For 23 years, JoAnn Fleming has been a tireless leader in the Texas grassroots movement. Born in Killeen, the native Texan said her values were instilled at a young age: “my parents raised me so you don’t have to ask permission to do the right thing and to stand for the right thing.”
Whether it’s fighting local government, or being a powerful voice on statewide issues, Fleming has been an invaluable contributor to the constitutional conservative movement.
“JoAnn is one of Texas’ most experienced activists and has a long record of leading the fight for conservative principles,” said U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz when announcing Fleming’s appointment as his Texas Tea Party Chairwoman for his presidential campaign.
Fleming is the Executive Director and Spokeswoman of Grassroots America – We the People, the largest and most influential constitutional conservative organization in East Texas.
In her role leading GAWTP, she works with both grassroots leaders and elected officials to “pass constitutionally conservative bills and to kill ‘big government’ legislation.” She has also been involved in many local fights, like pushing back against the inappropriate behavior and open records violations of Smith County Judge, Joel Baker, which resulted in his indictment.
Fleming is the three-term chair on the Texas Legislature’s TEA Party Caucus Advisory Committee, and was appointed to chair Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s grassroots advisory committee for the 84th Legislative Session. Needless to say, she has a very active role in the grassroots movement.
Her involvement also includes being a founding partner of the Clean Up Austin Coalition, a group dedicated to, “[eliminating] special favors in the tax code, in government spending, and in the hallways of power.”
East Texas Matters said of Fleming, “From racing home to catch the Macneil and Lehrer Report, to leading the Texas Tea Party Caucus, JoAnn Fleming was drawn to the political sphere from the get-go.”
JoAnn is a self-retired Smith County Commissioner and has been married for 36 years. When she has the time, which is rare, Fleming enjoys fishing.
