Name 3 primary reasons why you are running for RPT Chair (i.e. including what changes, if any, are needed).

1. To empower grassroots conservatives and unleash them as the most potent political force in Texas.

2. To fight to secure our ballots and to restore election integrity so that the people of Texas can have faith in the fact that our elections are secure, accurate, and trustworthy.

3. To ensure that our conservative legislative priorities are enacted and that our lawmakers understand that Republicans are in the majority in Texas and it's high-time we start acting and governing accordingly.

Do you believe in the Texas Republican Party Platform? Do you feel it should be downsized? Please explain.

I fully support our grassroots driven Republican Party of Texas Platform. Instead of downsizing it, we must amplify it and fight to ensure that those elected officials who run as Republicans, author, advocate, and vote for legislation that implements its planks, with the RPT supporting their efforts to do so.

The election process in choosing a House Speaker appears to be broken. What can you do to fiix it?

Republicans are a majority in the Texas House of Representatives and it is high-time our Republican legislators started acting like it. The way the Speaker of the Texas House is elected is indeed broken and must be changed to reflect the will of the majority of Texans. As RPT Chair, I will publicly call upon our Republican legislators to support and abide by the "Contract with Texas" which calls for soliciting support for the Speaker from only Republican House Members, limits the Speaker to two terms in office, and prohibits the distribution of political funds from the Speaker. Additionally, the House Republican Caucus must meet and vote for a candidate for Speaker by secret ballot so that members are not subjected to or impacted by threats or retaliation for their vote. I am the only candidate for RPT Chair who has publicly called for ending the practice of appointing Democrats as Committee Chairs OR Vice Chairs and to prohibiting Democrat majorities on any Texas House Committee in order to prevent conservative legislative priorities being killed.  

Do you believe the Texas Election Code should be removed from the Party Rules and if so, why?

While we should adhere to Texas state law and expect others to do so as well, the Republican Party of Texas is not a branch of state government and, therefore, party leaders should have the ability to enact policies and procedures for our candidates and primary elections consistent with our platform. This includes closing our primary to only Republicans and the ability to reject applications to appear on the Republican Primary ballot for non-compliance with residency requirements and/or non-adherence to RPT rules and procedures. The Texas Election Code must be followed where applicable but should never limit the Republican Party of Texas from implementing additional protections and safeguards to our party's primary elections or from ensuring that only Republicans appear on our ballot or vote in our primaries or the manner in which we count votes and tabulate election results. 

What should be the legislative priorities for the coming session?

On March 5th, the conservative grassroots delivered the loud and clear message that they were sick and tired of the status quo, power sharing with Democrats, conservative legislative priorities being ignored, and Austin special interests having more power and influence than the people of Texas. We must take full advantage of this historic change and demand that the priorities of the majority of Texans be put at the front of the line, passed, and signed into law. If we fail to do so, the tremendous gains made by conservatives on March 5th will have been for naught. During the upcoming 89th Texas Legislature, we must demand that:

We Protect our Elections: “There are a number of ways to better secure our Texas elections, they include: 1. Return prosecutorial authority for election fraud to the Attorney General of Texas 2. Require proof of citizenship and a Texas state-issued ID to register to vote in Texas, and prohibit the use of a utility bill to register. 3. Return to hand counted, sequentially numbered paper ballots, and employ block-chain technology to detect tampering 4. Eliminate voting centers and return to precinct level voting only 5. Eliminate the break between early voting and election day in order to minimize fraud, abuse, and chain of custody issues 6. Provide Texas Department of Public Safety protection to Presidential Electors to avoid threats and intimidation and bind them to only vote for the majority vote getter. Additionally, we should elect the Texas Secretary of State so that Texas’ chief election officer is directly responsible to the people, and; Close Primaries in order to minimize the ability of Democrats to influence Republican Primaries by voting for RINOs.

Secure the Border and Protect Texans:

Texas should immediately deny all taxpayer funded services and subsidies to illegal aliens. We must continue to fully fund "Operation Lone Star" and put protecting the safety of our citizens, defending our sovereignty, and upholding the rule of law first and foremost. We must continue the construction of the Texas Border Wall, and create a permanent Texas Border Security Force so that the public safety of Texans in non-border areas is not compromised by having to constantly rotate Texas Department of Public Safety officers in and out of border security details. 

Ban Gender Modification of Children:

Texas must continue to ban chemical castration, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, genital mutilation, bodily alteration surgery, psychological/social transitioning, and any other methods applied to or performed on children. We must fight efforts by Democrat controlled cities like Austin to become gender modification sanctuaries, and we must ensure that no taxpayer funds are spent on any program or flow to any institution that aids, supports, or enables in any way the gender modification of children. 

