Posted 1:57 am Sunday, February 05, 2012
Political Happenings, Feb. 5
Grassroots America - We the People
Grassroots America - We the People will sponsor a Tyler ISD Long-Range Plan presentation from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Lakeview Church of the Nazarene, 10818 Spur 248.
TISD Superintendent Randy Reid will make the presentation. Questions from the audience will be submitted on cards and presented through a moderator to maximize available time. The public is welcome to attend.
At 11:45 a.m. Friday, the group will host a state board of education candidate forum. Incumbent Thomas Ratliff and challenger Randy Stevenson are expected to attend.
At 11:30 a.m. Feb. 17, the group will host a forum featuring candidates for Smith County Sheriff. Bobby Garmon, Chris Green, Donn Rust and Larry Smith are expected to attend.
CHEROKEE COUNTY REPUBLICANS
The Cherokee County Republican Club will sponsor an East Texas candidate forum featuring candidates for the Texas House and Senate; district attorney; county attorney; tax assessor/collector; county commissioners precinct 1 and 3; Constables and county Republican chairman at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Jacksonville College's Buckner Chapel.
Candidates will answer questions posed by local conservative leaders and concerned residents. To submit questions, contact the GOP club president Danny Morris at 903-721-2467 or email at danny.morris@dcmcs.com.
AMBUCS
Matt Schaefer, who is running for the Texas House District 6 seat currently held by state Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, will be speaking at the noon Friday meeting of Tyler Area AMBUCS at Ryan's Steakhouse on Broadway Avenue.
Tyler Area AMBUCS promotes independence and mobility for people with disabilities. Guests are welcome.
Criminal Justice Student Association
The Tyler Junior College Criminal Justice Student Association will host a Smith County sheriff candidate debate at 7 p.m. Thursday inside the Apache Room of the Rogers Student Center.
Criminal justice students will prepare questions and assist in the debate moderated by criminal justice professor and department chairman Jason Waller.
Candidates Bobby Garmon, Chris Green, Donn Rust and Larry Smith have been invited to participate in the debate.
The public is invited to attend. Parking will be provided on Lot S-4, located at the corner of Lake Street and Baxter Avenue. Doors will open at 6 p.m.
Forum
The Smith County Republican Club will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday at Traditions Restaurant, 6205 S. Broadway Ave. in Tyler.
Candidates running in contested races for Smith County constables will participate in a forum.
The forum will include Precinct 2 Constable Andy Dunklin and challenger James Lee; Precinct 3 Constable Dustin Rust and challengers Jimmie Blackmon, Scott McCauley and Bob Overman; and Precinct 5 Constable Dennis Taylor and challenger Kenneth Bibby.
Hideaway Grassroots America
Hideaway Grassroots America will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Lodge to overview its coming Vacation Liberty School summer program.
Volunteer sign-up sheets will be circulated. Volunteers and people interested are invited to attend. For more information, go to www.ivorynotebook.com.
Presidents' Day Dinner
Smith County GOP will hold its 23rd annual Presidents' Day Dinner at 6 p.m. Feb. 25 at Hollytree Country Club with former Texas Railroad Commissioner and current candidate for U.S. Representative Michael Williams as keynote speaker.
There will be silent and live auctions. Tickets are $50 per person; table sponsor levels of silver $250 which includes four tickets; gold sponsor of $500 includes eight tickets and platinum sponsor of $1,000 for eight tickets - and table sponsors are invited to a private reception with Williams. For more information, call 903-504-5871.
Free Enterprise
State Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, was named a fighter for free enterprise by the Texas Association of Business.
"As a former business owner, I know how important pro-business policies are to creating jobs and economic growth in Texas," Nichols said. "State government should help everyday entrepreneurs, not get in their way."
Political Happenings are compiled by staff writer Adam Russell, who can be reached at 903-596-6303 or by email at arussell@tylerpaper.com.
