IN PERSON MEETING

DT Pachyderm Club May 5th-
Featuring Tim Stroud, Candidate for US Congress CD 7
Tim Stroud is a runoff candidate for the 7th Congressional District. Help us
welcome him back and hear his plans to serve in Washington.
Please order lunch from the China Garden Restaurant menu to attend - [1602
Leeland, Houston, TX].
Please join us!
We now have over 900 “LIKE”s on our Facebook page! If you are on Facebook,
please look us up, like our page, and invite your friends to our meetings.
We are also accepting payments for 2022 dues. Annual dues are $40 for primary
membership, or $20 if you are the primary member of another Pachyderm Club.



DT Pachyderm presents the following Republican primary candidates: Ben Armenta
for Texas Land Commissioner, Johnny Teague and Rudy Atencio for US Congress CD
7.
Please join us to hear these candidates' plans to make America and Texas better,
and order lunch from the China Garden menu.
We are now over 900 “LIKE”s on our Facebook page. If you are on Facebook, please
look us up, like our page, and invite your friends to our meetings.
We are accepting payments for dues for 2022. Annual dues are $40, or $20 if you
are a primary member of another Pachyderm Club.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents Mark Ramsey, Brett Guillory and Dan
McKaughan, candidates for US Congress District 38
We will hear from three of the Republican Primary candidates in this newly
formed congressional district. Please bring your questions and hear their plans
for the office.
We also have added Hon. James White, who is running for Agriculture
Commissioner.
Please order lunch from the menu at China Garden to join us!
We are now over 900 “LIKE”s on our Facebook page. If you are on Facebook, please
look us up, like our page, and invite your friends to our meetings
\
DT Pachyderm Christmas Lunch and Board elections featuring speaker, Randy Kubosh!
Randy Kubosh has been involved in Republican politics for many years as a
precinct chair, a campaign volunteer, and a board member and president of our
club. Please welcome him back to DT Pachyderm to hear about his race for Harris
County Judge!
We will also welcome a member of the Huffines campaign to talk about the race
for governor. Please order lunch from the China Garden menu, 1602 Leeland,
Houston, TX, to attend.
As the year draws to a close, we will need to elect new members to our board.
Please let us know if you are interested in serving.
If you have ideas for speakers next year, please let us know.
DT Pachyderm's featured speaker this week is Kyle Scott, Republican candidate
for Harris County Treasurer. Kyle is looking to re-capture the County
Treasurer’s office from the liberal democrat who won in 2018. Please join us to
hear his plans for this office!
Please order lunch from the menu at China Garden to join us.
It's time to renew your memberships for 2022, so please see our Membership
Chair, Doug Smith, to pay your dues!
Also, as the year draws to a close, we will need to elect new members to our
board. Please let us know if you are interested in serving.
This will be our last regular Thursday lunch of 2021, and on December 2nd we
will have our Christmas lunch at China Garden with DT Pachyderm Past President,
Randy Kubosh, as our speaker.

Downtown Houston Pachyderms October 28 Troy Zapalac, candidate for 18th
Congressional District
Troy Zapalac is running for Congress in the 18th Congressional District. Come
hear his plans to represent this area.
We look forward to seeing you at China Garden, 1602 Leeland for lunch
One of our speakers last month, Alma Jackson, has made available her power point
presentation for us regarding the Juan Seguin Society. If you would like a copy
emailed to you, please let me know.

Downtown Houston Pachyderms October 21, Sid Miller serves as the Agriculture
Commissioner of the State of Texas. He is running for re-election.

Downtown Houston Pachyderms October 14, Jonathan Dunne regarding American Exceptionalism
Jonathan lives in Ireland, but has studied American Exceptionalism, and makes a
great presentation about it.
Help us welcome him and be inspired by his talk.

DT Pachyderm presents Greg DeGeyter, candidate for HISD Board Position 6. This
District is on the west side. Order lunch from the menu at China Garden to join
us and hear his plans for the office.

Join DT Pachyderm as we host Harriet Wasserstrum with Ranked Choice Voting –
Texas. Ms. Wasserstrum will discuss how this system would change our current
method of selecting candidates, and avoiding runoffs. Please order lunch from
the China Garden menu to join us!

Hon. Jack Morman, former Harris County Commissioner for Precinct 2, joins us to
discuss his campaign to win back the seat. Please join us at China Garden and
order lunch from their menu to attend. We look forward to hearing about the
former Commissioner's campaign!

Downtown Houston Pachyderms September 9 Kendall Baker Candidate for HISD Board
Position 6
Kendall Baker is a long time precinct chair, and a previous candidate for Mayor
of Houston.
The HISD board is comprised totally of Democrats. He is seeking to change that
dynamic.
Come hear his plans for the office.
We look forward to seeing you at China Garden, 1602 Leeland for lunch
If you have ideas for speakers this year, please let us know.
Please join us!

September 2, 2021
Downtown Houston Pachyderm's speaker this week will be Jerry Mouton, Candidate
for Harris County Commissioner Precinct Two [2]. Hon. Jerry Mouton, Jr. is the
mayor of Deer Park. Please join us to hear his plans, and order lunch from
the China Garden menu to attend.
August 26, 2021
DT Pachyderm's speaker this week is Robert Mackey, Regional Director, Texans for
Greg Abbott. Robert Mackey is the new regional director for Harris County for
Governor Abbott's campaign, so join us to get your questions answered about
Governor Abbott, his campaign, his plans for the state and his next term. Please
order lunch from the China Garden menu to join us!

August 12, 2021, Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents
Alma Jackson,
founder of the Juan Seguin Society
and Past Vice-Chair of the Republican Party of Texas. Join us to hear about her
new organization, and please purchase lunch from the China Garden menu to
attend. We look forward to seeing yall Thursday!

DT Pachyderm will host Susan Chadwick,
President and Executive Director of Save Buffalo Bayou, at our August 5th lunch meeting! Learn about their mission at
www.SaveBuffaloBayou.org, or on their FB page,
https://www.facebook.com/SaveBuffaloBayou.
Please order lunch off the menu to join us. We look forward to seeing yall then!

Downtown Houston Pachyderms July 29 Hon. John Manlove
John Manlove previously served as mayor of Pasadena. He recently announced that
he is running for County Commissioner of Precinct 2
Come hear his plans for the office.
We look forward to seeing him at China Garden, 1602 Leeland for lunch
Due to technical difficulties, we have not been able to get Zoom to work the
last few weeks. We will send out information if we can get it functional
If you have ideas for speakers this year, please let us know.
Please join us!

Please join DT Pachyderm for lunch and to hear from former Justice Terry Adams,
who is a candidate for Chief Justice of the First Court of Appeals! Please order
lunch from the China Garden menu to attend. We look forward to seeing you there!

Join us to hear from the Honorable Jacey Jetton, Texas State Representative
District 26. Representative Jetton will present a legislative update and discuss
what we can look forward to in the special session. Please purchase lunch from
the China Garden menu to attend. We look forward to seeing yall then!

Join us to hear from SuZanne Feather, the Executive Director of our
National
Pachyderms! Learn about our national organization, and plans for the future.
Please order lunch from the menu at China Garden to join us!

Join us to hear from Daphne Scarbrough, and learn from her extensive knowledge
about TIRZ! Please order lunch from China Gardens menu to attend. We look
forward to seeing yall Thursday!

DT Pachyderm, June 3, 2021, presents Randy Elms, Military Partnership Committee
of Harris County Republican Party. The Military Partnership Committee provides
opportunities to interact with military and veterans groups throughout the year.
Join us for lunch at China Garden, please order off the menu to attend, and hear
the Committee Co-Chair give an update on MPC's current activities.

DT Pachyderm May 27, presents Hon. Dave Wilson regarding his suit against
Houston Community College
Dave Wilson has long been active in community matters in the Houston area. A
long time critic of the operation of the Houston Community College System, he
shocked the world when he won a position on the board. He is now involved in
litigation against HCC, which is before the US Supreme Court. Join us at China
Garden and order lunch off the menu to get an update on the case!

Downtown Houston Pachyderms May 13 Eric Golub, conservative comedian
Eric Golub runs a website The Tygrrrr Express. He is a public speaker and the
author of the 5 books “Ideological Bigotry,” “Ideological Violence,”
“Ideological Idiocy,” “Ideological Lunacy,” and “Jewish Lunacy.” He also have 30
t-shirt lines.
He is Brooklyn born, Strong Island raised, and currently living the good life in
Los Angeles as a former stockbrokerage and oil professional. He is now a
full-time public speaker, the country’s preeminent politically conservative
comedian. He likes politics, the National Football League, 1980s hard rock
music, the stock market, and red meat. Blogging is a shameless ploy to get what
he really wants, which is to impregnate a hot Republican Jewish brunette. There
will be a ceremony several months beforehand since my parents are NRA members.
Society will benefit if his kids end up with her loveliness and his last name.
The only political issue more important than killing taxes is killing
terrorists. He does not sing Kumbaya with Islamofascists or leftists. Scorched
Earth is his approach, with the grace and subtlety of a battering ram. 9/11
fuels his emotions every day. Civilization must defeat barbarism, and his
generation is up the challenge. We will win the War on Terror, because we are
Americans.
For login credentials send request to
Tom Zakes or
Sophia Mafrige

Downtown Houston Pachyderms April 22 Kameron Searle for
our San Jacinto Day program
185 years ago this week, Texas gained her independence from Mexico by beating
Santa Anna with a much smaller army. With cries of “Remember the Alamo” and
“Remember Goliad” ringing through the sky, we secured our freedom.
Our speaker this week is no stranger to our club. A scholar of Texas history and
a practicing attorney, he will bring the memories alive for us in 2021.
We look forward to seeing him at China Garden, 1602 Leeland for lunch

Downtown Houston Pachyderms
March 11 Merrilee Rosene Beazley – China Garden and on Zoom
Ms. Beazley was
a nursing instructor for Harris Health for 8 years and taught topics to the
staff like Human Trafficking, Domestic Violence. and Elder Abuse. Ms. Beasley is
running for mayor of Jersey Villiage.

Downtown Houston Pachyderms
March 4 Hon. Michael Kubosh – China Garden and on Zoom
Michael Kubosh is the Councilman for At Large Position 3 for the City of
Houston.
A longtime member of our club, and a popular speaker, he will let us know what
is going on at City Hall.
Hope to see you there!

Downtown Houston Pachyderms February 25 features Dale
Gibble, President of Primary
Computer Service, Inc. speaking about the electric grid.
Since 1984, Dale Gibble has been the President of Primary Computer Service, Inc.
and has personally worked on more than 30,000 computers. Earning a Bachelor of
Electrical Engineering degree from LeTourneau
University, he went on to design computers for Texas Instruments, Inc. for
4.5 years before creating this company. As a result, Dale has gained a wealth of
invaluable experience in determining the best practices for clients.
His mission is to help companies operate and work more efficiently by not having
to focus on computer maintenance and upgrades and by protecting their system
from hackers. The goal of Primary Computer Service, Inc. is to seek out ways to
increase your return on investment in computer and networking equipment.
Mr. Gibble's associations inclulde:
- Past President - Memorial - Spring Branch Optimist Cl
- Past Lt. Governor - Memorial-Spring Branch Optimist Club
- Precinct chairman pct. 2050 Ft. Bend county, Texas
- Election Judge, Alt Election Judge, State Delegate - pct. 2050 Ft. Bend
county, Texas
- Past board member Communities in Schools
- Past board member North Harris College Electronics Technology, Advisory
Committee
- Member of Houston Masterworks Chorus 2007-2019
- Member of First Presbyterian Choir since 2010
Mr. Gibble has been published in:
- Machine Design
- Electronic Design

Downtown Houston Pachyderms February 11
Chase
Bradstreet, President of Houston Young Republicans

Downtown Houston Pachyderms January 28, 2021 featuring MARK HARRINGTON, J.D.,
LL.M., President – Harrington Law Firm
Chairman of State Bar of Texas Committee on Laws Relating to Immigration &
Nationality (2009-2011)
Member of the Houston Committee on Foreign Relations
Member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association
Attorney Harrington is authorized to practice Immigration Law throughout the
entire United States and has successfully represented hundreds of employers,
scientific researchers, and individuals before the USCIS. Mr. Harrington has
been a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) since 2001.
From June 2009 through June 2011 Mr. Harrington served as the Chairman of State
Bar of Texas Committee on Laws Relating to Immigration & Nationality
(2009-2011). Mr. Harrington is a member of the Houston Committee on Foreign
Relations.
Prior to practicing immigration law, Mr. Harrington worked on Capitol Hill in
Washington, DC. For three years, he served as a counsel to the House Committee
on Science, Research Subcommittee. Among other topics, he handled issues
relating to foreign-born researchers, including the need for additional H1B
Visas. Attorney Harrington also spent two years working for New Mexico U.S.
Senator Pete V. Domenici.
Mr. Harrington obtained his LL.M. degree from Georgetown University in
Washington, DC and his J.D. degree, with honors, from Suffolk University Law
School in Boston, Massachusetts. He received his bachelor’s degree from Boston
College.


Downtown Houston Pachyderms January 28, 2021 featuring former judges Michael Landrum and Erin Lunceford. Meeting in person at
China Garden and by zoom.

Downtown Houston Pachyderms January 14, 2021 MLK Association of Houston's
Christopher Harvey, and, Tom Butler with a report from the frontlines in DC.
It's sure to be an informative meeting as we celebrate MLK's legacy and hear
about recent events!

Downtown Houston
Pachyderms January 14, 2021 Hon. Cindy Siegel New Year, New Chair, New Location!
Hon. Cindy Siegel was elected by the Executive Committee of the Harris County
Republican Party to replace Keith Nielsen after his resignation as County Chair.
Join us via Zoom or in person at China Garden, 1602 Leeland at noon on Thursday,
January 14. Order your lunch from the menu, and join us in a special screened
off area.

Downtown Houston Pachyderms November 12 Zoom meeting is with Jessica Colon who
has been involved with Republican Politics in Harris County for decades, as a
volunteer when she was active in the Young Republicans, to her work today as one
of the premiere political consultants in the area.
Join us to hear her insight into what worked and what didn’t both locally and
nationally, and where we need to go from here.