Stop Sexualizing Texas Kids:

Repeal Texas Penal Code “Obscenity Exemption” 43.24(c), which allows children access to harmful, explicit, or pornographic materials and 43.25(f)(2 3), which allows sexual performance by a child. In addition, prohibit teaching, exposure, and/or discussion of sexual matters (mechanics, feelings, orientation, or “gender identity” issues), and prohibit use or provision of related books and other materials using criminal, civil or other enforcement measures. 

Ban Democrat Chairs:

To ensure all legislative Republican priorities are given a fair opportunity to become law, the Republican-controlled Texas legislature shall adopt a rule that would end the practice of awarding committee chairmanships or vice chairmanships to Democrats or create any committee which has a Democrat majority. 

Abolish Abortion in Texas:

Abolish abortion by ensuring the right to life and equal protection of the laws, including due process to all preborn children from the moment of fertilization, including adopting effective tools to ensure the enforcement of our laws to protect life when district attorneys fail to do so. 

Defend Our Gun Rights:

Protect our gun rights against threats, such as red flag laws, federal, state or other restrictions, by strengthening and preserving our inalienable rights under the second amendment to protect our life, liberty and property. We must oppose any and all attempts to ban so-called assault weapons, other types of semi-automatic rifles, pistols, magazines, with certain capacities or any type of firearms accessory. The Texas Legislature should eliminate all gun-free zones and prohibit any type of "Red Flag" law in Texas. We must oppose any attempt to add new data on Texas residents to the federal firearms registry aka: the National Instant Check System. We must remove any prohibition on possession of a handgun by any law-abiding Texan at least 18 years of age. 

Parental Rights and Educational Freedom:

Parents are the primary decision makers for their children in all matters. This authority shall be protected as an inalienable right. This shall include the choice of schooling where the money follows the child without strings attached, and enforcement and penalty mechanisms when parents’ rights are violated. The right to education shall be free from any social theories.   

Should Texas GOP limit their elected officials to 8 years or less from the same office, even though it will force some good candidates to leave an office?

Yes! It is important for new conservative grassroots leaders to serve and bring new ideas to the governance of the Republican Party of Texas. The current leadership of our party should be preparing the next generation of leaders to serve our values, our party, and our state. 

Should the Republican Party close its primaries. Why or why not?

I have wanted to close the Republican Primary since Mitt Romney ran for President. It is imperative that the Republican Party of Texas maintain the integrity of our primaries. As State RPT Chair, I will make closing our primary a top priority. 

The SREC is tasked with enforcing the Rules adopted at the last convention. Have they done their jobs and if not, what & why not and how can you fix it?

Through no fault of their own, an out-of-control Texas House Speaker, by his actions and policies, has thwarted the ability of the State Republican Executive Committee from carrying out the will of the grassroots and enacting the legislative priorities established at the 2022 Republican State Convention. That is why we must reform the way the Texas Speaker of the House is elected so that this never happens again.  

Are you willing to call out Legislators that will not support the Party Platform?

I have a proven track record of holding our Republican legislators accountable since 2012 when I was the lone Republican official in Bexar County to actively call out and work to defeat Speaker of the Texas House Joe Straus, who was my own State Representative at the time. As RPT Chair, not only will I publicly expose those Republican in Name Only legislators who do not support or who work against our party platform, but I will also call and work for their defeat when up next for election. I am the only candidate for RPT Chair who has a plan to help empower the grassroots to hold their Republican legislators accountable for their actions and votes.

At an SREC meeting, if a motion was up for petitioning the State of Texas to release RPT from state law, in exchange for the State of Texas not providing tax funds to defray election costs, would you vote for or against? Why?

As RPT Chair, I will always fight to ensure that Texas State law does not impede the ability of the Republican Party of Texas to govern itself so that we can close our primary and reject candidates from our primary ballot who are not Republicans. I would not take any action that would cause the Republican Party of Texas or its affiliated county parties to incur debt in order to conduct our elections. I am the only candidate for RPT Chair who has pledged to disclose all contracts for conducting elections to ensure transparency, best practices, uniformity, adhearence to state law and party rules, and to ensure maximum cost effectiveness.   

As a Republican, if you had to give up one of the following core principles, which one would you select first and why? 
a. pro-life;
b. 10% reduction in state, fed, local spending;
c. 2nd amendment;
d. illegal immigration;
e. foreign bases; 
f.  10th amendment

Some things are non-negotiable and I view each of these core principles as sacrosanct and not subject to negotiation. Each is important in its own right. We should never compromise, barter, or take any action that would diminish our core values or our constitutional freedoms and inalienable rights. Freedom can never be diminished, the Constitution must always be protected, and the values of the grassroots of Texas never sold, traded, or bartered. 

