My Fellow Texas Republicans,
We sent an update earlier this week regarding Coronavirus (CoVid-19) and its potential impact on our State Convention in Houston. Although that email was sent Tuesday, there have been significant developments since then.
Yesterday the City of Houston and Harris County issued respective emergency and disaster declarations due to the first case of “community spread” of Coronavirus in the region. As of last night, three cases of the virus had been confirmed in the City of Houston.
Important information about Coronavirus can be found here – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html. Please be educated on ways in which you can protect yourself and your family.
Our State Convention is being held in Houston from Thursday, May 14 – Saturday, May 16 with State Committee meetings beginning on Monday, May 11. We are in contact with our representatives at the George R. Brown Convention Center, where the Convention is to be hosted, who are keeping us informed on the developments in Houston.
With the Convention still two months away, we are proceeding as planned. Our intent currently remains to open hotel registration on April 1. Senate District Conventions and County Conventions across Texas remain scheduled for Saturday, March 21. This afternoon, RPT Organizational Director, Brandon Moore, distributed an email to County Chairs and State Republican Executive Committee Members regarding an update and preparations for those Conventions.
As a reminder, the purpose of our State Convention this year is to elect delegates to our National Convention, elect officers, and adopt our platform, priorities, and rules.
We are vigilantly monitoring this dynamic situation with Coronavirus which has already shown us how rapidly it can change.
While we are proceeding as planned, we are taking all necessary precautions in the event these circumstances may force changes upon our State Convention.
To that end, I have taken the following actions today:
- A working group has been established to preliminarily examine Republican Party of Texas rules and to make recommendations to the SREC Rules Committee as to possible rules changes that may need to be made should the outbreak affect our State Convention being held in May or being held in the manner to which we are accustomed. RPT Parliamentarian Chris Howe will chair that working group which includes the following members:
- RPT General Counsel Wade Emmert
- RPT Convention Temporary Rules Committee Chair Vergel Cruz
- RPT SREC Rules Committee Chair Jan Duncan
- Former RPT Parliamentarian Butch Davis
- Former RPT Parliamentarian Richard Hayes
- State Republican Executive Committee members have been asked to save the date for an SREC meeting on Saturday, April 4 in Austin to discuss any items related to party rules and our Convention that need to be considered in light of the Coronavirus. A call with actual rule proposals will be distributed shortly.
- Information about this update has been shared with the Republican National Committee.
We are in an unprecedented moment in the history of the Republican Party of Texas. I am grateful for your partnership as we prepare for our Convention in the safest manner possible to execute the obligations and business of our Party.
The Republican Party of Texas and I will provide updates as developments occur to keep you as informed as possible.
Thank you. May God bless you and may He continue to bless our great state of Texas.
Sincerely,
James Dickey
Chairman, Republican Party of Texas
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