Downtown Houston Pachyderms October 29 Zoom with Andre Hines, candidate for
Precinct 3 Constable.
Andre Hines is the Republican
nominee for Constable in Precinct 3, which is in Northeast Harris County.
Tune in to learn more about his race and what you can do to help his campaign.
Much of Texas is re-opening, under new health and safety guidelines.
Unfortunately, the owners of the Pearl at the Sam Houston Hotel are still
working out the logistics of re-opening their restaurant. They are unsure when
they will re-open. With the November election nearing, we need to help publicize
the candidates in our local races.


Please join us for Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club’s
October 22nd meeting – ZOOM with Tony Salas and a Campaign Representative for
Congressman Michael McCaul!
Tony Salas is running for Texas House District 144.
Hon. Mike McCaul represents the 10th Congressional District, which stretches
from Harris County to Travis County. We will hear how we can help his campaign.
DT Pachyderm is excited to resume our Thursday meetings via ZOOM!! Please email
Club President, Tom Zakes at tomzakes@peoplepc.com, or Board Member, Sophia
Mafrige at sophlaw@aol.com, for the private Zoom information for our meeting.
Tune in to learn more about each of these candidates and what you can do to help
their campaigns. It’s time to unite and get ready to work hard for November!
Every Friday at Noon, the National Pachyderms are sponsoring speakers via Zoom.
Please email Tom Zakes or SuZanne Feather if you want meeting details and the
password to watch these.



Downtown Houston Pachyderms October 15 Zoom with Hon. Dennis Paul, Hon. Clyde
Leuchtag, Hon. Jesse Foster McClure, campaign representative from Congressman
Mike McCaul’s staff
Hon. Dennis Paul represents District 129 in Southeast Harris County
Hon. Clyde Leuchtag is the former Judge of County Civil Court 1. He is running
for County Civil Court at Law 4
Hon. Hesse Foster McClure is the senior Republican District Judge in Harris
County. He is running to keep his seat on the 339th District Court bench
Hon. Mike McCaul represents the 10th Congressional District, which stretches
from Harris County to Travis County. We will hear how we can help his campaign.



Please join us for Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club’s October 8th meeting with
Andre Hines, Hon. Linda Garcia, and Tony Salas!
Andre Hines is running for
Harris County Constable in Precinct 3 in Northeast Harris County
Hon. Linda Garcia
previously served as Judge of Harris County Criminal Court at Law 16. She is
running for Judge of Harris County Criminal Court # 12
Tony Salas is running for State
Representative in District 144 in East Harris County.
DT Pachyderm is excited to resume our Thursday meetings via ZOOM!!
Tune in to learn more about each of these candidates and what you can do to help
their campaigns. It’s time to unite and get ready to work hard for November!
Every Friday at Noon, the National Pachyderms are sponsoring speakers via Zoom.
Please email Tom Zakes or SuZanne Feather if you want meeting details and the
password to watch these.
Don't forget to "like" us on Facebook. We've hit a record of over 900
'likes'! Thank you for helping us achieve our goal!



Downtown Houston Pachyderms October 1 Zoom with Hon. Tracy Christopher, Jerry
Dugat, Jason Rowe
Tracy Christopher was appointed to the 14th Court of Appeals in December
2009. Prior to her appointment, Justice Christopher was the judge of the 295th
District Court for 15 years, and was highly rated as a trial judge. She was
honored as Appellate Judge of the Year by the Texas Association of Civil Trial
and Appellate Specialists in 2013. She also received the 2013 Texas Bar
Foundation Outstanding Jurist Award for her work as a trial and appellate judge.
She had previously been named Trial Judge of the Year by the Texas Association
of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists.
Prior to becoming a judge, she practiced law for 13 years with the law firms of
Susman Godfrey (1986-1994) and Vinson & Elkins (1981-1986). She is board
certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Civil Trial Law and
Personal Injury Trial Law. Justice Christopher attended the University of Texas
School of Law, graduating with honors in 1981, and the University of Notre Dame,
graduating with honors in 1978.
Jerry Dugat is candidate for Justice of
the Peace, Precinct 1, Place 1. Jerry was born in the Rio Grande Valley
and raised in the Brazosport Area, but has called Houston home for most of his
life. He attended U of H, managed multimillion-dollar retail stores and
continues to lead in the Houston Retail Industry. Jerry believes that everyone
should be treated as an equal and citizens should never have to fear not being
treated fairly.
Jerry, along with his wife Melanie, have raised five children, are Grandparents
to thirteen grandchildren and four Great-grandchildren. Over the years, he has
done volunteer work with the schools, served as a leader to the Boy Scouts,
taught Sunday School and was President of his HOA for several yea
As Justice of the Peace, he would bring compassion, understanding and equality
to the system.
Jason Rowe is
candidate for Texas House district 142.



Downtown Houston Pachyderms September 17 Zoom with Hon. Briscoe Cain, Hon. Kevin
Yeary, and a staff member from Wesley Hunt Campaign
Hon. Briscoe Cain was elected to the Texas legislature in 2016. This year he
faces his first opponent in the general election.
Hon. Kevin Yeary serves on the Court of Criminal Appeals, the highest criminal
court in the state.
Wesley Hunt is the Republican nominee for the 7th Congressional District, which
was lost in the 2018 democrat sweep. This seat was previously held by George
Bush, Bill Archer and John Culberson.



Downtown Houston Pachyderms --August 27-- Zoom with Hon. Terry Adams, Hon. Alyssa Lemkuil, John Nation
Hon. Terry Adams was recently appointed as Justice on the First Court of Appeals. He will be speaking to us about his race to keep his bench.
Hon. Alyssa Lemkuil previously served as the Judge of the 507th Family District Court. She was defeated in a democrat sweep. She is seeking to regain her bench.
John Nation is seeking election as Harris County Attorney.
Tune in to learn more about each of these candidates and what you can do to help their campaigns.
Downtown Houston
Pachyderm Club – August 20th – ZOOM with Johnny Teague and Fred Shuchart
Please join DT Pachyderm as we resume our Thursday meetings via ZOOM!! Please
email Club President, Tom Zakes at
tomzakes@peoplepc.com, or Board Member, Sophia Mafrige at
sophlaw@aol.com, for the private Zoom
information for our meeting.
This week we will hear from Johnny Teague and Fred Shuchart about their races.
Johnny Teague is running US Congress in the 9th District.
Fred Shuchart is running for Judge of the 215th Judicial District Court.
Tune in to learn more about each of these candidates and what you can do to help
their campaigns. It’s time to unite and get ready to work hard for November!
Every Friday at Noon, the National Pachyderms are sponsoring speakers via Zoom.
Please email Tom Zakes or SuZanne
Feather if you want meeting details and the password to watch these.
Don't forget to "like" us on Facebook. We've hit a record of over 900 'likes'!
Thank you for helping us achieve our goal!
Downtown Houston
Pachyderm August 13 Zoom meeting with Will Hickman, Dr. Milinda Morris and
Jaimy Blanco
Will Hickman is running for the State Board of Education to replace Donna
Bahorich, who is retiring from the board.
Dr. Milinda Morris is running for Texas Senate District 13.
Jaimy Blanco is running for US Congress in the 29th District.
Tune in to learn more about each of these candidates and what you can do to help
their campaigns.
Much of Texas is re-opening, under new health and safety guidelines.
Unfortunately, the owners of the Pearl at the Sam Houston Hotel are still
working out the logistics of re-opening their restaurant. They are unsure when
they will re-open. With the November election nearing, we need to help publicize
the candidates in our local races. With that in mind, we will start having
meetings via Zoom on Thursday, August 13.
To further complicate matters, because of the activities of some cyber-bullies,
we are hesitant to widely publicize the access passwords for these meetings.
Please email Tom Zakes or
Sophia Mafrige to get the necessary
information.
Every Friday at Noon, the National Pachyderms are sponsoring speakers via Zoom.
Please email me or SuZanne Feather if you want meeting details and the password
to watch these.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – March 12th – David Jennings of Big Jolly
Politics with a 2020 Republican Primary Wrap-Up
Now that the 2020 Republican Primary is behind us, we need to unite and get
ready to work hard for November! David Jennings of Big Jolly Politics will
review the primary results and upcoming runoffs.
Also, we will be having a Board Meeting after lunch, so DT Pachyderm board
members, please plan to attend!

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – March 5th – Keith Nielsen, Chairman-Elect of
the Harris County Republican Party
Now that the 2020 Republican Primary is behind us, we need to unite and get
ready to work hard for November! We have a new Chairman elected for the Harris
County Republican Party, Keith Nielsen. Please join us to hear from Keith as he
shares his vision for HCRP’s future.

