Travis GOP elects new chairman

The Travis County Republican Party Executive Committee met last night and re-elected previous Chairman James Dickey to complete the 2016-2018 term recently vacated by Robert Morrow.  Acting Chairman and Executive Vice Chairman David Duncan began the business meeting by announcing that he would not seek the position of Chairman.  Duncan, who previously announced his intentions to run, stated that he would instead focus on his family, work, and studies.   Besides Dickey, local Republican strategist Brendan Steinhauser and concerned voter Matt Lawrence were nominated for the position.  In accordance with the law nominations came from Executive Committee members, who are the precinct chairmen elected in the party primary or appointed by the Executive Committee when vacancies exist.  Steinhauser appealed for support based on his long track record of running campaigns and non-profits including work for Senator Cornyn, Freedom Works, and Representative McCall.  When asked, Steinhauser stated that he would not support the party’s presidential nominee.  Nominee Matt Lawrence emphasized his work as a Linux Systems Administrator to demonstrate his experience with process, procedures, and compliance issues as well as being part of the disassociated rank-and-file Republicans.  Dickey defended his last term and emphasized that the election was too close for someone to learn on the job.  Dickey unequivocally said he would support the party’s nominees at all levels, and corrected those who had labeled him part of the Never Trump movement due to his support for rules changes during the Texas GOP State Convention.  Additionally Dickey delivered checks totaling $20,000 to show that he could raise funds quickly.  Dickey won about 70% of the votes with Steinhauser receiving most of the remaining votes.