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The county conventions last weekend did more than yield delegates to each party's state conventions later in the summer. While the Democrats sorted out support for their two presidential contenders, the Republicans worked on their party platform.

In Smith County, the GOP reviewed 14 pages of platform positions. Some positions were rejected, but some were adopted and will be sent on to the state platform committee.

A number of the positions discussed at the Smith County convention cover the usual bases: local control, limited government and educational choice.

But some are more surprising.

The party took a strong stand against the Trans-Texas Corridor, a pet project of the state party's leader, Gov. Rick Perry.

"We strongly oppose the entire concept," the platform reads simply.

Smith County Commissioner JoAnn Fleming chaired the platform committee for Senate District 3.

"This plank came from several precincts in SD 3 and expressed strong opposition to the Corridor on the basis of its threat to private property rights," Mrs. Fleming explains. "It is viewed by many as a government land grab. The corridor is also being opposed because of its perceived connection to the concept of 'borderless' nations."

Delegates also opposed the idea of the TTC being built and/or operated by foreign interests - specifically, Cintra, a Spanish firm that has signed an agreement with the state.

The party also called for "closed primaries," in which voters must be a member of the Republican party to participate in primaries.

"The purpose of a closed primary is to prevent undue influence and mischief from those outside the party," the position reads.

Currently, a voter can cast a ballot in either primary, and there's no such thing as "membership" in the Republican or Democratic parties in Texas.

This setup "allows interlopers to affect the business of any political party," according to the platform.

The Smith County GOP supports a state law that would require voters to declare a party affiliation (or to declare themselves independents) at the time they register to vote. Any change in their party status must be made no later than 30 days prior to a primary election.

That could have a significant effect on Smith County politics - where most county-wide races are decided in the Republican primary.

The Republicans also took on a local issue: raises the Smith County Commissioners Court gave itself last year. That action proved to be "inflammatory and divisive" with the citizens, the platform says.

The party takes a position in support of legislation that will be offered by state Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, to prohibit members of any commissioners court from receiving raises they vote for, until after their next election.

"This legislation is citizen-friendly and does not usurp local control, but rather gives power to the people," the platform contends.

Party members have sent their platform to state GOP officials; in the days leading up to the June convention in Houston, the state committee will cobble together a proposed state platform for delegates to vote on when they meet.

"It's truly a grassroots document," Mrs. Fleming says. "Any citizen can attend their precinct convention and offer their views and positions on relevant issues of the day, and see them progress through the system up to the state and national level."

Early Returns is the political observations column of staff writer Roy Maynard, who can be reached at 903-596-6291 or at roymaynardtmt@gmail.com.