Zoltan Istvan
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – February 27th – Go Texan Day, Makeup day
for candidates who missed their featured date, and, Zoltan Istvan, candidate for
President
Election day is next week! Join us for our final meeting before election day, as
early voting winds down. We will be celebrating Go Texan Day with Donna Fain, a
member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s Speakers Committee. We will
also hear from Republican Primary candidates who missed the assigned date for
their race, and, Presidential Candidate, Zoltan Istvan.
About Zoltan from his website:
Hello, I’m Zoltan Istvan, and I’m running as a Republican to become the next
President of the United States of America. You might know me as a Silicon Valley
futurist, a transhumanist advocate, or the Science Candidate. I’ve written books
on science and technology, hundreds of articles you’d find in outlets such as
The New York Times, Vice, and Business Insider, and I’ve campaigned to end the
idea of death. From Presidents to CEOs to celebrities, I’ve met with them all,
and advised on why I think science and technology can solve most of the world’s
problems. I believe the Scientific Method is a better way to solve political
issues than historical precedents, religion, ethnicity, party politics,
constitutional analysis, or any other mode of decision-making. I believe deeply
in reason and objectivity, and I think America and the Republican Party would be
made stronger and smarter by embracing these core values. As a public figure in
the science and technology world, I’m aiming to be your next President of the
United States. I want to bring the future to you.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – February 20th – Republican Primary Candidates
Early voting has started! We will be featuring Republican candidates in
contested primaries every Thursday until the March 3rd Republican primary.
Election Day will be here before you know it! If you are a candidate and have
not confirmed a date with Club President Tom Zakes, please contact him to make
arrangements to address our club. We look forward to hearing from all of our
Republican primary candidates!
On February 20th, Downtown Houston Pachyderm hosts:
Candidates for US Congress District 7: Jim Noteware and Laique Rehman;
Candidates for US Congress District 29: Jaimy Blanco;
Candidates for Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner: Hon. Susan Sample;
Candidates for HCDE: Fred Flickinger
About Jim Noteware:
Jim Noteware is the only candidate for Texas Congressional District 7 who has an
extensive business and public service leadership with a proven track record.
Noteware has over 40 years of experience on a national level that includes
development of major commercial real estate projects, serving as Nation Director
of Real Estate Advisory Services for two national CPA firms, the management of
large corporate organizations, the restructuring of a large Washington D.C.
public agency, and the turnaround of Houston’s Public Housing and Community
Development Department. In addition he has served as Co-Chair of Houston's
international Trade Center (ITC) since inception, focusing on international
trade, foreign investment and legal immigration.
Noteware was born in Northern California in 1952 and grew up on a family farm in
the Sacramento River Delta. He attended local public schools in the area along
with classmates from all walks of life, including children of migrant farm
workers and rural farming families. He graduated from Stanford University in
1974 with a degree in Civil Engineering, and earned his MBA from the Wharton
School in 1976.
Noteware joined Booz, Allen & Hamilton and served as a senior associate until
1979 when he founded the National Real Estate Advisory practice for Laventhol &
Horwath, hiring and managing 250 professionals in 15 offices across the U.S. and
was appointed Director of the firm's word wide Real Estate practice. After
several business mergers he was appointed National Director of Real Estate
Advisory Services for Price Waterhouse in New York.
Noteware was named Chairman and CEO of Houston based Maxxam Property Company (MPC)
where he led the development and operations of the fully integrated commercial
real estate subsidiary of Maxxam, a fortune 500 company. MPC’s development and
operations included office buildings, hotels, multifamily properties and resort
communities in Texas, Arizona, California and Puerto Rico.
About Laique Rehman: Laique is a small businessman who is running for the
nomination for the 7th Congressional District.
About Jaimy Blanco: Jaimy was born and raised in U.S. House District 29, for
which she is running. She is a member of The Church Triumphant in Pasadena,
Texas where she has served as a Bible quiz coach. Her aspirations was to become
a missionary throughout the world. Therefore, she enrolled at the University of
Houston Clear Lake, pursuing a Bachelor’s in Education. She obtained a
Bachelor's in Biblical Studies from Purpose Institute. While she attended
college, she worked as an apartment leasing agent, eventually obtaining her
Realtor's license. She started investing in real estate to finance her full-time
ministry. She has invested in multi-family properties to make an impact on the
community.
Her success in real estate investments allows her to travel internationally to
minister at orphanages and churches as well as other charitable works. She has
always had a passion for politics and has volunteered for numerous campaigns.
As a passionate resident of District 29, she is out to become a public servant
to improve and make a difference in her community. She aligns with the
Republican Party because of the biblical principles that make up the core of her
platform. District 29, is seventy seven percent Hispanic and her mission is to
be a voice for the people and represent their interests in Washington. She aims
to be an example to her community and inspire them to find their purpose and
dreams. She has worked helping the community with English classes, fighting high
property taxes through the non-profit organization "Leaderes de la Comunidad",
in which Jaimy serves as a donor and director. Additionally, she teaches real
estate investment, and credit repair. She has worked tirelessly to empower and
prepare the next generation.
Her mother of Jewish descent and a native of Nuevo Leon, Mexico, came to the
United States pursuing her dream of becoming an American citizen. Growing up,
Jaimy, was influenced by her mother who raised four children as a single parent
on wages of a barber. Her father was born in Weslaco, Texas and he worked as a
machinist being a card carrying member of the Steel Union.
About Susan Sample: Susan Sample was first elected to the City Council of West
University Place in 2011. Susan served in that capacity, as well as Mayor Pro
Tem until she was elected Mayor in 2015 and 2017. She earned the most votes in
the City’s history for her second term as Mayor (receiving 84% of the votes),
which ended May 2019. While she was serving as Mayor, West University Place was
named the Best Place to Live in the United States by USA Today.
Susan is a product of Houston Independent School District, having attended both
River Oaks and Briargrove Elementary, T.H. Rogers Junior High School, and Robert
E. Lee High School. She then attended Rice University receiving a Bachelors of
Arts in Managerial Studies, followed by a Master’s in Public Accounting from the
University of Texas McCombs School of Business. After working in public
accounting, she earned her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law.
While working at the Internal Revenue Service Office of Chief Counsel, she
completed an LLM in taxation from the University of Houston Law Center.
Starting as a teenager supporting her mother’s efforts as a Republican activist
Susan attended her first precinct convention in 1984. Throughout her educational
and professional years Susan continued her participation in Republican grass
roots activism and attended precinct conventions, district conventions and state
conventions as a delegate from the mid 80’s- until 2010 – Susan did take a break
From State Conventions after becoming a mom to twins and being elected to public
office.
Susan has, and continues to have, an impressive professional life – working as
an attorney/CPA for Deloitte in its Office of National Tax Services; and then
with the law firm of Norton Rose Fulbright. She is currently a Shareholder with
the law firm of Munch Hardt Kopf &Harr. Throughout her career, she has
maintained her license as a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Texas.
Susan is a current board member of both the Texas Society of Certified Public
Accountants as well as the 8,000 member Houston CPA Society. Susan has also
served as a Board Secretary of Career and Recovery Resources (is a United Way
agency) and currently serves as the Vice President of the SPARK Park Program.
Susan is a sustaining member of the Junior League of Houston, and a life member
in 10 year committee person with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo - she
started with the Rodeo on the membership committee and was named rookie of the
year. She later moved to Steer Starlette committee, where she also earned rookie
of the year honors.
Susan is also on the Board of Advisors for the Archie Dunham School of Business
at Houston Baptist University and is the reunion chair for her Rice University
class. Susan and her husband Michael Larsson are the parents of twins born
November 2011 and are members of Trinity Episcopal Church in Midtown
About Fred Flickinger: Here is information about Fred from his website:
Man of Faith, Active member of :
• St. Martha Church (25 years)
• Knights of Columbus
Small Business Leader
• Operates family-owned small business "Flickinger Machine"
• Served as Director of Operations at Excel Logistics (2002-2012)
Conservative Leader
• Republican Party Precinct and State Convention delegate for the last 4
conventions
• Long-time contributor to pro-life organizations and Republican candidates
• Kingwood Tea Party Advisory Board Member for 7 years
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – February 13th – Candidates for Harris County
Republican Party Chairman
Please join us for lunch on Thursday, February 13th to hear from Paul Simpson
and Keith Nielsen, Candidates for Harris County Republican Party Chairman
We will be featuring Republican candidates in contested primaries every Thursday
until the March 3rd Republican primary. Election Day will be here before you
know it! If you are a candidate and have not confirmed a date with Club
President Tom Zakes, please contact him to make arrangements to address our
club. We look forward to hearing from all of our Republican primary candidates!
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – January 30th – Republican Primary
Candidates
Please join us for lunch on Thursday, January 30th to hear from Republican
Primary
Candidates for Justice of the First Court of Appeals, Place 5, and US
Senate
Justice Laura Carter Higley has retired from the First Court of Appeals. All
four candidates seeking the Republican nomination to succeed her, Terry Adams,
Hon. Levi J. Benton, Hon. Chad Bridges, and Hon. James Lombardino, will be with
us this week. We will also be joined by Mark Yancey from Dallas, who is
challenging Senator John Cornyn.
We will be featuring Republican candidates in contested primaries every Thursday
until the March 3rd Republican primary. Election Day will be here before you
know it! If you are a candidate and have not confirmed a date with Club
President Tom Zakes, please contact him to make arrangements to address our
club. We look forward to hearing from all of our Republican primary candidates!
About Terry Adams:
Terry Adams is a conservative Republican and is running to serve as your next
Justice on the First Court of Appeals, Place 5.
Terry Adams has the right experience for this important position.
Terry Adams began his legal career as a briefing attorney at the Texas Supreme
Court. Terry then developed an appellate practice handling appeals across Texas.
For more than thirty years, Terry has handled appeals in every court of appeals
in Texas, the Texas Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the
Fifth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.
Terry Adams was recently recognized by Texas Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers
in America as being one the top appellate lawyers in Texas. He is also rated AV
Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell.
Terry is a Member of the State Bar Court Rules Committee and, before that, a
Member of the Jury Task Force for the Texas Supreme Court. Terry is also a Board
Member on the Advisory Council for the South Texas Law Review and a Fellow of
the Texas Bar Foundation and the Houston Bar Foundation.
Now, Terry Adams wants to serve you as a Justice on the First Court of Appeals.
Terry is committed to the rule of law and will not legislate from the bench.
Terry will work hard for all Texans and impartially apply the law in each case
as written by the Legislature and signed by the Governor.
Terry graduated from South Texas College of Law, Houston where he was the
Editor-in-Chief of the South Texas Law Review. During law school, Terry worked
as an intern at the Fourteenth Court of Appeals and then was selected to be a
briefing attorney at the Texas Supreme Court.
Terry and his wife, Anne, were married during law school. Anne worked as an
mechanical engineer, before working at home for VacationsToGo to be with their
three children. Terry and Anne have now been married for more than 35 years.
Their once-young children are now adults. They also have two grandsons and a
granddaughter on the way.
Terry and Anne attend Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Houston where they
were married, where they volunteer in the community, and where all of their
children were baptized and their oldest daughter also recently married.
About Levi Benton:
Levi J. Benton is a former Harris County Civil District Court Judge. He was
appointed to serve on the 215th District Court by former Governor George W. Bush
in 1999 and served in that position through December 2008. Known for his
fairness to all parties and for not legislating from the bench, Benton was named
best Trial Court Judge in Harris County in 2004 and in 2005.
Currently a member in the firm Levi Benton & Associates PLLC where his practice
primarily includes arbitrations, mediations and complex commercial litigation,
Benton began his legal career with Phillips & Akers P.C. Later, Benton was a
partner with Strasburger & Price LLP (now known as Clark Hill PLC). Raised in
Harlingen, Texas, Benton earned a BBA in Accounting with honors from Texas A&M -
Kingsville and earned his law degree from South Texas College of Law . Levi is
also a licensed Certified Public Accountant.
Benton currently serves as a trustee of the Houston Methodist Clear Lake
Hospital and has previously served as a board member of the Clear Creek
Education Foundation, a board member of the Houston Technology Center, an
advisory board member of the Tri-Cities Chapter of the National Association of
Corporate Directors and as board chair of the William A. Lawson Institute of
Peace and Prosperity.
Levi and his wife Janis reside in the Clear Lake area.
About Chad Bridges:
On January 1, 2019 Chad Bridges returned to the Fort Bend County District
Attorney's Office the Chief of the Family Violence Division. Prior, was
appointed by Governor Greg Abbott in 2015 to be the Presiding Judge of the 240th
Judicial District Court after Judge Thomas R. Culver III retired. The 240th's
jurisdiction includes all of Fort Bend County. He lost in a partisan sweep in
November 2018.
Chad grew up in Fort Worth and graduated from Boswell High School located a few
miles north of the Fort Worth Stockyards. At Boswell High School, Chad was a
member of the football team, student council, the YMCA's Youth in Government
program, and was voted "Most Studious" Senior.
Chad graduated from Texas A&M in 1991. Chad was a member of the football team
his first two years and was part of the 1987 squad that won the Southwest
Conference Championship and beat Notre Dame in the 1988 Cotton Bowl. Chad was a
member of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets for four years and reached the level of
Group Commander in the Air Force ROTC. Chad was a member of the Ross Volunteers
his last two years at A&M and was named the Outstanding Senior Ross Volunteer in
1991.
Chad graduated from the University of Houston Law Center in 1994. While in law
school, Chad met his future wife Claudia Marie Torres.
Chad and Claudia have been married for over twenty years. They have a son named
Matthew and a daughter named Lauren. Chad and Claudia were named co-volunteers
of the year for the Pecan Grove Gators of the Fort Bend Youth Football League in
2012. Chad and Claudia are lifetime members of the Fort Bend County Fair. Also,
Chad volunteers for Fort Bend Senior's Meals on Wheels.
About James Lombardino:
• Founding Father of Crime Stoppers of Houston
• Past President of Downtown Exchange Club, Chairman & Team Captain for
fundraising benefiting The Center For Hearing and Speech (aka Houston School for
Deaf Children)
• Past President of Ecuadorian- American Chamber of Commerce, N.A
• Past School Board Member of Annunciation Greek Orthodox School
• Certified Mediator- A.A. White Dispute Resolution Center
Experience
• Visiting Judge for State of Texas
• District Judge of 308th Court of Harris County (2011-2018)
• 30 years of litigation in Harris County in State and Federal Courts
• Former Harris County Assistant District Attorney
Education • UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance
• SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW, Juris Doctorate
About Mark Yancey:
Mark, a longtime Dallas resident, is a veteran of the financial services
industry. He has helped build four successful investment management firms, which
in turn, created hundreds of well-paying jobs. He is currently the Chairman and
CEO of Attacca International, an independent, privately held mergers and
acquisitions firm based in Dallas, Texas. Mark lives in north Dallas with his
wife of thirty-three years, two beautiful daughters, the youngest completing her
senior year at West Point. His family includes three (yes three) English golden
retrievers. Mark currently serves on the board of Emily’s Place in Plano, Texas.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Oklahoma and
attended executive classes at Harvard University for advanced course study in
mergers and acquisitions.
Texans deserve a leader who represents Texas values: strength, courage,
independence, putting our families first, and applying “common sense” to solve a
host of issues for Texas families. The Texas Senate seat will not define me. I
have worked hard in the private sector for thirty-three years, just like other
Texans. My sole objective as your Senator is to draft legislation that is
aligned with Texas conservative values.
My commitment/pledge to all 28 million Texans is to serve you, make myself
available to you, and, most importantly, I will NOT take campaign money from
corporate donors and special interest groups. The people of Texas will own my
campaign. To be sure, my campaign is grassroots powered.
We have many wonderful people moving to Texas in need of representation. We need
to build our infrastructure, improve our transportation, and consider
feasibility studies that may warrant new “hub” airports in strong growth areas
like Grayson. Collin, San Marcos, and Ector counties affording two Texas based
airlines to compete and create new job opportunities. I want to make sure our
military bases are fully funded and operational. We need to ensure that
consumers are being protected by unfair interest rates by banks and other
lenders. I want women who have been dislocated in a marriage to have access to
affordable loans and financing so; they can build their own life and start a
small business. The playing field isn’t level. I will change this. We need
student loan reform. We need to ensure that we can choose our healthcare
provider, and we need to abolish Obamacare – all of it. Medical insurance
providers have no interest in your health. The medical insurance lobbyist is the
largest lobbyist group in Washington – and for good reason. They want to salvage
what is left of Obamacare. Congress allows insurance companies to dictate
capitation rates to doctors. Insurance companies are laser focused on net
profits. As your senator, I will reverse this “money grab” within the first year
in the senate. We need to return the personal responsibility of health care
coverage to the great people of Texas at affordable premium rates.
I will lead to encourage self-reliance and lift up millennials because this will
soon be their Texas. I will propose and draft legislation that promotes the
American entrepreneurial spirit to continue to flourish in Texas. I will work
with the Senate to create legislation to stop the piracy of America’s patented
materials and intellectual property by China.
I will support our President through thick or thin! I will stand with our
President at the border as more work remains, particularly the enormous amount
of narcotics flowing into Texas. The deregulation that President Trump has
accomplished in spite of roadblocks from Democrats has inspired more Texans to
engage in entrepreneur activity to create jobs and wealth.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – January 23rd – Republican Primary
Candidates
Please join us for lunch on Thursday, January 23rd to hear from Republican
Primary Candidates for Harris County District Attorney, Texas House District
135, US Congress CD 18.
The District Attorney prosecutes misdemeanors and felonies in Harris County. We
have three Republican candidates preparing to take on the democrat incumbent. We
will hear from two of them, Mary Nan Huffman and Lori DeAngelo about the new
direction they want to take the office.
House District 135 was represented for many years by Hon. Gary Elkins, who was
defeated in the democrat sweep of 2018. We will hear from Merrilee Beazley and
Justin Ray about their efforts to take the seat back.
For 25 years, Sheila Jackson Lee has held the seat in Congress of the 18th
Congressional District. We will hear from Truly Heiskill and Nathan Milliron
about their campaigns to move it into the Republican column.
We will be featuring Republican candidates in contested primaries every Thursday
until the March 3rd Republican primary. Election Day will be here before you
know it! If you are a candidate and have not confirmed a date with Club
President Tom Zakes, please contact him to make arrangements to address our
club. We look forward to hearing from all of our Republican primary candidates!

