County Executive Committee moves forward despite resistance from Chairman

December 13, 2022 | Montgomery County, TX

The Montgomery County Republican Party County Executive Committee (CEC) came together for a Special Meeting on Dec. 6 to discuss and settle disputed issues. It was the first properly called meeting attended by Chairman Bryan Christ since July.

The CEC had adopted a resolution on Sept. 6 to compel Chairman Christ to fulfill his duties as County Chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Party. Along with the requirement to preside over properly called meetings, the resolution demanded that he file newly elected Precinct Chairs with the Secretary of State as required in Texas Election Code 171.024 (e) and 172.118.

Who presides over meetings?

According to Texas Election Code Sec. 171.021, a county executive committee is established for each political party holding a primary. The committee consists of a county chair, who is the presiding officer, and a precinct chair from each county election precinct.

When a county chairman refuses to preside over a properly called meeting, conducting the business of the party becomes infinitely more difficult. As a result, the Republican Party of Texas Rules and Robert's Rules of Order (RONR 62:10) allow a quorum of CEC members to elect a temporary chair to preside so that meetings may move forward.

CEC asks the SREC for guidance

The CEC reached out to the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) for guidance, and participated in mediation on Sept. 30, led by Republican Party of Texas Chairman Matt Rinaldi.

Unfortunately, mediation ended in a stalemate. Chairman Christ was unwilling to agree to the CEC's requests that he (1) chair CEC meetings according to the rules set by the Republican Party of Texas and the bylaws of the county party and (2) respect the majority vote of the CEC members.

Chairman Christ attends Dec. 6 meeting

Chairman Christ's attendance at the Dec. 6 meeting looked like a step in the right direction. Attendees were hopeful that reconciliation could be achieved through a properly conducted meeting, but the Chairman refused to recognize the duly elected Party Secretary so that roll call could be conducted.

After calling the Dec. 6 meeting to order, the Chairman recognized Precinct 10 Chair Mark Frank as the Party Secretary, instead of CEC-elected Secretary, Staci Earnest. A vote was held affirming Earnest as the official CEC Secretary.

The Chairman then declared the meeting at ease to the objections of more than five CEC members. When the Chairman refused to move the meeting forward, the CEC voted to remove him as chair of the Dec. 6 meeting, citing Robert's Rules of Order (RONR 62:10).

Ultimately, the meeting resulted in a resolution to censure the Chairman for failing to fulfill his duties as County Chairman and refusal to fulfill his statutory duties to report all duly elected Precinct Chairs to the Secretary of State.

CEC votes to disavow inaccurate statements made by the County Chairman

The body also voted to disavow Chairman Christ’s public statements disputing the legitimacy of the following Precinct Chairs:

Caleb Smith (Precinct 26), Bobbi Bodenhamer (Precinct 54), Jim Doyle (Precinct 56), Jennifer Bowling (Precinct 62), Gwen Withrow (Precinct 72), Steven Foster (Precinct 80), Mara Wasar (Precinct 92), Mary Lewis (Precinct 94), Sherry Tavel (Precinct 95), Stephanie Cox (Precinct 98), Stephanie Schwantes (Precinct 101), Thomas Bartley (Precinct 103), Diane Campbell (Precinct 104), Jackie Williams (Precinct 107), and Patrick Teich (Precinct 111).

Additionally, the body voted to disavow Chairman Christ’s public pronouncements claiming that the following Officers, Steering Committee Members, and Committee Chairs are not legitimate:

Jon Bouché (Vice Chairman), Staci Earnest (Secretary), Charles Shirley (Treasurer), Steering Committee Members George Hyde, Quentin Smith, Kenneth Earnest, Robert Walker, and DJ Fike, Vacancy Chair Allison Winter, and Victory Chair John Wertz.

The CEC further directed Chairman Christ to update all party resources with this information. Official party leadership as well as the official Precinct Chair roster may be found at mctxgop.org, which was voted at the Oct. 4 CEC meeting to be the official website of the Montgomery County Republican Party.

SREC passes resolution “encouraging amity”

CEC members next set their hopes for resolution on the Dec. 10 meeting of the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC). The SREC had received more than 100 pages of documentation along with a debrief of the mediation session from Chairman Rinaldi. The Montgomery County Republican Party asked the SREC to recommend that Chairman Christ submit all properly elected Precinct Chairs to the Secretary of State's office and follow all party rules, bylaws, and Texas Election Code.

The SREC debated the issue, but determined that it was best for the county to settle its differences in house. They passed a resolution "encouraging amity in the Montgomery County Republican Party" and requesting that “all county executive committees follow the Texas Election Code, Republican Party of Texas Rules, and the bylaws of each executive committee to govern its conduct."

The need to conduct party business

In support of Chairman Christ, Precinct 24 Chairman James Byers referred to the CEC in a Dec. 11 Facebook post, saying, “Our authority exists when we are in agreement with the County Chairman. Precinct Chairs cannot supplant the County Chair." He also stated that “Robert’s Rules cannot be used to remove him.”

The CEC maintains that Robert's Rules of Order and the Montgomery County Republican Party Bylaws provide them with the authority to conduct business if the County Chairman will not fulfill his duties:

“If the chair fails to act in accord with the assembly’s decision on an appeal (or on a point of order submitted to a vote of the assembly) or otherwise culpably fails to perform the duties of the chair properly in a meeting, the assembly may employ measures temporarily to replace the chair with another presiding officer expected to act in accordance with the will of the assembly.” Robert’s Rules of Order (RONR 62:10).

"In the event of the Chairman's absence or inability to serve, the Vice Chairman shall serve as acting Chairman until the Chairman resumes their duties or until a new Chairman is elected." MCRP Bylaws (Article IV, Section 5B)

Even with this authority provided by the rules and bylaws, the CEC contends that orderly meetings led by the Chairman would be more conducive to conducting the business of the party, rather than having to invoke rules to replace him when rules and bylaws are not followed.

They will continue to press for Chairman Christ to fulfill his duties according to the rules set out by the Republican Party of Texas, Texas Election Code, and the bylaws of the county party.

CEC continues to look forward

"We implore Chairman Christ to fulfill his duties, including the requirement to report all duly elected Precinct Chairs to the Secretary of State," said Vice Chairman Jon Bouché.

“In the meantime, we have filed complaints with the Secretary of State,” Bouché continued. “Our immediate focus remains on the upcoming Texas Legislative Session. We look forward to working with our elected officials to pass legislation supporting the Republican Party of Texas Legislative Priorities.”