Fundraising for the party is a big part of the RPT Chairs job. How does fundraising this year compare w/prior years? How is the fundraising going that will eventually be used to meet all expenses the RPT incurs, including the state convention? Please explain.

Currently, the Republican Party of Texas spends approximately $250,000 per year on office rent. Instead of renting, we should own our own building which would include commercial space that could be leased out to generate revenue. The Republican Parties of many states own their own headquarters buildings and Texas must do the same if we wish to innovate and plan for our party's long-time viability and to fully fund the activities of the grassroots. I am only the candidate for RPT Chair who has laid out a concrete plan to fund the Republican Party of Texas and its grassroots across our state. Big donors are not the solution. The grassroots are the solution. When our party can demonstrate that we can be successful in fighting for and implementing our legislative priorities, securing our elections, and upholding our platform, donors will be incentivised to actively support our party and its activities, including our state convention. We should never be forced to rely solely upon a small handful of wealthy individuals who can withdraw their support at any time. Instead, we must expand our fundraising base and create long-term investors, not donors.

Is there anything in your background of an embarrassing nature that should be explained before your election? Arrests/Convictions? Bankruptcies?

No. My wife and I are happily married and we have five incredible children. There is nothing in my background of which I am ashamed and I am fully confident that I can and will serve our party with honor, ethics, and integrity. 

Who are the top 2 donors to your campaign?

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller

Michael Berlanga

What is your current family & employment situation that enables you to take on the responsibilities of the State Chairmanship?

After spending nearly twenty years in the telecommunications industry, I took an early retirement. I am currently self-employed in the real estate profession and the oil & gas and water development industries. My wife of twenty-five years, Geneva, who was my high school sweetheart, is a CPA . We have five children ages 12 to 20 who are self-reliant. My wife and children have been fully supportive of my political activities over the last twenty years which have included service as an elected member of the State Republican Executive Committee and seven years as a gubernatorial appointee serving as a Texas Real Estate Commissioner. My entire family, including my mother and sister, are actively participating in my campaign and are enthusiastic about me serving our party and state as Chair of the Republican Party of Texas.

Amnesty comes in many forms.  What's your view as it pertains to Texas?

Without the rule of law, we have anarchy. I do not support amnesty in any form. We dishonor those who followed the rules when we allow others to break them with no consequences for their actions. No one in the race for RPT Chair has fought longer, more aggressively, or more effectively to secure our border, defend our sovereignty, and uphold our laws. 

In your opinion, who runs the County Executive Committees(CEC) - the elected County Chair or the elected Precinct Chairs?

Under the Texas Election Code and our party's rules both the elected County Chair and the elected Precinct Chairs serve important and unique roles and provide a check and balance upon each other. Both should work in tandem to elect Republicans, promote our platform, and engage and support the grassroots. 

What's your opinion of RPT Platform Plank 248, regarding the CEC electing their chairman, like the Congress and State Legislature elects their speakers, rather than in the primary?

As RPT Chair, I will fully support and enforce our party's platform including RPT Platform Plank 248. I will always seek ways to encourage increased participation in the organizational and leadership structure of our party by the grassroots and seek to empower our precinct chairmen. 

What would you be willing to do to rein in rogue county chairs?

I have been called to deal with these types of situations in the past as a member of the SREC. Under Texas law and our party's rules, an elected County Chair can only be removed by death, election, resignation, or for failure to perform their statutory duties. Our party's County Executive Committtees are empowered to draft and approve bylaws which can be used to limit the damage which can be caused by a rogue county chair between elections. As State Chair, my role will be to enforce adhearence to state law and our party's rules and to provide support, guidance, and counsel to members of the CEC should this type of situation occur during my tenure. 

Given the division within county partys, what combination of quorums, elected status, seniority etc would you support to prevent such division in the future?

I have been involved with the grassroots of our party for more than two decades working to unite those with differing views and opinions and helping them come together in support of our party's platform, our candidates, and our mission. I will bring that experience to bear in forging consensus, minimizing conflict, and keeping the focus upon empowering the grassroots, electing true conservatives to public office, and successfully enacting our legislative priorities. 

Related to the previous question regarding fairness … and the issue of a conservative county chairman (and assuming that there was a pattern of unfairness), would you openly support replacement of the conservative chair over this matter? Even when you would be on the minority side?

I have always supported more conservative leadership which reflects the values and tenants of the Holy Bible, our Federal and State Constitutions, and our laws. I will always strive to do the right thing, regardless if doing so places me in the minority.