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – January 16th – Republican Primary
Candidates
Happy New Year Pachyderms! Please join us for lunch on Thursday, January 16th to
hear from the following Republican Primary Candidates: Dr. Milinda Morris for
Senatorial District 13; Judge Russ Ridgway and Adriana Higginbotham for Justice
of the Peace, Precinct 5-1. We will be featuring Republican candidates in
contested primaries every Thursday until the March 3rd Republican primary.
Election Day will be here before you know it! If you are a candidate and have
not confirmed a date with Club President Tom Zakes, please contact him to make
arrangements to address our club. We look forward to hearing from all of our
Republican primary candidates!
It’s time for dues again!
We are accepting payments for dues for 2020. Annual dues are $40, or $20 if you
are a member of another Pachyderm Club
Don't forget to "like" us on Facebook. We've hit a record of over 900 'likes'!
Thank you for helping us achieve our goal!
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – January 9th – Republican Primary Candidates
including: Josh Flynn, Candidate for State Representative, HD 138; Joe Danna,
Candidate for Harris County Sheriff; and, Cindy Siegel, Candidate for US
Congress, CD 7
Happy New Year Pachyderms! Please join us for lunch to ring in 2020 on Thursday,
January 9th to hear from Josh Flynn, Candidate for State Representative, HD 138;
Joe Danna, Candidate for Harris County Sheriff; and, Cindy Siegel, Candidate for
US Congress, CD 7. The March Republican primary will be here before you know it,
so we’ll be featuring primary candidates as speakers until election day. If you
are a candidate and have not confirmed a date with Club President Tom Zakes,
please contact him to make arrangements to address our club. We look forward to
hearing from all of our Republican primary candidates!
It’s time for dues again!
We are accepting payments for dues for 2020. Annual dues are $40, or $20 if you
are a member of another Pachyderm Club
Don't forget to "like" us on Facebook. We've hit a record of over 900 'likes'!
Thank you for helping us achieve our goal!
We have started a new menu option for entree size salad, soup of the day and
dessert, for those who would prefer it instead of the selected entrée. And,
please note that the meal cost for 2020 has increased reasonably to $22 per
person.
UPCOMING MEETINGS/EVENTS-
January 16 Candidates for SD 13
January 23 Candidates for District Attorney, HD 135
January 30 TBA
February 6 TBA
February 13 Candidates for Harris County Republican Party Chairman
February 20 Candidate Jim Noteware US CD7
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club - November 21st
DT Pachyderm presents Municipal Runoff candidates
This is our final regular meeting for 2019! We will have multiple runoff
elections in the City of Houston on December 14th. The candidates have been
invited to speak. Join us to hear about their races and what you can do to help
them!
Please help us congratulate Ann Lee, Sophia Mafrige, Jeremiah Mbong, and Tom
Zakes for being elected to the Club’s Board of Directors at last week’s meeting.
Our new officers for 2020 will be:
President, Tom Zakes;
First Vice-President, Jeremiah Mbong;
Second Vice-President, Ed Johnson;
Secretary, Jane Bock; and,
Treasurer/Membership, Doug Smith.
Thanks to all for agreeing to serve!
The 2020 DT Pachyderm Board and Officers will be sworn in at our Christmas
luncheon on December 5th. We will also be collecting children’s toys for
Toys-for-Tots. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us for this festive
occasion. The cost will be $25 per person.
We hope to see you Thursday!

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club - November 14th
DT Pachyderm presents Wendell Champion, Candidate for Congress CD18, municipal
runoff candidates, and 2020 Board election
About Wendell Champion:
Wendell Champion is running for Congress in the 18th Congressional District
His personal journey from “Welfare to West Point” combined with his proven
leadership and professional experience as a former army officer, lawyer,
corporate manager, youth minister, as well as a community volunteer and
community organizer demonstrate a lifetime commitment as a public servant.
Throughout his life, Champion has remained a consistent voice for all, with an
unyielding devotion to his faith, family and community. He graduated from the
United States Military Academy and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the
United States Army with the West Point Class of 1986. He proudly served in the
U.S. Army and Army Reserves for over five years and was honorably discharged
after earning the rank of U.S. Army Captain.
His military assignments include:
• Air Defense Artillery (Fort Bliss, TX),
• 2nd Infantry Division, Western Corridor/Demilitarized Zone (South Korea),
• 11th Infantry Regiment (Fort Benning, GA),
• U.S. Military Academy (West Point, NY) and,
• 75th Army Reserve Command (Houston, TX).
His military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation
Medal, National Defense Service Ribbon, Jumpmaster Training, Airborne and Air
Assault Badges.
A tireless advocate and “CHAMPION” for veterans’ rights, he currently serves as
the military liaison for the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, where he provides
support to military veterans who work in law enforcement and to their families.
Champion has been a licensed attorney in Texas for over 20 years, having
received his law degree from South Texas College of Law. His legal and
professional experiences include General Civil and Criminal Law, Litigation,
Business Law, Asset Protection & Estate Planning, Corporate Sales & Corporate
Management with Fortune 50 Companies, Oil & Gas, Medical, Mortgage Banking,
Insurance, Real Estate, and Law Enforcement. A longstanding volunteer, he
currently supports the advisory board for Beta Academy, a Houston area school
where many students described as low socioeconomic status, consistently exceed
Texas standard average on the standardized exams. He is also a former club
president of Rotary International, a former board member at Weekley Family YMCA,
and a former board member of Rainbow Housing Assistance Corporation. Wendell
Champion is a committed community leader dedicated to improving the lives of
families and children in need of assistance. He and his wife have been married
for 29 years and have been blessed with two children.
Confirmed City Council Candidates speaking to us this week include:
-Willie Davis for COH at Large #2
-Abbie Kamin for District C
-Hon. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz for District D
-Van Huynh for District F
We will also have an election for three positions on the Board of Directors of
the club. Nominees are: Ann Lee, Fred Shuchart and Tom Zakes. Current members
will be able to vote.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club - November 7th
DT Pachyderm presents Phil Owens with a synopsis of the November 5th election
results, and, Municipal Run-off Candidates
Join us for lunch and hear Phil Owens review the November 5th election results.
Run-off candidates will also be invited to speak.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club - October 17th
Candidates for Houston City Council Districts A, B, I, and, K
There are over one hundred candidates seeking office in the City of Houston this
year, and Election Day is just a few weeks away! We are striving to bring as
many of them to speak to our club as possible. This week, we will be joined by
candidates in the Houston City Council races for Districts A, B, I, and K
If you are a municipal candidate and have not yet scheduled your time to speak,
please contact our Club President, Tom Zakes, via email at tomzakes@peoplepc.com.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club - October 10th
Candidates for Houston City Council At Large Position 2, and Districts C and H,
and Texas House District 148 Special Election Republican Candidates
There are over one hundred candidates seeking office in the City of Houston this
year. We are striving to bring as many of them to speak to our club as possible.
This week, we will be joined by the candidates in the Houston City Council races
for at large Position 2, Districts C and H, and, the Republican Candidates for
the special election to replace Jessica Farrar in District 148.
Confirmed speakers include: Houston At Large 2- Willie Davis, Emily Munoz DeToto,
Griff Griffin; District C- Bob Nowak, Rodney Hill, Mary Jane Smith; District H-
Isabel Longoria; and, Texas House District 148- Lui LaRotta.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club - October 3 Candidates for Houston
Mayor, City Council At Large Position 5, and District J
Please join DT Pachyderm for lunch on October 3rd as we feature municipal
candidates for the upcoming November 5th elections. We will hear from Candidates
for Houston Mayor, City Council At Large Position 5, and, District J. If you are
a municipal candidate and have not yet scheduled your time to speak, please
contact our Club President, Tom Zakes, via email at
tomzakes@peoplepc.com.
Confirmed speakers include
Mayor Tony Buzbee, Hon. Bill King, Hon. Sue Lovell, Naofaol Houjami Kendall
Baker Johnny Taylor
City Controller Chris Brown
At Large 5 Eric Dick, Michelle Bonton
District J Andrew Patterson
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club - September 26 Houston City Council Candidates:
At Large Positions 1, 3 and 4, District D
Please join DT Pachyderm for lunch on September 26th as we feature municipal
candidates for the upcoming November 5th elections. We will hear from Candidates
for Houston City Council At Large Positions 1, 3, and 4, and, District D. If you
are a municipal candidate and have not yet scheduled your time to speak, please
contact our Club President, Tom Zakes, via email at
tomzakes@peoplepc.com.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club -
Wendell Champion–
Candidate for US Congress 18th District
Please join DT Pachyderm for lunch on September 19th to hear from Wendell
Champion, Candidate for US Congress 18th District
About Wendell:
His personal journey from “Welfare to West Point” combined with his proven
leadership and professional experience as a former army officer, lawyer,
corporate manager, youth minister, as well as a community volunteer and
community organizer demonstrate a lifetime commitment as a public servant.
Throughout his life, Champion has remained a consistent voice for all, with an
unyielding devotion to his faith, family and community.
He graduated from the United States Military Academy and was commissioned as a
Lieutenant in the United States Army with the West Point Class of 1986. He
proudly served in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves for over five years and was
honorably discharged after earning the rank of U.S. Army Captain.
His military assignments include:
Air Defense Artillery (Fort Bliss, TX),
2nd Infantry Division, Western Corridor/Demilitarized Zone (South Korea),
11th Infantry Regiment (Fort Benning, GA),
U.S. Military Academy (West Point, NY) and,
75th Army Reserve Command (Houston, TX).
His military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation
Medal, National Defense Service Ribbon, Jumpmaster Training, Airborne and Air
Assault Badges.
A tireless advocate and “CHAMPION” for veterans’ rights, he currently serves as
the military liaison for the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, where he provides
support to military veterans who work in law enforcement and to their families.
Champion has been a
licensed attorney in Texas for over 20 years, having received his law degree
from South Texas College of Law. His legal and professional experiences include
General Civil and Criminal Law, Litigation, Business Law, Asset Protection &
Estate Planning, Corporate Sales & Corporate Management with Fortune 50
Companies, Oil & Gas, Medical, Mortgage Banking, Insurance,
Real Estate, and
Law Enforcement.
A longstanding volunteer, he currently supports the advisory board for
Beta Academy, a Houston area school
where many students described as low socioeconomic status, consistently exceed
Texas standard average on the standardized exams. He is also a former club
president of Rotary International, a former board member at
Weekley
Family YMCA, and a former board member of
Rainbow Housing Assistance Corporation.
Wendell Champion is a committed community organizer dedicated to improving the
lives of families and children in need of assistance.
He and his wife have been married for nearly 29 years and have been blessed with
two children.

Downtown Houston Pachyderms September 12 - Jon Menefee, Candidate for
Congress, 9th District
Jon is a husband, veteran, and business owner who wants the American Dream to be
attainable for every Texan. He is a proven servant-leader who has a CLEAR VISION
and wants to help his fellow citizens in Texas’s 9th Congressional District
regardless of ethnicity, sex, or political party.
Born in Texas to a family with roots in this state since the 1830s, Jon grew up
surrounded by the American Dream. From working as a paperboy at the age of 11 to
building his own company, Jon’s story of hard work and grit led him truly
appreciate the role of free enterprise in American society.
Joining the US Marines in 1981, when the USA was still feeling the pain from the
Vietnam War, he excelled in Boot Camp and went on to work in the 4th Battalion,
11th Marines 1st 8” Howitzer battery as an 0811, field artillery cannoneer. He
spent nearly 3 years in 29 Palms, California.
Coming back to Texas in 1984 he enrolled in Alvin Community College where, after
working and going to school part time he finished his Associates Degree in
Mathematics. He went on to the University of Houston and while doing an
internship at a local chemical plant he was exposed to computers for the first
time and realized that he wanted to excel at computers and helping other people
with their PC issues.
In 2001 Jon started his business while working full time at Shell Oil company as
a credit card network engineer. 8 years later he left Shell and worked full time
in his company, The High-Speed Solution. In 2011 Jon’s wife, Liping Menefee,
joined the Army and became a Criminal Investigator after finishing her Bachelors
degree in Criminology. She is still active duty and is serving in Vicenza Italy.
Jon is an active in his local Republican Party. He is a member of several
conservative clubs, a founding member of the Southwest Pachyderm club and is on
the board of the Republican Military Partnership committee.
Jon enjoys technology, working out and volunteering for local charities.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club - Hon. Orlando Sanchez, Candidate for Houston
City Controller
Please join DT Pachyderm for lunch on August 29th to hear from the Honorable
Orlando Sanchez, Candidate for City of Houston Controller
About Orlando:
A Life in Service to Country and Community-
Orlando Sanchez was elected Harris County Treasurer in November of 2006, the
first immigrant to be chosen county-wide by the voters for a non-judicial
office. He served in that office until December 2016, overseeing Harris County’s
multiple bank accounts, paying the county’s expenses and serving as an
independent set of eyes in overseeing spending of county taxpayer dollars.
Sanchez came to Houston in 1962 when his father was hired by former Harris
County Judge Roy Hofheinz to be one of two Spanish announcers for the Colt 45s
Baseball Club and then the Houston Astros. Sanchez grew up in southwest Houston
and graduated from Bellaire High School before joining the U.S. Air Force in
1976. After his tour he enlisted in the 147th Fighter Interceptor Group of the
Texas Air National Guard at the then-named Ellington Field.
He graduated cum laude from the University of Houston with a degree in political
science and embarked on a career as a public servant, first as a three-term
Houston City Council member and then as Harris County Treasurer. Orlando was
named the University of Houston’s College of Social Sciences Distinguished
Alumnus. Orlando also sits on the Harris County Bail Bonds Board, is a member of
the Board of Directors of Capital Bank, a life member of the Houston Livestock
Show and Rodeo, the 100 Club of Houston and is a former advisory member of the
University of Houston Law School Foundation and current advisory member of
Volunteer Interfaith Caregivers-Southwest (VIC-SW), an organization that
provides free one-on-one assistance to the frail and elderly in southwest
Houston through a network of volunteers who provide services. In addition, he is
a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and British–American Fellow.
In 1995 Orlando was elected to serve as a member of the Houston City Council. He
was the first Latino immigrant elected to a city-wide position in Houston. He
served three terms and helped his colleagues pass the first property tax cut in
decades. Orlando also chaired the city’s International Trade Committee, the
Legislative Affairs Committee and chaired the Cellular Tower Working Committee.
He has served on the Texas Attorney General’s Municipal Advisory Committee and
was appointed to the U.S. Senate Task Force on Hispanic Affairs.
Orlando has one daughter, Aubrie, who graduated from Boston University in 2014.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club - William J. Booher, Candidate for Texas SD 13
Please join DT Pachyderm for lunch on August 22nd to hear from William J. Booher,
Candidate for Texas Senate District 13
About William, in his own words:
My name is William J. Booher and I'm running for Texas Senate District 13. Over
the past few months as I have been speaking to our fellow residents across the
district it is clear we are ready for a change. Democrats have left us with
failing schools, property taxes that punish homeowners, and infrastructure that
floods our homes with just one heavy sustained rainstorm! Now is time for us to
offer the district a common sense conservative agenda focused on business growth
and quality of life. I was born in this district, grew up across this district,
and live in this district. I know this district and I can #flip13 so that this
BETO Blue Wave hits a Red Brick Wall in 2020. I do not promise it will be an
easy win, but I know I have the grit and wherewithal to get it done if anyone
can. I would like to hear your vision and share mine while we discuss the issues
important to you. Also take some time to review my campaign facebook page and
our website!
We are accepting payments for dues for 2019. Annual dues are $40, or $20 if you
are a member of another Pachyderm Club

