Follow Her Lead: Local Unity Is Key

Hello activists,

My name is Corie Whalen, and I’m American Majority Texas’ newest Field Representative, based out of Houston. I’m glad to be on board, and have quickly delved into the exciting world of conservative Texas activism.

The Threat We Face

Harris County, the area of the state I’m focusing on primarily, is truly ground zero in the fight for liberty both state, and nationwide. The left knows that if it can “turn Texas”, their stranglehold on the nation will grow stronger. They also realize that if Texas, one of the states actively engaged in the fight against the federal leviathan, elects a far-left Governor this November, that Texas, an independent-minded state known for conducting itself with fiscal restraint, will be held fully hostage to the demands of an ever growing yet beyond broke federal government.

As a result, leftist organizations are targeting and pouring money into the most populous part of the state; Houston. That’s why it’s extremely important, in the months leading up to both this November’s election and various municipal ones, that conservative activists are as engaged, active and united as possible. The threat we face demands it.

This past Saturday, at an American Majority training after a Cypress Tea Party meeting, I had the pleasure of meeting a local activist, Precinct Chairman and candidate for Cy-Fair School Board, Ms. Kay Smith. A motivated woman concerned about the future of her grandkids and community, Ms. Smith stands out as an example of a woman who understands the importance of taking back our communities as a first step toward improving our nation overall.

I was impressed when Ms. Smith explained to me how it came to pass that she became a candidate for School Board; a non-partisan, but certainly ideologically charged race. She told me about how a group of like-minded citizens got together to discuss the issues facing the Cy-Fair school district, and explained how everyone present was angry over years of severe mismanagement that had adversely affected the community. Fed up with being hostage to a school board that didn’t have the best interests of the community in mind, the group decided that they’d pick three of the people among them to run for the positions up for a vote this cycle. Ultimately, the people present decided to ask Ms. Kay Smith, former Judge Bill Henderson, and Mr. Scott Adams to be the candidates.

This example of a group of average citizens concerned about the welfare of their community coming together and uniting behind three local candidates that they all agree with on the issues is a great prototype for activists around the nation to follow. Instead of potentially splitting the vote amongst various candidates and risking losses, like-minded activists united at the local level are poised to make a big change within their community.

Can They Do It?

I spoke with Ms. Smith after we met at the training, and we further discussed what motivated her to accept the challenge to run. She said, “What’s going on in Washington (DC) today is adversely affecting Texas schools. Federal bureaucrats are threatening to cut Texas education dollars they’ve forced us to become dependent on if we won’t switch over to a national curriculum”.

Certainly, conservative activists in Texas and nationwide have a reason to be concerned. The federal government often ties policy demands to aid; aid, of course, that they’ve already spent decades forcing upon states. Now, with Texas and other states dependent on this money ($97 million in Texas, as Ms. Smith recalls), the federal government uses aid as a threat. Conform or else. Educate your children by our standards, whether or not you agree with our agenda, or else.

Coercion, threats, and using the money of taxpayer’s against them; typical dirty politics from a federal government that loves to strong arm the states and the people into falling in line with its agenda (constitutional limits on federal action being of no concern, of course).

Can Ms. Smith, Judge Henderson, and Mr. Adams chip away at the federal leviathan through local level action? I certainly think so, and time will tell us for sure. Nevertheless, their example stands out as a tool for effective local grassroots conservative organizing. The more united we are, the greater an overall effect we’ll have. After all, it was “community organizing” that won the Presidency.