Defining County Republican Leadership

A leader is never a leader because of their title; a leader is someone people choose to follow.

As I travel the state of Texas, I've been thinking about the role of Republican county chair because it's often the case the people talk to me about their county chair. Some want their chair to fundraise to help candidates. Some want their chair to lead on Republican issues.

I did some digging around. The Texas Republican County Chair Association seemed like a place to start, but it contains a lot of pointers to a guy named David Luther and his personal website. Nothing on the site says anything about being a county chair, but you can get a swell decorative pin if you join something called the 500 Club. Or you can read their extensive by-laws. Nothing about being a county chair... more like a vanity project.

The Secretary of State website has a bit to say. The county chair is mainly an administrative position, with these duties:

• Supervises conduct of primary (172.111)
• Approves primary contracts/joint primary agreements (31.092)
• Determines consolidation of precincts in primary election (42.009)
• Appoints poll watchers in elections with partisan candidates (33.003)
• Nominates to fill vacancies under certain circumstances (202.006)
• Adopts voting system in primary election (123.001)
• Conducts ballot drawing for primary election, if requested to by primary committee (172.082)
• Sets time and place for precinct conventions (174.022)
• Serves on County Election Commission (31.032)
• Serves on County Election Board (51.002)
• Provides list of judges for appointment by commissioners court (32.002)
• Provides list of potential election day clerks for general election for state and county officers (32.034)
• Provides list of early voting workers (85.009)
• Appoints judges for primary election (32.006)
• Appoints poll watchers for elections with party nominee on ballot (Not primary) (33.003)
• Filing authority for candidate applications (172.021)
• Serves as chair of primary committee, if established (172.081)
• Submit names of candidates in SOS candidate filing system (172.029)
• Conducts ballot drawing (172.082)
• Prepares ballots in primary election (52.002)
• Designates polling locations in primary (43.003)
• Procures and allocate supplies in primary, with approval of county exec. committee (51.003)
• Provides list of names for early voting workers in a primary election (85.009)
• Appoints signature verification committee in primary (87.027)
• Certifies names for general election ballot (172.117)

Of course, the chair should hold and run regular CEC meetings, so some familiarity with parliamentary procedure is important. The chair is often the public face of the party to whom the media and local leaders will reach out. The chair is unpaid - it's a volunteer position.

The chair needs to raise enough money to keep the headquarters open and supplied with what's necessary to work elections. Some fundraising capability is critical. In my opinion, this should be enough to stay in the black but most donations should be encouraged to go straight to candidates, who need it to win elections.

What is a leader? Lao Tzu said, "The good leader is he who the people revere. The great leader is he who the people say, 'We did it ourselves.'" A leader enables people to achieve their goals. It seems right that a Republican leader should enable Republicans to achieve Republican goals.

Whatever duties there are and whatever meetings are held, a Republican chair must help the people achieve Republican goals, and those goals are defined by the majority of Republicans, not just by those in power.

One of my favorite quotes on motivational leadership is this: "If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea."

A leader is never a leader because of their title; a leader is someone people choose to follow. A great leader helps those who follow become capable of more than they would have otherwise.

If you watched President Trump's SOTU speech, he leads. He pushes Republicans to rise to the challenges of the day. He solves problems. He invites you to join him as he does.

What I know is that some of our county chairs have titles, and some are leaders who enable their people to achieve Republican victories.

7 Comments

Suzanne (Mar 5, 2025 9:00 AM):

Wow…you nailed it. Can’t wait to hear Bo French, Tarrant County GOP chair speak at our next Republican Club meeting in VZC to encourage our local GOP to be more effective helping achieve true conservative Republican victories in our area. We definitely need a stronger and active GOP in our area!

Randy Reeves (Mar 5, 2025 9:14 AM):

Ego has no place in good leadership. Desiring for a more lofty position, does not a leader make. The people you lead will be the ones who encourage you to seek greater levels of leadership according to results. If what you desire doesn't come, reexamine your motivation.

In business, many years ago, I was told, "Teach the people around you to accomplish great things. Create a desire in them to fill your position. In doing so, it opens the door for your advancement."

If a person looks in the mirror and says "look what I've done" in any group endeavors, he fools only himself. Its future failure looking back at you.

KLUJICS (Mar 5, 2025 10:29 AM):

As commented above, ego = how many times a "leader" refers to "I, me, mine" in information deliveries whether orated or written. Thanks for all you do and the wealth of researched info you share, Brett.

Dennis "Goose" Geesaman (Mar 5, 2025 10:34 AM):

Great summary. None of the administrative duties indicate advocating for one primary candidate over another. The voters can decide, unless there is an obvious flaw the CEC feels will hurt the party, then leadership kicks in.

Carol Milder (Mar 5, 2025 6:09 PM):

Thanks Brett! Great article!

Roy Getting (Mar 5, 2025 9:24 PM):

Dallas county is so lucky to have Allen West as our chairman. We have so many volunteers and workers. We will take Dallas back!!

Adam (Mar 6, 2025 9:27 AM):

Good word, Brett. The administrator part is EXACTLY spot on. I took some spiritual gifts surveys in my younger days and I always tended heavier toward the gift of administration. And I don't think enough people realize those surveys exist, so we just wonder through life without a clue of what we are naturally good at. I think these surveys apply to ANYONE, whether your spiritual in your beliefs or not. Perhaps some will search those surveys up and find new meaning in life?