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club - Professor Marvin McNeese, Jr., Candidate for
Houston City Council
Please join DT Pachyderm for lunch on August 15th to hear from Professor Marvin
McNeese, Jr., Candidate for Houston City Council At Large 5
About Professor McNeese, in his own words-
Professor McNeese believes in policy that is principle-driven. He is a pragmatic
visionary that sees a clear path to progress for Houston.
Marvin is a Deacon in his church, a loyal husband, and father to four children.
These roles shape his perspective, as does his background as a political science
educator.
Marvin McNeese Jr., Ph.D. is running for City Council because he has a heart for
Houston and its people. He calls the Third Ward home and has been a Houston
resident for more than 25 years.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club - Sallie Alcorn
Please join DT Pachyderm for lunch on August 8th to hear from Sallie Alcorn,
Candidate for Houston City Council At Large 5
About Sallie, in her own words-
Sallie Alcorn is a mom, a wife, and a
dedicated public servant who is running for Houston City Council to continue
serving the city she loves.
Sallie and George, her husband of thirty-one years, raised their four kids,
George, Maria, Janie, and Susie in Houston. She considers her kids her greatest
achievement, and she is enormously proud of the terrific young adults they’ve
become.
Sallie is no stranger to City Hall where she has earned a reputation for being a
strong staff leader with sharp analytical skills and a keen political sense.
Sallie has served three council members and the city’s flood recovery officer.
She also held two positions in the city’s Department of Housing and Community
Development. Her passion for public policy is well reflected in her work on a
broad range of issues including city finances, infrastructure, transportation,
housing, and economic development.
As chief of staff to the chair of the budget and fiscal affairs committee,
Sallie became an expert in navigating the city’s $5.4 billion budget. She helped
develop the city’s comprehensive financial policies and orchestrated five years
of budget hearings. She was heavily involved in initial Harvey recovery efforts
and obtained grant funding to advance green stormwater infrastructure
initiatives. She assembled and managed a task force to tackle redevelopment and
flooding policies, worked with council members to identify neighborhood drainage
projects, and led the charge to bring Houston’s Adopt-A-Drain Program to life.
Sallie also worked to alleviate food deserts, led park clean ups, established an
annual senior falls prevention event, and advocated for city policy to allow
ride sharing companies like Uber and Lyft to operate in Houston. In her work at
the housing department, she successfully resolved compliance issues with HUD so
federal affordable housing funds were restored to the city. In addition to these
accomplishments, Sallie spent her many days at City Hall researching council
agenda items, preparing ordinance amendments and briefing materials, and most
importantly, responding to constituents needing help with city-related matters.
Sallie’s long history of serving her community extends well beyond City Hall.
Each week she works with offenders as a volunteer facilitator for Bridges to
Life, a restorative justice prison program aimed at reducing recidivism rates.
She is on the advisory board of the San Jose Clinic and has served on the boards
of Holocaust Museum Houston and the Houston READ Commission. She has chaired
events and raised funds for the Holocaust Museum, the Women’s Fund, the
Children’s Museum, the READ Commission, and the Contemporary Arts Museum. She
also served for many years as a parent volunteer at her children’s schools. She
and George are active members of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church.
Sallie moved to Houston in the seventh grade and attended Westchester High
School. She graduated with a finance degree from the University of Texas at
Austin and a master's in public administration from the University of Houston.
In addition to her work at City Hall, Sallie served as district director for a
Houston-area congressman, worked as a legal assistant at a large law firm, and
was a credit analyst at a commercial bank.
In her spare time, Sallie enjoys hiking, running (doesn’t really enjoy, but she
runs), yoga, comedy, college football, the Astros, books, movies, the beach, and
traveling to visit her kids.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club -
Keith Nielsen and
Jacob Jack Way
Please join DT Pachyderm for lunch on August 1st to hear from Keith Nielsen,
Candidate for Harris County Republican Party Chairman, and, Jacob Jack Way
regarding Helping a Hero
It’s time for dues again! We are accepting payments for dues for 2019. Annual
dues are $40, or $20 if you are a member of another Pachyderm Club
Don't forget to "like" us on Facebook. We've hit a record of 900 'likes'! Thank
you for helping us achieve our goal, and let’s keep going towards 1,000 likes!
Our menu options are an entree with small salad, or entree size salad with soup.
Both options include dessert.
National Convention:
SEPTEMBER 5-8 National Pachyderm
Convention in Galveston

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club -
Daphne Scarbrough, candidate for Houston City Council District C
Please join DT Pachyderm for lunch on July 25th to hear from Daphne Scarbrough
and her campaign for Houston City Council District C
About Daphne in her own words:
I am a lifelong Houstonian, starting out in District C when I was a baby and
moving back in 1983 to establish my business,
The Brass Maiden. I am a design,
build, install metal fabricator for both commercial & residential projects. I am
running because I want to utilize the 15 years of activism that I have
accumulated in transit, special districts, architecture, green space and urban
planning. I have spoken at the State Legislature, Harris County Commissioners
Court, numerous Federal hearings and City Councils. Running for Houston City
Council will afford me the opportunity to use this knowledge to assist
Houstonians.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club -
Anthony Dolcefino, candidate for Houston City Council District C
Please join DT Pachyderm for lunch on July 11th to hear from Anthony Dolcefino,
candidate for Houston City Council and his race for Houston City Council
District C
About Anthony, in his own words:
Anthony’s seat is being vacated by Ellen Cohen, a longstanding rubber stamp for
Mayor Sylvester Turner and pay-to-play cronyism at City Hall.
"Anthony Dolcefino is a candidate for Houston City Council, District C. His
roots in conservative activism began at UT Austin, where he served as the
Vice-Chairman of the Young Conservatives of Texas. He was proud to make national
headlines for defending Justice Brett Kavanaugh during a campus demonstration
where he faced overwhelming backlash. He enjoyed a front-row seat at the
legislative process while working for State Representative Briscoe Cain and came
back to Houston eager to continue the fight for his friends and neighbors in
District C. Anthony says he witnessed a series of betrayals from Mayor Turner
that inspired him to run. ‘I live a block from Brays Bayou where I walk out my
front door and still see abandoned homes two years after Hurricane Harvey.’ he
says. 'I read headlines every day of pay-to-play corruption at City Hall. Half
the money we pay in drainage taxes doesn’t go to fixing drainage. We’re not even
sure if the City is going to pick up our garbage on time, or if the recycling
will end up in landfills.' Anthony believes have a unique opportunity to bring a
fresh voice to the table who can restore integrity and transparency to your tax
dollars. His stated mission is to make accountability and action our #1 priority
at City Hall. 'I am not afraid to take on the pay-to-play establishment to
restore Houston taxpayers' right-to-know about how their money is (or isn’t)
being spent,’ says Anthony. 'The age of corrupt city bosses wasting millions of
your dollars on zero results must come to an end.' In Anthony’s view, it's going
to take a fresh face to do that. You can visit Anthony’s campaign website
https://anthonydolcefino.com/ for a
list of proposals he says will make City Hall once again 'work for you - not
unaccountable contractors and political contributors of our mayor.’”
 |
No Meeting |

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club -
Nick Hellyar, candidate for Houston City Council
Please join DT Pachyderm for lunch on June 27th to hear from Nick Hellyar,
candidate for Houston City Council and his race for Houston City Council
District C
About Nick:
As a homeowner and small business owner in District C, Nick Hellyar understands
the challenges facing Houston's neighborhoods – flooding, street repair, public
safety, increasing density and traffic, and getting the most out of the
considerable tax dollars we pay.
Nick grew up in District C, attending public schools including Lamar High
School. After attending the University of Houston, Nick got his first exposure
to public service, working as a staff member for a Houston City Council Member
and a member of the Texas Legislature. It was this work — attending civic club
meetings, responding to resident requests, and helping to deliver neighborhood
level projects – that fostered his passion for constituent service and local
government. Nick is a member of the Houston Association of Realtors, and he is a
former Vice President & Board Member of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus. He
now owns and operates a real estate business – The Hellyar Group – in District
C, where he focuses on buying and selling residential properties, rental
placement, property management, and investment. As a business owner, Nick must
work within a budget, make payroll, and maximize every dollar to be successful.
He will bring that same sensibility to Houston City Council.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club - Emily Munoz DeToto, candidate for Houston City
Council
Please join DT Pachyderm for lunch on June 20th to hear from Emily Munoz DeToto
and her race for Houston City Council At Large Position 2
Since becoming an attorney in 1996, Emily Detoto has dedicated her entire career
to the practice of criminal law. Ms. Detoto, Board Certified in Criminal Law by
the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2002, is a graduate of Michigan
State University and St. Mary’s University School of Law. Ms. Detoto worked as a
briefing attorney at the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and is a former
prosecutor with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. Ms. Detoto has
served as Treasurer and Vice President of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers
Association and has been recognized in H-Texas Magazine: Best Lawyers in Houston
2004; H-Texas Magazine: Best Lawyers “For the People” 2005, 2006; Texas Monthly
Magazine: Texas Rising Star 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009, and in the United Who’s
Who Registry. Ms. Detoto has also faithfully served as both an Associate
Director, and Director on the TCDLA Board. Ms. Detoto is a frequent lecturer at
CLE’s across the State.
Emily is a graduate of the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College in Dubois, Wyoming
and is the former host of “Legally Speaking,” on Channel 55, “The Tube." Emily
has frequently given legal commentary for Channel 26, Fox News and has been a
faculty member for the Texas Criminal Trial College held in Huntsville, Texas
for nearly 15 years. However, most importantly, Emily is a MOTHER to two
children.
Emily has been involved in the Harris County Republican Party by serving as the
Former Chairman, HCRP Outreach Committee, Former Member, Congressman Ted Poe’s
Military Service Academy Nominations Board, Past Delegate, Republican Party of
TX State Convention
Advocated for Less Government, Less Taxes. Emily is a Fourth Generation Texas
Native and a member of the St. Theresa Catholic Church at Memorial Park.
DeToto is a candidate for At Large Position 2 on the Houston City Council in the
2019 election.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club - June 13
Mary Jane Smith, candidate for Houston
City Council District C
Please join DT Pachyderm for lunch on June 13th to hear from Mary Jane Smith and
her race for Houston City Council District C
About Mary Jane:
Mary Jane Blackburn Smith is a native Houstonian and is married to Judge Jerry
E. Smith, Firth Circuit Court of Appeals. They are the parents of four adult
children: Ruth Ann, Clark, J.J., and Brandon. She is a graduate of
Maryville
College of the Sacred Heart in St. Louis, Missouri. She has done graduate
studies at the University of St. Thomas and
Rice University and received
professional certification in NSFRE from Rice University.
Smith’s professional career has centered on the Texas and Houston political
world for over four decades. She has served as a political consultant to
Presidential campaigns and an advisor to United States Senators and Congressmen,
mayors, and many other elected officials and to governmental and private sector
initiatives. She has served as a delegate to two Republican National Conventions
and was a Presidential Elector. She is the founder and president of The MJS
Group, a political consulting and fundraising firm. Mrs. Smith has served as a
Harris County Republican Precinct Chair for forty years as well and as a
Senatorial District Chair. She served as Executive Director of the Harris County
Republican Party under chairs Nancy Palm and Ray Barnhart. She is founder of
The
Texas Conservative View, a general purpose Political Action Committee and Small
Cities, America, a local Republican Club servicing the small cities within Loop
610.
While politics is her profession, Mrs. Smith has actively served our community
as a ten year member of the
Harris County Historical Commission, a Harris County
Grand Juror Commissioner, a member of the Board of Directors of Catholic
Charities and Chair of the Development Board of Catholic Charities, a member of
the Incarnate Word Academy Board of Advisors,
President of the Pope John Paul II
Texas Foundation, a thirty-five year member and officer of the Charity Guild of
Catholic Women, and a member of the
Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of
Jerusalem. She has served as a Director of
The Texas Judicial Foundation. She is
an active member of the Braes Heights Civic Association. Smith is a parishioner
at Corpus Christi Catholic Church.
Smith is a candidate for District C on the Houston City Council in the 2019
election.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club - June 6th State Rep. Jim Murphy with a
legislative update
Please join DT Pachyderm for lunch on June 6th to hear a legislative update from
State Representative Jim Murphy, District 133
About Rep. Murphy:
State Representative Jim Murphy serves in the Texas House, representing District
133 in West Houston. Murphy is currently in his sixth term. Murphy serves as the
Chairman of the House Committee on Pensions, Investments, and Financial Services
and is a member of the Ways & Means Committee.
Murphy’s legislative work has been recognized by groups and trade associations
of all types, receiving awards for his efforts to reduce taxes, enhance public
safety, protect private property rights, and increase public education quality.
He serves on the Board of the Texas Conservative Coalition (TCC) and is the
Co-Chair for the TCC's task force on Budget and Revenue.
Prior to his service in the Legislature, Murphy began his professional career as
a teacher in the City of Houston. Murphy was twice elected to the HCC Board of
Trustees and served from 1997 to 2006. He is President of District Management
Services, a consulting firm assisting economic development organizations. For
over 20 years, he has served as one of the driving forces of Westchase District
- the 4.2 square mile business district in West Houston.
Murphy has served on numerous boards in the community including the Houston West
Chamber of Commerce, West Houston Medical Center, the Houston Association of
Commercial Real Estate Professionals, and the Urban Land Institute.
Murphy’s community service includes work with the Jaycees -- where he served as
local President and as State President. He was named one of the Five Outstanding
Young Texans in 1995. He was a founder and Vice Chair of the Alief Education
Foundation and was appointed to the John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership
Institute’s Advisory Council by the UT Regents.
Murphy grew up in West Houston and graduated from Strake Jesuit and UT Austin.
He and his wife, Dr. Kathleen Murphy, have two adult sons, Robert and Pace. They
are active members of St. John Vianney Catholic Church.
owntown Houston Pachyderm Club - May 30th Charles Blain,
UrbanReform.org
Please join DT Pachyderm for lunch on May 30th with Charles Blain, speaking on
his new venture, UrbanReform.org, focusing on free market solutions to urban
issues.
About Charles:
Charles is the Founder and Executive Director of Urban Reform. A native New
Jerseyan, Charles attended Fairleigh Dickinson University where he studied
Political Science, with a concentration
on American Political Studies. Throughout his undergraduate career he
volunteered and worked on various statewide political campaigns, assisted with
organizing the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), an annual
gathering of conservative activists in Washington D.C., and he grew an interest
in cities and what makes them successful. After working in healthcare policy for
three years following graduation, he decided to relocate to Texas for the Texans
for Greg Abbott campaign, seeing an opportunity to make a difference in Houston,
Charles decided to begin working for Empower Texans, running their Houston
operations, and now he has launched Urban Reform. A 501(c)4 focused on free
market solutions to urban issues. Charles has been published in the Wall Street
Journal, Forbes, the Houston Chronicle, the Hill, and other publications. He
lives in Houston with his dog Maxx and takes an interest in all things cities.
It’s time for dues again! We are accepting payments for dues for 2019. Annual
dues are $40, or $20 if you are a member of another Pachyderm Club

