In keeping with our effort to provide Texans with the information they need to be informed voters, Texas Scorecard distributed a questionnaire to those running for the lead the Republican Party of Texas as chairman: incumbent James Dickey and challenger Cindy Asche.
We also decided for the first time ever to make a number of the same questions available to those running for the State Republican Executive Committee as well. While we won’t be issuing an endorsement in any of these races, we hope that the responses to these questions will help you decide which man and which woman will best represent your interest on the SREC.
Here are the answers from the Senate District 19 candidates who responded without edits:
Marian Knowlton
Why should Republicans choose you for the SREC?
Marian Knowlton:
a) I represent the conservative grassroots values cherished by the Senate District residents;
b) I have worked very closely with the incumbent SREC representative, Terri DuBose, have a great working relationship with her and have a strong working knowledge of the Senate District. I have traveled the District fairly extensively and know most of the County Chairmen.
c) I have attended most of the SREC meetings in the past two years, have served as a proxy at one meeting and have a good understanding of the organization.
Texas Republicans control every statewide office and the Texas Legislature by impressive margins. What measures must pass this upcoming session for it to be declared a success?
Marian Knowlton: Texas Republicans should look at the Legislative priorities that will be passed at the upcoming State Convention and use those priorities as a guideline to consider legislation to be passed.
Current party rules allow for the SREC to censure a Republican officeholder that violates the party’s core principles. Do you think we should have this rule? Why or why not?
Marian Knowlton: Current party rules allow for the SREC to censure a Republican officeholder and yes, we should have this rule in place. The guidelines for this rule are specific and allow the grassroots voters the ability to hold their elected officials accountable.
Last year, efforts to censure House Speaker Joe Straus were successful, but efforts to censure State Rep. Byron Cook and other lawmakers were not. What are some examples of actions you believe violate the party’s core principles?
Marian Knowlton: Examples of actions that violate the party’s core principles are those that violate, at the minimum, the top ten party platform planks.
Should you be elected, what tangible metrics should Republicans use to determine if you have been successful?
Marian Knowlton: Should I be elected to the SREC, the tangible metrics Republicans should use to determine if I have been successful should be my voting record in the SREC and the growth of the Party in the Senate District.
