What 2 things about your opponent do the voters need to know?

I know nothing about my opponent.

This is a Republican primary race.  Do you promise, if elected, to abide by the RPT platform? And if not, please enumerate what problems you have.

Yes, I support the platform.

Define what the word "Conservative" means to you.

A “conservative” favors maintaining the institutions and traditions that have enabled the USA to flourish for more than two centuries. These institutions and traditions include the uniquely American form of representative democracy and principles of federalism codified in the U.S. Constitution, the inalienable rights outlined in the Declaration of Independence and specified in the Bill of Rights, and economic policies that promote decentralization, minimize taxation and regulation, and seek to promote growth that benefits individuals and the nation as a whole.

Are you willing to put in the time necessary to attend CEC meetings, additional committee meetings, training sessions, blockwalking, etc?

Yes

Do you think the 'Republican' brand should be used by PACs in their names that may deceive voters? Why or why not?"

I doubt that it is possible to prevent organizations from doing this.

What best describes your political ideology most(circle only one).   
1.        Republican                     
2.        Grassroots                     
3.        Conservative
4.        Tea Party

Grassroots  

How do you believe precinct chairs should be involved in elections? (election judge, clerk, none?)

The PC must serve as Election Judge on Election Day at the precinct polling place or recruit someone of equal competence and commitment to do so. The precinct chair should also be available to support Republican candidates in general elections.

Do you like the Steering Committee style of leadership currently in place or that of just a county chairman?

I strongly favor the Steering Committee model.

Do you beieve that the county chair/precinct chairs should actively participate in at least one committee?

Yes

Should the county GOP chair be involved with fundraising? Why or why not?

Absolutely. As head of the party, the chair has the ultimate financial responsibility for obtaining the funds needed for operational expenses and county-wide political campaigns. S/he must provide leadership in this area.

Should party primaries be "open" or "closed" & why?

Each approach has pitfalls. I think open primaries are the best way to attract new people to the party although they open the door to non-Republicans influencing primary outcomes.

Should the GOP County Chair be selected by the elected County Executive Committee, or in the Open primaries where Democrats can cross over for more moderate candidates?

Like the open/closed primary issue, both have downsides. I believe that the current practice of a chair elected by primary voters and a steering committee and other officials elected by the CEC is probably a good balance.

There's discussion about making major revisions to the RPT Platform. Please describe the nature of any major changes you support.

Due to Supreme Court decisions, recent legislation at the state and federal levels, and the changes that have been accomplished via presidential executive orders since the last revision, the platform needs to be updated. However, at this time, I am not prepared to comment on what those updates should be.

What's your position on Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan?

I believe that the members of a legislative body are in the best position to determine who should lead them. Some members of the House have expressed disappointment with Phelan, so they should identify a more acceptable candidate for speaker and work to get that candidate elected.

Would you support legislative action to establish a salary framework (possibly related to the Gov. salary) for all taxpayer funded employees with a stipulation that elected officials be required to get voter approval to exceed that framework for their own salaries?

No. This approach has far more costs than benefits. For example, our state universities need to be able to recruit the best and brightest faculty and the top researchers in STEM fields. They would not be able to do that if they were tied to a mandated salary framework. Plus, elected officials have lots of ways of using the state coffers to enhance their compensation even if their salaries are subject to voter approval. Full transparency in state employment and compensation for elected officials is a better policy than mandates.

Do you support or oppose social programs in our schools (like C-Scope, Common Core, CRT, International Baccalaureate, SEL, etc.)? Why or why not?

I support the availability of IB as a magnet program or school-within-a-school for families who want to choose that model for their children. Common Core has some useful ideas, but it should not be adopted by any school without extensive review and modifications that incorporate local priorities and values. I believe CSCOPE is now obsolete. I do not support SEL or CRT.

Is there anything in your background of an embarrassing nature that should be explained before your election? Arrests/Convictions? Bankruptcys?

No

Do you agree with precinct chairs involvement in republican primaries? Why or why not?

PCs have the same rights as any citizen to participate in primaries. However, it would be helpful to have a code of ethics for PCs to follow when they do so.

Should the county GOP chair be involved in any other political organizations, including PAC's, while serving a term as the chairman? Why or why not?

The chair has the same rights as any citizen to participate in political organizations provided such participation does not interfere with his/her first obligation, which is to promote and exemplify the principles of the Republican Party. For example, the organization called “No Labels” promotes non-partisanship. It would not be appropriate for the chair to participate in that organization.

At what point should the "right to life" or "personhood" be granted to new human beings (e.g., at conception, sign of heartbeat, 3 months of pregnancy, birth, 5 days old, etc)? What action, if any, will you take to reflect this in law?

Conception. I support current Texas abortion law. I am undecided on the various proposals for a post-Roe federal law that would set a limit on abortion for all states. I will continue to support crisis pregnancy centers and oppose organizations that seek to impose legal limits on their services and/or subject them to state/federal regulation. I also support tax benefits for families who adopt children.

What, if anything, should be done to protect our borders from illegal immigration?

Courts have determined that border enforcement is a federal, not a state, responsibility. The only option states have is to continue to press the case with the public that the federal government is failing miserably with respect to this function while taking whatever steps they can to protect their own institutions and citizens from the effects of a poorly managed immigration system.

What does being a conservative mean to you?

I associate conservatism with principles of procedural justice. That is, whatever is accomplished through the political process should be done in a way that is consistent with applicable laws, organizational rules that have been established through a democratic process, and, most importantly, with full transparency. When these principles are followed, people are more likely to accept outcomes that are at variance with their own goals than they are when political ends are achieved through processes that Americans view as illegitimate.

In addition, I associate conservatism with belief in the superiority of a low-tax, pro-growth economy and rejection of policies based on the idea that planned and/or command economies are better.

List 3 changes that should be made to how elections are conducted in Montgomery County.

1. County-wide, “vote anywhere in the county” voting on election day

2. Increase the number of early voting locations

3. Increase the number of consolidated precinct locations on election day

Do you support current RPT chair Matt Rinaldi in full and if not, what do you disagree with?

I support Rinaldi.