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club presents Mike Murphy on the historic Crown Hill
Cemetery
Please join DT Pachyderm for lunch on May 23rd with Mike Murphy, speaking on the
historic Crown Hill Cemetery
Association. As we go into the Memorial Day weekend, it will be interesting
to learn about this historic jewel in our county.
About the Crown Hill Cemetery:
The Crown Hill Cemetery, located in Pasadena Texas, was established in 1906 with
its first burial of Paston Pomeroy. The Crown Hill Cemetery is located North of
Highway 225 on Richey Street near the historic “Vince Bayou” the site of the
final battle of San Jacinto where Texas won its independence from Mexico.
The families buried at the Crown Hill Cemetery were the first families of
Pasadena in its early years. Nestled in the industrial area of Pasadena, it
brings back memories of simpler, quieter times in the history of the City of
Pasadena. Buried here are the names that fellow Pasadena residents remember
growing up either through school names, retailers of fine furniture, or roads
throughout the city.
In the early 1900’s, Pasadena had gotten to the point where a place for burials
was needed. A piece of land was picked out and a price was paid to procure 6
acres of land called that is now called the Crown Hill Cemetery or as it was
once called the Pasadena Cemetery or even the Mexican Cemetery because of the
Hispanics buried at the cemetery that were living and working in the rural area.
During this time Pasadena was an agriculture area known for its strawberry
fields. Strawberry plants were brought in from Clara Barton, with the American
Red Cross when the 1900 Hurricane hit Galveston, Texas. When Clara Barton
arrived in the Gulf Coast Area, she saw the complete ruin of any farming
efforts, and on return to Washington, she purchased one and one-half million
(1,500,000) strawberry plants that were planted for Pasadena.
Today, there have been many burials at the Crown Hill Cemetery, close to 400
markers identify burial places of Pasadena citizens. The last burial was in 2007
but records indicate a burial in 2010 but records of burials and plot numbers
are difficult to find.
Working volunteers give up their valuable time to help keep this cemetery as a
Historic resting place for these gallant people. Hundreds of man-hours are spent
each year with the task of mowing grass, documenting names of burial plots, and
repairing the many damaged headstones. With your help we can continue this
effort of maintaining the Crown Hill Cemetery as a place where families will
come to visit their loved ones and remember the past lives in the History of
Pasadena, Texas.
Included in the graves are memorials to Mexican soldiers who were killed in the
Texas Revolution, and Civil War veterans.

Downtown Houston Pachyderms - May 16 Cindy Siegel, Candidate for US Congress,
7th District
Cindy Siegel was born on a farm in Northwest Kansas. She graduated from Kansas
State University with degrees in Education and Business Administration. After
graduating, she moved to Houston and worked for AT&T. Cindy went back to school
at the University of Houston and received her MBA in Accounting and Finance and
started her career at Arthur Anderson and obtained her CPA license.
A practicing CPA for over 30 years, Cindy understands full well our
over-reaching government. She has fought and won against the IRS for both
business and individual clients. With years of experience fighting federal,
state and local governments, and being a small business owner herself, Cindy
decided to do something about it. She ran for office.
First elected to Bellaire City Council
in 1994, Cindy served six years on
Council. In 2000, Cindy resigned from Bellaire Council to run for Mayor. She won
the Bellaire Mayoral election in 2000 and served 4 consecutive terms as Mayor.
Winning each subsequent election with 90% of the vote.
A life-long Republican, Cindy immersed herself in Harris County Republican
politics as Mayor of Bellaire. She helped numerous local Republican Party
candidates run for office including Ed Emmett, Joan Huffman and Sarah Davis.
Once term limited, Cindy assumed leadership roles in multiple Republican clubs,
organizations and the Party itself. She served as Treasurer of
Harris County
Republican Party serving from 2014 through February 2019 and was appointed
Vice-Chair in 2018, serving until Spring 2019.
Cindy’s mother, and WWII veteran father, taught her at an early age that “To
whom much that is given, much is expected." Her volunteerism and community
service spans decades. From her daughters' school to charities dedicated to
serving children, families and seniors, she has volunteered and led just as she
was taught as a young girl.
Now, Cindy has her sights set on another goal - U. S. Congress. She is running
for Congressional District 7 to take back the District from the radical
Democrats. She is running a positive, issue-driven campaign focusing on her vast
experience as proof she has the knowledge, passion and dedication to tackle the
challenges that face the citizens of District 7.
Cindy is married to her husband, Bob, and together they have two grown
daughters, Jennifer and Lauren. Cindy and Bob reside in Bellaire.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club - May 9 Vicky Smith, Candidate for HCRP Chair
2020
Please join DT Pachyderm for lunch with Vicky Smith, Candidate for Harris County
Republican Party Chair in 2020, and hear about her plans for our local party!
About Vicky Smith in her own words:
A new face with a common goal, Vicky Smith is the most recent candidate to enter
the Chair race for the primaries 2020. She is a zealous and energetic mom, wife,
Christian, hard-working, cancer survivor that wants better for our County.
Unwilling to let the past repeat itself, she is dedicated to bringing back
harmony to the Harris County Republican Party while engaging that hard questions
and topics head-on. Her primary focuses are the revitalization of Committees,
recruiting and supporting candidates, fundraising while not compromising Party
platform and engaging voices beyond our current reach of support. This girl next
door has a plan and is looking forward to earning Party support to make our
grass greener.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club - April 25 Amy Peck and Greg Meyers
Please join DT Pachyderm for lunch with Houston City Council Candidates, Amy
Peck for District A and Greg Meyers for District C

About Amy Peck:
With over a decade of experience in resolving constituent issues, Amy Peck knows
what it takes to find solutions, navigate complicated governmental agencies, and
get results. As the chief of staff for Council Member Brenda Stardig since 2014,
she has already been serving the citizens of District A.
Before working with Council Member Stardig, Amy worked for then-State Senator
Dan Patrick as his District Director.
Amy volunteers her time to many organizations and currently serves on the board
of the Duncan YMCA in Spring Branch. While getting her master’s degree in
Counseling Psychology at the University of Houston, Amy counseled at the VA
Hospital in Houston where she assisted returning veterans who suffered from
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), helping them receive the resources,
benefits, and psychological support they so badly needed.
In addition to the master’s degree, Amy also holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in
both Psychology and Government from the University of Texas-Austin. Amy has the
educational background and hands-on experience to help her community and is a
life-long Houstonian dedicated to serving those around her.
Amy lives in Spring Branch with her husband, Jayson, their daughter, Abigail,
and their two dogs, Charlie and Lucy.

About Greg Meyers:
The son of an Air Force veteran, Greg grew up in several U.S. cities, as well as
in Okinawa, Japan. He has been a Houstonian since the age of 15 and appreciates
the diversity in our community. Greg believes accepting people from all walks of
life is important to build a culture of inclusion. Greg earned a Bachelor of
Business Administration degree from Texas A&M University, a Master of Business
Administration degree from St. Mary’s University, and a Doctorate degree in
Education from University of Houston. After graduating from Texas A&M
University, Greg founded his own dental marketing company. While building a
successful business, he made the decision to give back to our great City and ran
for the Houston Independent School District (HISD) Board of Education. Little
did he know how his life would be transformed as he was attempting to transform
the lives of our students! Wanting to make a significant impact, he began
researching and looking at aspects of transformation strategies and initiatives
such as teacher quality and school turnaround. The work done in these areas has
helped our district achieve national recognition. Having a business background
and seeing that HISD needed a strategic plan, Greg led a community-wide
initiative in developing a blueprint that would aid the district to focus on
core initiatives to transform the lives of our students. Also, during his tenure
as president, he helped to bring about bold steps in turning around our most
struggling schools. These initiatives resulted in increased academic achievement
and, in 2013, the prestigious Broad Prize, awarded to the top urban school
district in the nation, was bestowed on HISD. Since 2010, Greg began to devote
his talents to nonprofit organizations providing transformative opportunities
for economically challenged families. He was Director of Corporate Work Study at
Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School and Executive Director for Citizen
Schools. Currently, Greg is the Chief Financial Officer for Kickstart Kids as
well as an adjunct professor at University of St. Thomas where he teaches school
finance. His leadership and passion for our schools was recognized globally and
Greg was the first American to receive the education medal from Taiwan in 2017.
Greg is active in many areas in the community and has held many leadership
roles. Greg is married to Vivien Nguyen-Meyers. Together they have 5 children.
Greg’s family resides in Neartown/Montrose and they are active parishioners at
St. Anne’s Catholic Church.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club - April 11 Wesley Hunt
Please join DT Pachyderm for lunch with Captain Wesley Hunt, Candidate for
Congressional District 7
About Capt. Hunt:
Captain Wesley Parish Hunt was born and raised in Houston, TX and is a proud St.
John’s graduate. Upon graduation from St. Johns, Wesley accepted an appointment
to the United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 2004 with a
Bachelor of Science degree in Leadership and Management with a Field of Study in
Mechanical Engineering. After West Point Academy, he spent eight years in the
Army as an Aviation Branch Officer and AH-64D Apache Longbow Helicopter pilot.
Wesley’s service included one combat deployment to Iraq, and two deployments to
Saudi Arabia whee he served as a Diplomatic Liaison Officer. While in Saudi
Arabia, Wesley served as a liaison officer who represented the U.S. Government
in missions involving the Royal Saudi Land Forces Aviation Corps. Upon
completion of his military service and honorable discharge as a Captain, Wesley
attended Cornell University and earned a Master of Business Administration
(M.B.A.) a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) and a Master of Industrial
and Labor Relations (M.I.L.R.). Wesley is a lifelong conservative and community
activist who has dedicated his time in military service and volunteer work to
protect our Country and improve the communities in which he resides. Wesley is
very active in many organizations in the Houston area. He serves on the Board of
Trustees for the Harris County Center for Mental Health and is a board member of
the Greater Houston Pachyderm Club. Wesley is a member on the Board of Trustees
at St. John’s School and has served as a mentor to youth in the community both
at MacCormick Juvenile Detention center and Big Brother Big Sister in Austin,
TX. Wesley moved back to Houston upon completion of his master’s programs and
currently works for Perry Homes. He and his wife Emily welcomed their first
child, Victoria, in February.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club - April 4 Willie Davis
Please join DT Pachyderm for lunch with Pastor Willie Davis, as he discusses his
race for Houston City Council At Large Position #2
About Pastor Davis:
The Reverend Willie Ray Davis serves as the Senior Pastor/Founder of the Mac
Gregor Palm Community Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. He attended school in
the Houston Independent School District and graduated from Stephen F. Austin
High School. He continued his education at Sam Houston State University and
Texas Southern University in pursuit of a Bachelor Degree in Government and
Political Science. He later attended the Texas School of Theology where he
received a Bachelor and Masters Degree of Theology. In 2002, the Texas School of
Theology bestowed upon Reverend Davis an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity Degree
for his continued commitment to helping others fulfill their learning in
Seminary Education.
In 1986, Reverend Davis was called to serve as Senior Pastor of the Greater
Saint Paul’s Missionary Baptist Church. After twenty years of service there, he
was called as Senior Pastor of the Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago,
Illinois, where he served for three and one half years. Reverend Davis now
serves the Houston community again as the Pastor/Founder of the Mac Gregor Palm
Community Baptist Church. Here he is striving to resurrect the community as God
gives him direction.
Among the many services that Reverend Davis has rendered to the city of Houston
and other organizations are President of the Minister’s Advisory Board to the
Mayor, Vice President of the Metropolitan Minister’s Alliance, President of the
Southwest Region of PNBC Inc., and Religious Coordinator for the Southwest
Region of the NAACP, Board of Trustee officer for Houston Baptist University.
Among the talents, gifts, and services with which Reverend Davis has been
blessed, none have been more fulfilling than the call of God upon his life as a
servant and his being used of God to reach all of humanity through his preaching
and teaching God’s Word. He desires to make his continued mission in life one of
seeking others through God’s Word at whatever the cost for the kingdom.
Pastor Davis is married to the lovely Mrs. Michelle Davis.

