeting!!!!

The meeting will begin with a short business meeting to be held at the clubhouse in South Bank subdivision, starting promptly at 6 p.m. The members will travel from South Bank to the Police Department after the meeting. Members are urged to car pool due to limited parking facilities at the clubhouse and the Police Department

Members should RSVP to Gayna Womack through the website,

You are invited to a Town Hall meeting featuring: 

George Antuna, John Lujan & Steve Salyer – Candidates For State Representative District 118

Location: Grady’s Bar-B-Que, 6919 South Zarzamora, San Antonio

Date: January 21  (Saturday)

Time: Networking Reception and Lunch (on your own): 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Program:  12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m. (Time Certain)

Cost: FREE

Sponsorships:  Silver $10, Gold $20 and Platinum $50

Please R.S.V.P. to Schuylar Crist at skyskyrider@hotmail.com today.

Joe Solis, SREC 26 and South Texas Republicans are proud to launch our third club in Senate District 26. Westside Republicans was established in 2004. Balcones Heights Republicans was set up in 2005. We continue to reach out to new non-traditional voters in the district.

Logo courtesy of Robert Sanchez.  (“The star came from a photo I took at the World War II Memorial in D.C.” – Robert Sanchez)
 

See below for the replies and more information about the state rep. 118 race. Some of you have said that we are including too much 118 race information in our recent newsletters. We believe we can make impact in this race by giving voters an opportunity to learn more about these individuals online and at our events. We are now sponsoring two Town Hall meetings for these state representative candidates. We are not potted plants. 

            Palmquist, with 31 years experience as the Deputy District Clerk of Bexar County, currently serves as the Division Chief of Records for Bexar County.

            “I intend to make it easier for the public to access the Medina County District Clerk’s office,” says Palmquist, a Republican. “During more than three decades as Deputy District Clerk of Bexar County, I have helped implement several improvements, including some of the latest technologies that made accessing that office more convenient and user friendly.

“I want to do the same in Medina County and bring the District Clerk’s office up to technological speed by incorporating some of the same technologies, such as imaging and online networking with counties across the state as state law mandates,” he adds.

He says his slogan, “Preserve the Past by Protecting the Future,” points to a major concern of his that he will address when elected. “When the District Clerk’s office employs the right technology, which I intend to do, we will be able to better preserve past documents while also protecting all the new documentation that comes in.”

Palmquist, 51, a member of the Devine Chamber of Commerce and the 1st Baptist Church of Devine, has served as an officer for the Devine PTO, Devine Little League, and Devine Voluntary Fire Department, volunteers for Child Advocate of San Antonio (CASA), and is a former American Legion Boy Stator.

A 1973 graduate of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo High School in Pharr, he also attended the Elkins Institute for Radio Broadcasting.

             Palmquist and his wife of 30 years, the former Dana Brown, have two daughters, Dawn and Tiffany. Dawn Palmquist, 29, is a teacher at Edison High School in San Antonio, while Tiffany Craig, 25, is a music-major who plans to attend school in Houston.          

With the seemingly internal implosion the Democratic Party is currently experiencing, gleeful Republicans are rejoicing. The power struggle among factions is ripping the Party apart.

One such faction is the gang of 33 plaintiffs who filed a lawsuit against County Democratic Chair Rudy Casias, for failure to abide by established Party rules and guidelines.

Now the gang of 33 are ready to implode again as two of the plaintiffs are pitted against each other as candidates for Party Chair. Democratic leaders like County Judge Nelson Wolff and State Representative Trey Martinez Fischer have attempted to bring the warring factions together without success. The madness continues.

Now it is the impending battle of the plaintiffs. The two combatants are Carla Vela, soft-spoken former president of the Tejano Democrats, and Dan Ramos, a volatile leader of the Westside Barrio Chairs and a director of the American Civil Liberties Union. Vela has a well-established reputation for working well with others and a real chance of uniting the party, while Ramos, who is best described as an old-school street fighter, will most likely alienate the Party even further.

As of this newsletter’s deadline, Casias had not yet determined whether to accept or reject Ramos petition as a candidate for Chair based on some questionable signatures and lack of signatures.

The local Party is feebly attempting to present a united front, but without a consistent message, it is spitting in the wind, no matter who is leading the charge.

The Democrats tent of ideas is so far-encompassing that zeroing in on one or two issues is nearly impossible. Democrats will argue for both sides of the issue and confuse everybody. Senator John Kerry made that mistake during the last national Presidential campaign.

However, if Democrats went to the polls in record numbers, Republicans would lose every race. There are literally more Democrat leaning voters in Bexar County than Republicans. However, they are not as single minded, as zealous or as committed as Republicans to their cause. It’s not just Christians versus non-Christians.

As the battle for various offices take shape, look once again to the Southside for a possible huge turnout, especially now with seven candidates vying for the 118th State Rep. race, (4 Dems, 3 GOP) the four State Senatorial candidates, (2 Dems, 2 GOP) and three candidates for the 28th Congressional seat. (2 Dems, 1 Dem pretender)

With incumbents from both parties being heavily contested by primary opponents and challengers, the upcoming campaign will prove to be interesting and cutthroat. (equal time for all) Will the Democratic infighting be the downfall of the local Democratic Party? Only time will tell.

     That’s the moderate viewpoint, I am the Republicrat. 

(Next week: still more drama)
 

Membership Recruitment Reception with Senator Cornyn in February. Your readers may contact me direct for further information at President@ACRWomen.org. 

