Charley’s Runoff Election Report and Legislative Session BLOG

As the eyes of the nation were drawn to the fierce battle at the top of the ballot in Texas it was our job to stay focused, remain disciplined in our message and fight to protect your interests.

The bloodletting in the U.S. Senate race runoff had a massive impact on the outcome of the state legislative races. However, despite the obvious repudiation of the Republican leadership and the victory of the Tea Party in Texas, CLEAT managed to help win some races for the statehouse where your issues will actually be decided.

There were some stunning victories in both party primaries across the state and surprisingly enough, CLEAT-backed candidates won. Those who won during this election cycle are listed at the bottom of this BLOG.

Two things to remember:

1. Our founding principles of protecting the interests of Texas peace officers and their families never change. As all of you recognize there are always enemies of the police, of your rights, of your values and particularly enemies of your hard earned benefits. We can never compromise on those fundamental elements just as we could not agree to end our first amendment rights or ever agree to give away our right to bear arms. Even in the murky world of politics some things remain true and material and worth defending.

2. CLEAT owes a great political debt to many of our political leaders for listening to our issues, helping us shepherd those issues through long, dangerous open stretches of political ground where we were very vulnerable to attacks from both the far left and far right. Many of our hard-fought political victories would not have been possible had it not been for Lt. Governor Dewhurst, Governor Perry, House Speaker Joe Straus and many others who stretched politically to reach out and help Texas’ finest. In turn, CLEAT needed to stand with them when their name was on the ballot and they needed our help and assistance. It’s true, the eyes of America were on Texas. However, we were more pleased that the eyes of the real Texas Republicans saw us stand and fight for those who had fought with us, for you.

Your political obligations were met cheerfully and paid with interest. Every time our number was called, CLEAT suited up and responded without reluctance or fear. We pay our political debts in full as we should. Now as we head into the Fall our Board of Directors are ready to face new decisions from a new and fresh perspective.

Unashamedly, we backed some conservative friends who were punished by outsiders for not being conservative enough. Internal purges by political parties, whether in China or Texas, are cyclical and political non-events for organizations that are built around permanent issues and concerns. As long as there are criminals breaking the law and law enforcement officers enforcing it—our political issues will remain.

There will be more than 45 office holders in new positions in state government. That’s scary in that we won’t know how many crazy, sleeper cell, police haters there are until they begin filing bills and voting. Rest assured, I will know all that is humanly possible to know before Labor Day.

Our biennial legislative workshop will be held a month earlier this year, on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 –a week after election day. Watch the website for updates on locations etc. This biennial tradition is normally held in December of even numbered years prior to the start of the Legislative session in January. This year, due to what all is at stake and the continuing shift in the political landscape, we will push to get this meeting done earlier. The Legislative workshop is free and open only to CLEAT members. Union presidents, legislative board members, and PAC Chairs should make plans to attend. You can add your name to the list of tentative attendees by sending your info to Melinda.Griffith@cleat.org.

Going into the Fall, keep your ears open to your local PACs as they wrestle with the local races, please keep your eyes glued to our endorsements and please contribute to CLEAT PAC today. Law enforcement officers, their friends and families will do good to remain vigilant and plan to participate in the General Election this year. Those who want to destroy your rights and retirement are ready, well-funded and counting on you to capitulate, appease and adapt to their views.

Instead, we intend to fight for you and what you’ve rightfully earned.

CLEAT Endorsed Winners 2012
Texas Senate
Kevin Eltife, SD 1, Tyler, R
Charles Schwertner, SD 5, Georgetown, R
Kelly Hancock, SD 9, North Richland Hills, R
Larry Taylor, SD 11, Friendswood, R
Joan Huffman, SD 17, Southside Place, R
Glenn Hegar, SD 18, Katy, R
Leticia Van de Putte, SD 26, San Antonio, D
Craig Estes, SD 30, Wichita Falls, R
Texas House of Representatives
Lance Gooden, HD 4, Terrell, R
Chris Paddie, HD 9, Marshall, R
Jim Pitts, HD 10, Waxahachie, R
John Otto, HD 18, Dayton, R
Allen Ritter, HD 21, Nederland, R
Greg Bonnen, HD 24, Friendswood, R
Dennis Bonnen, HD 25, Angleton, R
Ryan Guillen, HD 31, Rio Grande City, D
Todd Hunter, HD 32, Corpus Christi, R
Rene Oliviera, HD 37, Brownsville, D
Armando Martinez, HD 39, Weslaco, D
Terry Canales, HD 40, Rio Grande Valley, D
Richard Pena Raymond, HD 42, Laredo, D
Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles, HD 43, Alice, D
John Kuempel, HD 44, Seguin, R
Paul Workman, HD 47, Austin, R
Larry Gonzales, HD 52, Round Rock, R
Harvey Hilderbran, HD 53, Kerrville, R
Phil King, HD 61, Weatherford, R
Myra Crownover, HD 64, Denton, R
Doug Miller, HD 73, New Braunfels, R
Marisa Marquez, HD 77, El Paso, D
Tracy King, HD 80, Batesville, D
Tom Craddick, HD 82, Midland, R
Lon Burnam, HD 90, Fort Worth, D
Diane Patrick, HD 94, Arlington, R
Charlie Geren, HD 99, Fort Worth, R
Chris Turner, HD 101, Arlington, D
Jason Villalba, HD 114, Dallas, R
Carol Kent, HD 114, Dallas, D
Bennett Ratliff, HD 115, Coppell, R
Philip Cortez, HD 117, San Antonio, D
Speaker Joe Straus, HD 121, San Antonio, R
Justin Rodriguez, HD 125, San Antonio, D
Dan Huberty, HD 127, Houston, R
John Davis, HD 129, Houston, R
Alma Allen, HD 131, Houston, D
Bill Callegari, HD 132, Katy, R
Jim Murphy, HD 133, Houston, R
Tony Dale, HD 136, Cedar Park, R
Gene Wu, HD 137, Houston, D
Dwayne Bohac, HD 138, Houston, R
Senfronia Thompson, HD 141, Houston, D
Garnet Coleman, HD 147, Houston, D
Jessica Farrar, HD 148, Houston, D