Downtown Houston Pachyderms - March 28 Kendall Baker
Kendall Baker is a native of Houston, Texas who was raised in the Fontaine
Subdivision in northeast Houston. He graduated from Forest Brook High School in
1983, he holds a Doctorate degree from the Kingdom Builders Bible Seminary and
an a Ph.D in Pulpit Communication from the Covenant International University.
Kendall excited the City of Houston after 29 years of excellent public service
and is now a retiree. His exiting position was a Division Manager for the
Administration and Regulatory Affairs Department, Operations Division, 311 Help
and Information Center. There he served as a versatile professional with broad
experience including management and staff development with in depth knowledge of
contact center operations handling 2 million inbound calls annually. During his
tenure, he also worked in various management capacities in other departments
including the Office of the Mayor, Public Works & Engineering Department (PWE)-
PWE – Consumer Affairs Division, PWE – Utility Operations Center and the then
General Services Department – 911 Emergency Network. Kendall was widely known as
“the voice of the City” for the many illustrious voice-over jobs he performed
for the 311 Helpline. While working for the City of Houston, Kendall
simultaneously pursued the call to ministry.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
From 2012 to 2014, Kendall served as the inaugural Chairman of the newly formed
Houston Police and Clergy Alliance (PACA). He’s also a member of the Houston
Ministers Against Crime, and has been active for over 2 decades. In the past,
Kendall has also served with the Houston Independent School District south area,
the Harris County Juvenile Operating Board and the NAACP Houston Branch.
Since leaving the city Kendall served as the Director of Field Operations for
the Houston Area Pastor Council (HAPC), under the leadership of Rev. Dave Welch.
HAPC was founded in 2003 by Rev. Welch working alongside a group of thirteen
pastors as a trans-denominational, inter-racial coalition of senior pastors who
came together to bring a united, Biblical voice to the city, state and nation.
The HAPC has grown to over 300 plus senior pastors in the Houston area.
In 2007 Kendall contested for a Houston City Council At-Large seat that was
later won in a run-off by Melissa Noriega. In 2015 Kendall narrowly missed a
runoff for City Council District F then in 2016 Kendall lost a well run race for
State Representative 137.
Kendall accepted his ministerial calling in 1994 while ministering alongside his
now deceased biological father, Pastor Earnest L. Baker of Wilson Temple Church
of God in Christ in Rosenberg, TX. This year marks his 25th year as an ordained
minister.
Kendall is also the founder of Orion Title I Community Development Center, Inc.,
a non-profit 501(c)3 geared towards, caring for the needy, sheltering the
homeless, employment consultant, motivational speaking and mentoring and
empowerment of youth and more. Kendall has one daughter, his little 3 year old
princess Kennedi.

Downtown Houston Pachyderms - March 21 Frank Nadolney
Frank Nadolney is our speaker this week. Frank’s father played college football
for the legendary Knute Rockne at Notre Dame, and was in the National Football
League in its early days. He has a wealth of memorabilia and information about
the history of collegiate and professional football.
Frank’s background includes
Past President C Club
Past Chairman San Jacinto College Foundation
Past President Houston Realty Breakfast Club, NASA Board of Realtors, Pasadena
Board of Realtors
Pas President National Association of Independent Fee Appraisers, Houston
Chapter
Director, East Houston Regional Medical Center, San Jacinto College Foundation,
National Association of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors
Special Commissioner – Eminent Domain Hearings for the City of Houston, Harris
County and State of Texas
Frank has been a member of the North Shore Rotary Club for 55 years, and has had
50 years of perfect attendance. The club runs an annual fish fry, and has raised
over 5.6 million net dollars for charity. The North Shore Rotary Club is the
number one rotary club in Texas and the USA at raising money for charity.

DT Pachyderm - March 14 Bradford Traywick II- Texas Public Policy Foundation
DT Pachyderm presents Bradford Traywick II with the Texas Public Policy
Foundation
About Bradford:
Bradford Traywick is the Project Coordinator for the Booker T. Washington
Initiative.
He is a graduate of Prairie View A&M University, where he received a Bachelor’s
of Arts in History and Minor in Naval Science. While at Prairie View, he began
mentoring undergraduate students with the Panther Advisory Leaders program. He
began his professional career as the founder of Traywick Photography for 4 years
before joining the staff of San Jacinto College. At San Jacinto College, he
served as the Program Coordinator for the Men of Honor and Women of Integrity
programs, whose mission was to increase the success rates of minority students
and enhance the collegiate culture of its student members. Mr. Traywick still
continues to serve college students as a member of Texas Association of Black
Personnel in Higher Education, as well as traveling around Texas to advocate for
policies and legislation that will promote liberty and freedom for all Texans.

Downtown Houston Pachyderms - March 7 Tony Buzbee
Tony Buzbee is a decorated Marine, successful lawyer and business owner,
philanthropist and change agent. He is running for Mayor of Houston to end
corruption, restore effective government and deliver results for all
Houstonians.
Tony has a record of getting results and fighting for working families. The New
York Times has called him one of the most successful trial lawyers in the
country. He often represents families of workers who have been killed or
severely injured on the job.
Tony earned an ROTC scholarship to Texas A & M, becoming the first in his family
to attend college. After graduation, he joined the Marines, and led special
operations units in both the Persian Gulf and Somalia. He retired from the
military with the rank of Captain.
He attended University of Houston Law School, where he graduated Summa Cum
Laude.
He was appointed to the Texas A & M Board of Regents by Governor Perry, and is
now running for mayor of Houston.
Some of you asked for the correct spelling of Board Member Ann Lee’s
granddaughter, in order to credit her when donating platelets at MD Anderson.
It is Emily Szafraz
Our speaker from January 31, Jim Noteware, has some additional documentation
regarding his lawsuit against the City of Houston if you would like to get
copies. I can forward them to you on request.
Please join us for lunch at the Pearl at the Sam Houston Hotel, 1117 Prairie at
San Jacinto.
Parking is available on the street at city meters, in various nearby surface
lots and garages, or valet at a reduced rate of $10.
It will also be important to let the restaurant know how many people to prepare
for. Although we will not bill people if they do not come, nor will we prohibit
people who have not RSVPed from coming, please do your best to indicate, either
at the previous meeting, by email or on Facebook a week in advance that you will
be at the following meeting.

About Bill:
It's time to clean up City Hall and get back to basics in Houston. Bill King is
running for mayor and wants to end the endless cycle of pay-to-play politics and
corruption in city government, while restoring confidence in the basic services
the city is supposed to provide. That means reducing crime, picking up the trash
on time, fixing the streets, and improving drainage to prevent flooding.
Bill King has enjoyed a wide and varied career in business and law. He served as
president of Southwest Airport Services, a fixed-base operator located at
Ellington Air Force Base, from 1999 until the sale of the company in 2015. In
2009, the Coast Guard recognized Southwest for its support of the search and
rescue efforts during Hurricane Ike.
He is currently a member and general counsel for Quatro Tax, LLC, a property tax
consulting firm. Bill has also practiced law for 40 years. His practice included
serving as of counsel to Bracewell LLP and as the managing partner of Linebarger,
a law firm representing governmental entities nationwide. While heading that
firm, Bill gained unique insights into how the governmental entities operate,
particularly their finances. While at Linebarger the firm was earned the U.S.
Conference of Mayors Outstanding Public-Private Partnership Award for the work
it did in establishing a land bank of abandoned lots in Houston.
From 1995-2005 Bill served on the Kemah City Council and as Mayor of Kemah.
During that time he became alarmed that the Houston region was not prepared for
a major hurricane, a concern which was validated by the disastrous Rita
evacuation in 2005. After Rita, Bill was appointed by then Governor Perry to
serve on a commission to study what went wrong in Rita. Later, the regional
county judges appointed him to chair a task force that rewrote the evacuation
procedures for the region. For that work he was awarded the Outstanding
Achievement Award by the National Hurricane Conference in 2006.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – February 21st- presents Jonathon Dunne on
American Exceptionalism
As a political writer, inspiring speaker, and host on The Blaze, Jonathon Dunne
has reached millions with his message of American exceptionalism and
highlighting the freedoms America was built on and why you are different to the
rest of the world.
Born and raised in socialist Ireland, his lifelong dream is to live free and
become an American citizen the legal way. While he has waited in line for an
opportunity for 15 years, he has spent years volunteering his services on both
sides of the ocean. He has worked closely with poorer communities in Dublin and
has seen first-hand that not all poverty is financial and that an oppressive
government can cause poverty of hope and opportunity that crushes the spirit of
its people.
Dunne is a strong and positive voice who is very hopeful for the future of
America at a time of political uncertainty when those who love liberty must work
harder than ever to protect our eternal, self-evident principles that are the
last best hope for the world.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm - Thursday, February 14 Steve Munisteri
Please join us for lunch on Thursday, February 14th as we welcome home to Texas
former deputy assistant to President Trump, former principal deputy director of
the Office of Public Liaison, and, former RPT Chairman, Steve Munisteri!
Chairman Munisteri will speak about the political outlook for Texas and his
White House experiences.
About Chairman Munisteri:
Munisteri is a retired attorney from Houston, Texas. He graduated from Memorial
High School. Munisteri received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree
from the University of Texas at Austin and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from UT Law
School, completing both degrees in five, instead of seven, years.
He worked at the law offices of Funderburk and Funderburk, then opened his solo
law practice on November 1, 1982, which he continued in partnership with others,
for twenty-seven years. The firm is now known as Sprott Newsom Quattlebaum
Messenger.
In addition to his legal practice, Munisteri was also involved in numerous other
businesses in his professional career.
He founded Munisteri Properties, a company with interests in commercial
properties; Munisteri Exploration, participating as a partner in the drilling of
oil and natural gas wells; managed dozens of professional boxers; freelanced as
a play-by-play announcer and commentator for independently produced televised
boxing matches; and, was a Court TV legal contributor and on-air personality.
Munisteri’s political career is extensive.
In his early political career, Munisteri served as state chairman of the Texas
Chapter of Young Americans for Freedom and founded the Young Conservatives of
Texas.
Additionally, he has served as State Chairman of Young Texans for Reagan; as a
precinct chairman of Harris County precincts 213 and 133 in the 1980s; and, was
elected to the State Republican Executive Committee for Senate District 17.
Munisteri has worked in over 50 campaigns in a volunteer capacity, including the
Lamar Alexander presidential campaign, the George W. Bush presidential campaign,
the Fred Thompson presidential campaign, and the John McCain presidential
campaign . He spent a month in California running the Bush campaign office in
San Fernando.
From 2010 to 2015, Munisteri served as chairman of the Republican Party of
Texas.
When he announced his candidacy for State Chairman, Munisteri cited a desire to
make the RPT a "more effective organization" by utilizing his "strong business
administrative skills".
Munisteri’s election marked the first time in modern history that a challenger
defeated a sitting incumbent at the state convention.
Under his chairmanship in the 2010 General Election, the Republican Party of
Texas had a net gain of 324 Republican elected offices, obtained a super
majority in the Texas House of Representatives, and won all statewide races on
the ballot.
Munisteri was reelected as State Chairman in June 2012, with only 1 out of over
9,000 delegates registered voting against him.
During the first three years of Munisteri’s Chairmanship, the Party brought in
approximately $13.5 million including approximately $6.7 million in 2012 alone.
The RPT’s improved financial condition allowed the RPT to be a major player in
the 2010 and 2012 elections. In June 2013, Chairman Munisteri announced a
partnership with the RNC to establish Victory Centers that would operate on a
year-round basis with staffers assigned specifically to outreach to the
Hispanic, African American, and Asian American communities.
In 2014 Chairman Munisteri sought re-election, and at the 2014 State Convention,
he was re-elected with only four votes against him out of approximately 7,000
delegates and alternates in attendance.
In November 2014, Munisteri announced that the party had set a new record for
the number of Republicans elected to office around the state. As of December 4,
2014 Republicans held 3,652 elected offices around the state. Also, the party
had brought in approximately $22 million and reached the milestone of being
completely debt-free for four consecutive years.
Upon resigning, he provided a detailed report reflecting that he was turning
over the chairmanship with $959,514 cash on hand plus $148,175 in pledges coming
in; that all liabilities were paid to $0; that during his tenure the RPT
collected $22,839,611 including $7,798,117 in 2014 alone; and, that there were
3,660 Republican officeholders across the state, totaling approximately 67% of
all offices in Texas.
Munisteri resigned as chairman in March 2015 to act as Senior Adviser for the
Rand Paul for President Campaign.
Thereafter, he served as Senior Adviser to RNC Chair, Reince Priebus.
In 2017, Munisteri was appointed to the White House staff as Deputy Assistant to
the President and Principal Deputy Director of the Office of Public Liaison.
He recently resigned his White House position, and has returned home to Texas to
work on Senator John Cornyn’s re-election campaign.
Downtown Houston Pachyderms - Thursday, February 7 Joanie Bain regarding Annie
Oakley, the first American Female Superstar
In addition to being a skilled attorney and mediator, this week’s speaker is
also a member of the Speakers’ Committee of the Houston Livestock Show and
Rodeo.
Come enjoy learning about Annie Oakley!
Joanie Lucci Bain is an accomplished trial and appellate attorney with over
thirty years of experience. She has practiced in both state and federal courts
including the United States Supreme Court and Texas Supreme Court, with an
emphasis in complex litigation and appeals. She is also an arbitrator, a
mediator and has served as special commissioner on numerous occasions. Joanie is
most proud, however, of being the mother of four wonderful boys, Bruce II,
Nicolas, Michael and Cameron. Married for 38 years this coming June, Joanie and
her husband, Bruce are lifelong partners in many ways.
Joanie attended University of Texas at Austin, where she graduated with honors.
Bruce and Joanie met at UT in 1978, and married one week after graduation. A
native Houstonian, Joanie returned to Houston where she attended University of
Houston School of Law.
Bruce and Joanie started their own Boutique law firm, Bain & Bain PLLC in 1995.
Since that time Bruce and Joanie have practiced together, raised a family
together, and campaigned together.
Joanie has also been active in community service throughout her career. She has
served at various times in numerous volunteer capacities for boy scouts and at
schools, including chairing the Memorial High School Booster Club Auction. She
also served as president of the Memorial High School Boys Lacrosse Club, and is
currently serving as president of her neighborhood homeowner’s association. She
taught Sunday School for elementary age students at her church, St. Cecilia’s,
for several years and has volunteered in several capacities at numerous church
activities.
Downtown Houston Pachyderms - Thursday, January 31 James Noteware regarding
lawsuit against City of Houston
For nearly 40 years, Mr. Noteware has specialized in the development of real
estate and the value-added turn-around of properties, portfolios and the
organizations that manage them, both private and public. Mr. Noteware’s projects
have won numerous awards for innovation, performance and impact. Currently,
through his various development and advisory companies, he is engaged in
development of major commercial projects and creation of residentially based
mixed-use communities in (re-)emerging urban infill locations in Houston, Texas.
And, as Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Ventures, Mr. Noteware also is active
in international trade and investment and property development.
Mr. Noteware’s business career has been supplemented by invitations from two
big-City mayors to lead large public agencies. He recently served two years as
the City of Houston’s Director of Housing and Community Development. The
Department had had a deeply troubled history for many years, and at the request
of then newly-elected Mayor Annise Parker, Mr. Noteware assumed leadership and
quickly effected a major organizational turn-around, returning the Department to
compliance with Federal and State funding agencies. He then led the City into
community development, emphasizing the revitalization of distressed
neighborhoods through close working relationships with community groups, the
creation of public-private partnerships and innovative financing mechanisms, and
stimulation of employment opportunities through economic development. The Urban
Land Institute’s Rose Foundation appointed him a Rose Fellow, 2010-11. He served
on the boards of directors of the Houston Housing Finance Corporation (HHFC),
Houston Business Development, Inc. (HBDi), the City’s economic development
financing organization, and the Coalition for the Homeless (CFH).
Previously, in 2003 and 2004, at the nomination of Mayor Anthony Williams of
Washington, DC and confirmation by the White House, Mr. Noteware led the real
estate investment, development and operations of the National Capital
Revitalization Corporation (NCRC), a joint venture between the District of
Columbia and US Federal Governments, to maximize and realize the value of the
real estate held by both entities in the nation’s capital. Mr. Noteware
recruited a new leadership team and worked closely with numerous constituencies
(including neighborhood groups, private developers, Federal and local officials
and institutional investors) to effect high profile transactions, development of
major projects and stimulation of neighborhood revitalization programs,
including transfer of the Southwest Waterfront to the Anacostia Waterfront
Corporation; redevelopment of the Mt. Vernon Triangle; creation of the DC USA /
Walmart project; sale of the Waterside Mall into numerous neighborhood mixed-use
developments; and numerous projects in Anacostia, Columbia Heights, along
Georgia Avenue / Howard University, and around Union Station near Capitol Hill.
Through Noteware Advisors and other entities, Mr. Noteware has served as interim
CEO of several real estate and other organizations, leading their workout,
turnaround and re-capitalization. On behalf of the FDIC, he led the liquidation
of more than $3 billion of distressed financial institutions and their
portfolios, frequently negotiating their transition to new private ownership.
From 1993 to 2002, Mr. Noteware served as Chairman & CEO of Maxxam Property
Company, the real estate development and investment operating subsidiaries of
Maxxam, Inc., the Houston-based Fortune 500 Company. His responsibilities
included overall planning and direction of the companies’ portfolios comprised
of multi-family housing, large-scale master planned communities, commercial and
special-use properties such as resorts, hotels and casinos. He guided the
“value-add” turn-around and disposition of Maxxam’s acquisition and five-year
hold of the Texas’s first RTC portfolio which included more than 8,000 apartment
units, and more than 1 million sf each of office space and shopping centers; led
the development of the 13,000 acre Town of Fountain Hills, Arizona, Phoenix’s
largest master planned new community; and directed the transition of Palms del
Mar in Puerto Rico, the largest single project in the Caribbean from a resort
operation to a residential master planned new community with resort amenities.
He also served as President of the Sam Houston Race Park, which received the
Houston Business Journal’s Legacy Award in 1994 for the most significant new
development in the region – the $100 mm project was built start-to-finish in
less than ten months, on time and on budget.
Prior to joining Maxxam, Mr. Noteware served as National Director of Real Estate
for Price Waterhouse, leading the firm’s real estate practice domestically and
internationally from its New York headquarters. In 1992, he received the firm’s
Outstanding Real Estate Professional Award for client service and practice
development. From 1979 to 1990, he served as National Director of Real Estate
for Laventhol & Horwath, becoming the youngest member of that firm’s board of
directors and leading the international real estate practice of Horwath &
Horwath, the firm’s global partnership. Early in his career, Mr. Noteware was a
management consultant for Booz, Allen & Hamilton in Washington, DC, focusing on
financial restructurings, workouts and turnarounds of problem loans and asset
management for the resulting REO for major money center banks; he practiced
architecture in Palo Alto, California, participating in the design of several
major projects including the Las Colinas Ranch near the DFW airport in Irving,
Texas and Harbor Bay Isle in the San Francisco Bay.
Throughout his career, Mr. Noteware has held leadership positions in many real
estate and other organizations, including Chairmanship of the Urban Land
Institute’s Houston District Council, from 1996 to 2000, and serving on the
board of Directors of the Real Estate Roundtable, the organization that
represents the industry’s interests in Washington, DC. He is a member of the
Young Presidents (YPO) / World Presidents Organization (WPO) and serves on the
boards of several significant organizations, public and private. He holds a
Bachelors Degree in Architecture and Civil Engineering from Stanford University
and an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Noteware is a member of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – January 24th – R. W. Bray- The Legacy of MLK
Jr.
Please join us for lunch on Thursday, January 24th to hear from R. W. Bray on
the Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. as the fight for unity continues.
About RW:
Rasuali Wayne “R.W.” Bray serves as the Deputy Regional Director for Senator Ted
Cruz where he serves as a proxy, representative and liaison throughout South
East Texas. In addition to his role for the Senator, Bray tours Texas and other
states speaking on the importance of Party/Political Engagement and how to
successfully engage with measurable results and fulfilled goals.
In addition to his civilian responsibilities, Bray is currently assigned to the
Texas Air National Guard 147 Attack Wing, Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base,
Houston, Texas. Serving as the First Sergeant to the Logistics Readiness
Squadron, he has been responsible for ensuring the discipline, esprit de corps,
morale, health, wellness, and welfare of the enlisted members retained to his
squadron.
Bray has over 15 years of experience in the field of law and politics. Bray held
the position of Black Engagement Director for the Republican Party of Texas for
2 ½ years before becoming the Engagement Director and Tracker for Ted Cruz for
Senate Campaign. He has a degree in Business and Political Science from Dillard
University and UofH Downtown.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – January 17 – Hon. Jacquie Baly
Please join us for lunch on Thursday, January 17th to hear from Jacquie Baly,
President of
BalyProjects, and a conservative voice in local media, on Minorities in the
GOP and Moving Forward Towards Victory in 2020
About Jacquie:
Jacquie Baly, President of BalyProjects, has been a leader in the Houston
region's business and policy communities for more than two decades. Jacquie
founded BalyProjects with the objective of providing public affairs and media
relations services to clients. She began her career as a city and regional
planner for numerous entities then served as Governor Rick Perry’s appointee on
water and wastewater issues. Soon after she was elected as Mayor Pro Tem and
Councilmember At Large for the City of Sugar Land and most recently became an
advisor and appointee of Governor Greg Abbott’s on higher education initiatives.
If Jacquie looks familiar that is because she can be seen and heard as a
political analyst for various television and radio stations including FOX 26,
KTRH and KSEV.
Jacquie has won numerous awards including the Linda Hancock Memorial Award,
KTRK-13 Woman of Distinction, Outstanding Young American by the United States
Junior Chamber of Commerce, University of Houston Alumni Association’s “Rising
Star” and Black Alumnus of the Year awards.
Jacquie participates in many activities to support Conservative causes. She is
currently a Fort Bend Republican Party Precinct Chair as well as a member of the
Fort Bend Republican Women’s PAC. A native of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands,
Jacquie holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s degree in
City Planning. She lectures on public policy at the University of Houston and
served as a Faculty-In-Residence at the University of Texas in Austin. She is
the proud mother of Raphael a junior at Trinity University who just returned
from Cape Cod playing baseball and Alex, a freshman at Harvard who is majoring
in neuroscience and is on the pre-med track.