Advice from South Texas Republicans:  Friends, we are providing some advice about this event. ACRW members will only pay $10 to attend (what a bargain to see a U.S. Senator) and guests will pay $35. We suggest that you join ACRW for $25 and send a $10 check for the event.  In 2006, you will be a member of ACRW and receive all their newsletters in this important election year. (This is such an incredible bargain for only $35.)

The membership form can be found here:  http://www.acrwomen.org/JoinUs.html.

Speaker: Bobby Eberle, Director of GOPUSA.com

Did you know GOPUSA reaches 500,000 conservatives every day by e-mail?

Date: Jan. 18th (Wednesday)

Time: Networking Reception and Dinner (on your own): 6:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Program:  7 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.

Location:  Karam's Mexican Dining Room, 121 N. Zarzamora, San Antonio; (210-433-0111)

Cost: Only $5

Sponsorships:  Silver $10, Gold $20 and Platinum $50

Please R.S.V.P. to Schuylar Crist at skyskyrider@hotmail.com today.

GOPUSA Mission Statement

The mission of GOPUSA is to spread the conservative message throughout America.

Candidate #1:  George Antuna

VLT ISSUE:

First, VLT is not coming to Retama Park anytime soon. I believe the legislature doesn't have the intention of revisiting this issue. If we are looking at VLT to help pay for our school system, well, we don't have to look any further than what we thought LOTTO would do. We need to make sure we research every possible avenue to finance our school system before we even consider VLT. I would not support VLT as a way to help finance our public school system. 

Candidate #2:  John Lujan

I am against any attempts to legalize Video Lottery Terminals. I believe that opening the doors to casino type
gambling has unacceptable costs to society. I do not want our public education system and health and human services for the needy to be dependent upon gambling money - an unstable source of funding. There are enough sources of gambling and I am firm at holding the line.

Candidate #3:  Steve Salyer

Please contact South Texas Republicans if you are interested in attending. We are attempting to fill a table. 

Invited guests include Mrs. Ronald Reagan, former President and Mrs. George H.W. Bush, former Attorney General Edwin Meese, former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Michael Deaver, former Treasury Secretary James A. Baker, and the other members of the Reagan Cabinet and Administration. 

Additionally, invitations are being extended to many of the national Republican political figures who are considering seeking the Presidency in 2008. This event will highlight the accomplishments of the Reagan-Bush era and allow Reaganites to come together and celebrate the years of accomplishment that marked Ronald Reagan’s leadership of America as our 40th President.

Sally Aiello, Executive Director, Travis County Republican Party, 7801 N. Lamar Blvd, Suite A123, Austin, TX  78736, 512-431-0964

www.TravisCountyGOP.org
 

Small Business Owners for Steve Salyer

6:00 to 8:00 PM

Gretalia Coffee House and Deli

2211 N.W. Military Hwy

Suite 131 in San Antonio

Mr. Solis, 

Thank you so much for having the integrity, the courage, and the intestinal fortitude to inform your fellow South Texans about what our so-called 'Servants of the People' are trying to pull regarding Toll Roads.  I have joined your mailing list and look forward to supporting action to persuade our government that they still work 'for the People.'

Again, keep up the good work and thank you!

Grady S. McClung

Mr. Solis,

As a member of SA Toll Party, I commend you for allowing both sides of the toll issue to be heard. Given the potential costs to the average household (no matter what the solution is), I am glad that you have taken the opportunity to provide a forum for this discussion.

I generally tend to equate the Republican party as one that generally champions a limited government. Hopefully, your readers can see that the toll-road system merely promotes perpetual government growth and does not really solve traffic congestion issues in the long-term. Hopefully, by providing a forum to discuss toll roads, your readers will get the opportunity to become more familiar with an issue that will impact everyone.

Dave Ramos

DEAR JOE,

THANK YOU FOR KEEPING US INFORMED. JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW MY HUSBAND AND I ARE TOTALLY AGAINST THE TOLLS. WE LIVE IN THE STONE OAK NEIGHBORHOOD.  WE ARE FORWARDING ALL THE INFO WE RECEIVE FROM THE TOLL PARTY TO OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS ALL OVER SAN ANTONIO. WE ARE ALSO PLANNING ON VOTING AGAINST ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT PROMOTES THE TOLLS. WE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING DELEGATES TO THE 2000 REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION.  OUR VOTES THIS NEXT TIME AROUND WILL NOT BE FOR SOME OF THE INCUMBENTS.

SINCERELY,
CHERYL R HALLONQUIST

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 
 

of San Antonio - PAC

Founded November 6, 1988

We are Americans First

Alicia Rodriguez, President of Hispanic Republican Women of San Antonio cordially invites you to our

General Membership Meeting Luncheon

Celebrating the Start of the New Year 2006 With an important message from our Representative on Saturday, January 21, 2006. Come and join us as we take pleasure in the company of Representative Frank Corte Jr. of District 122

At the Ocean Star Seafood and Grill

1039 N.E. Loop 410

210-822-9788

12:30 P.M. – Social

1:00 – 2:30 P.M. - Program

Please, RSVP by January 20, 2005

$16 with RSVP; $18 w/o RSVP, at door

 Marlyn 496-5024; Jane 691-9695; Alicia 682-3569; Celia 492-8544               

They have been archived for those of you who may have missed our recent issues. We are slowly growing our web page features. We encourage you to visit our web page for easy access to elected officials. Our service is free and open to the public.