Yes, let it be known far and wide, Festivus has come early this year! And the “Airing of Grievances” has begun! However, please note, in a season such as this—with shovels flinging hyperbole and vitriol and big steaming clumps of campaign rhetoric—the one thing that cannot be denied . . . or decried . . . is you.
You rallied around the Williamson County Republican Party. You set new records in membership.
When we found the proverbial cupboards were bare, and the war chest dangerously depleted, You gave in record amounts. And even more importantly, your giving has never slowed.
Now, at the risk of sparking yet another round in an endless and frankly nauseating series of debates, we will reveal a little-known party secret: It is less about the fundraising skills of any Chairman, and more about your commitment and generosity.
You packed every venue. Yes, again, records were set. We constantly struggled to find a room big enough to hold you. We were always searching for a bigger boat, for a sound system with enough decibels to reach from stem to stern.
And speaking of speakers—sorry, I couldn’t resist—our keynote speakers were amazing, but far more importantly, they were equally amazed. By you. Whether it was Senator Ted Cruz or Congressman Tim Burchett, whether it was Judicial Watch or the Center for Renewing America, they were constantly informing us that you were far more educated, far more active, compared to audiences from other Counties and other States.
But hey, before this sounds like a total love fest—if we are being truthful, and we always are, you gave us a slew of challenges, too.
You wanted a new office. You wanted a new website. You wanted us to get more money into the hands of our candidates than had been accomplished historically. Okay . . . done, done, and done. You wanted live forums with the candidates, where you could hear them answer tough questions about who they were and how they would govern. You asked us to hold our own party accountable with Resolutions, which, instead of targeting any sitting Republicans, reminded them, and us, of our core principles and our Party’s Platform. Did and done.
And again, if we are telling truths, you wanted us to follow the Bylaws, to set a standard and level the playing field, knowing right well that those who had been given a previous advantage would kick and scream and cry foul. You wanted Democrats out of our primaries. You wanted a say in a District vote instead of the usual Tennessee Two-Step. All of these are “third rails” in the political realm, but if you wanted them touched? We touched.
And if you ever want to hear some profanity-laden voice messages or a veritable library of hate-mail . . . you know who to call.
Finally, we know you won’t be motivated by fear. You will vote according to your values. And you know with a former WCRP Chair running the Contest and Credentialing Committee—along side advocates of election integrity, along side a host of SEC observers, along side ample State Party oversight, along side a team of volunteers from both slates to watch both the voting process and the tally, along side technical experts from the Elections Office, and along side all of you—that any outrage is either paranoia or pure projection.
God bless you, Williamson County! Thank you for all your work, for all your giving, and for allowing, and electing, us . . . to serve as your stewards.
Sincerely,
Dr. Tracy Miller, Chairman of the WCRP
Hannah Tiblier, 1st Vice Chair
Elliott Franklin, 2nd Vice Chair
Brandon Bell, 3rd Vice Chair
Diane Chenard, Secretary
Christine Deekens, Assistant Secretary
Courtney Laginess, Treasurer
Tim Raynaud, Assistant Treasurer
