Harris County GOP adopts, then rejects, stumping fee plan
After a raucous debate Monday night, Republican precinct chairs overturned a controversial plan to charge candidates a fee if they wanted to speak at this month’s senatorial district convention.
Here’s how it would have worked: A statewide candidate who wants five minutes to speak to this month’s Harris County Senatorial District convention would have paid $5,000. Congressional or state Senate candidates were being told to fork over $1,250 for 30 seconds before each of the seven senatorial districts convening. Judicial candidates would get 30 seconds to speak to each Senate district for $500 if opposed, $250 if unopposed.
The fees were set last week by the advisory board of the Harris County Republican Party. The money was intended to pay for the senatorial district convention itself, scheduled for April 21 at Grace Community Church. ……
……. Hubbard, who notes that the conventions are a mandatory part of the delegate nomination process as contained in the Texas Election Code, urged Republicans to reconsider. He suggested asking delegates to make a small donation, soliciting pledges online and relying on individuals who already have agreed to underwrite any shortfall. The Harris County Democratic Party holds separate conventions in the individual Senate districts. Usually, these mini-conventions are paid for within the districts through donations, ad sales and fund-raising efforts, said Lane Lewis, chairman of the Harris County Democratic Party.
Harris County GOP adopts, then rejects, stumping fee plan – Houston Chronicle