Sonia Rivera, Candidate
for Houston City Council
Please join us for lunch on Thursday, January 10th to hear from Sonia Rivera,
2019 Candidate for Houston City Council At Large Position 5
About Sonia:
Sonia worked at AAMA Health and Human Services from 1997 - 2009. While there she
served as Program Director for the Substance Abuse and Gang
Prevention/Intervention programs working in collaboration with local law
enforcement, Juvenile Probation, and School Districts. She was also responsible
for launching the Homeless Youth Transitional Program. In 2009 she launched
Genesis Consulting the umbrella for: Youth Genesis Consulting placed focus on
providing Youth Leadership, Positive Parent, and Teacher Development. In 2010
she founded a non-profit named YGC, Inc. under which she coordinated annual
Youth Conferences for over 400 youth from across Houston.
Sonia helped found and served as Executive Director for the Texas Latino GOP PAC
from 2017-2018.
Sonia has helped develop Small Business opportunities by launching Small
Business Forums bridging the gap between Small Businesses and Procurement
Opportunities; Educational Forums for diverse communities; Implemented Strategic
Partnerships with the City of Houston, Houston Minority Supplier Diversity
Council, Houston Minority Contractors, and other like Organizations including
the International Trade Development Council, and Houston Area Chambers of
Commerce; Asian Chamber, Black Chamber, Indo-American Chambers of Commerce.
Sonia has been active in the community including the following organizations:
National Hispanic Professional Organization (NHPO) – 2004 to 2018; Chairwoman
1/2015-6/2016; Appointed as the National President of NHPO 6/2016-12/2018;
Hispanic Scholarship Fund 2015-Present; Houston Advisory Board; Texas
Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce 2015-2017, Board Secretary;
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, 2012-Present, Go Tejano Committee; HLSR Rodeo
Express; Talento Bilingue Cultural Arts and Education Center – 2012-Present,
Special Events Coordinator; Hispanic Women in Leadership 2009-2010 Scholarship
Director/Mentor; Girls Scouts – Associate Troop Leader 2006-2010.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – January 3rd – Martha Fierro,
Candidate for Texas House District 145 Special Election
Please join us for lunch to ring in the new year on Thursday, January 3rd to
hear from Martha Fierro, Candidate for Texas House District 145. The special
election will be held on Tuesday, January 29, 2019.
By taking the Senate District 6 office, Alvarado will fill the remainder of
former Senator Sylvia Garcia’s term, which ends in January 2021. As Reform
Austin previously reported, Garcia resigned the seat in November 2018, after
winning election to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Immediately after being sworn in to the Texas Senate, Governor Greg Abbott
issued a proclamation announcing Tuesday, January 29, 2019 as the special
election date to fill the Texas House of Representatives District seat recently
vacated by former Representative Carol Alvarado. Candidates who wish to have
their name on the ballot for the special election have to file with the
Secretary of State no later than 5:00 pm on January 3, 2019. Early voting for
the House District 145 seat will begin on Monday, January 14, 2019.
Several candidates have already declared their intention to run or expressed
interest in doing so, including Houston Community College Trustee Adriana Tamez,
former Houston City Council Member and former House District 145 representative
Melissa Noriega, small business owner Christina Morales, HISD Board Trustee
Diana Davila, and the lone Republican candidate in the recent Senate District 6
special election, Martha Fierro.
Texas Senate District 6 is located in eastern Harris County, and includes
Houston’s Denver Harbor, East End and Near Northside communities, as well as
Aldine, Baytown, Channelview, Jacinto City, Pasadena and South Houston.
Texas House District 145, also in Harris County, includes portions of southeast
Houston, the Houston Heights, South Houston and Pasadena.
Reform Austin will continue to follow and report on developments related to the
House District 145 special election and the upcoming 86th legislative session.
-
Reform Austin
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – December 12 – Christmas Luncheon, Tribute to
Outgoing Republican Judges and Clerks, Star of Hope collection and Installation
of 2019 Board
Please join us for lunch on Wednesday, December 12th, to celebrate Christmas,
honor our outgoing Republican Judges and Clerks, collect items for the Star of
Hope, and install the 2019 Board
A special Christmas buffet luncheon will be served and provided by DT Pachyderm
as we thank our outgoing Republican judiciary and District and County Clerks for
their years of service to Harris County!
We will also collect donations for the Star of Hope Mission
Urgently needed items include
Deodorant – men’s and women’s
Lotion
Large bars of soap
Diapers, especially sizes 5 and 6
Sippy cups
Towels
Pillows
Blankets
Razors
For more information, visit www.sohmission.org
It’s time for dues again!
We are accepting payments for dues for 2019. Annual dues are $40, or $20 if you
are a member of another Pachyderm Club
Don't forget to "like" us on Facebook. We've hit a record of over 800 'likes'!
Thank you for helping us achieve our goal!
We have started a new menu option for entree size salad, soup of the day and
dessert, for those who would prefer it instead of the selected entrée.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – November 15 – Gary Polland and Election of
2019 Board
Please join us to hear from this week’s featured speaker, former HCRP Chairman
Gary Polland, and help us elect our 2019 Board
About Gary:
The pugnacious and always outspoken Gary Polland is one of the most trusted
conservative voices in Texas. Whether it's through the popular TCR Internet
newsletter and website, his TCR voters guides, or as co-host of Red, White and
Blue, now in its seventeenth year - the popular political roundtable show on
Houston Public Media (PBS) - He is also a regular commentator on radio and an
Election Night regular on KPRC Channel 2 Houston. Polland has made himself into
a force for tough, thoughtful conservatives. Polland has been a practicing
attorney for more than 42 years. His practice is a mix of civil, family and
juvenile trial work. He is Board Certified in Civil Trial law and has a
reputation as a tough and skilled advocate for his clients. He was featured in
Texas Justice, a book about outstanding Texas lawyers and historical
courthouses. Polland served as Harris County Republican Chairman from 1996 to
2002 and was overwhelmingly returned to office every time he ran. As party
chairman, he earned national recognition for his leadership. His aggressive
party-building efforts were featured in publications like Human Events, The
American Spectator, The Houston Chronicle and Inside Houston Magazine. Over the
years, Polland's political alliances have stretched from the White House to the
halls of Congress and to the Texas Legislature and governor's mansion. He is a
confidant to state, national and local officials. His support and advice have
proven invaluable to conservatives seeking office. His TCR voter guides for
voters offer insight and information on local, state and national issues and
elections. They have become a key feature of the campaign season in Texas for 16
years. Polland has served locally as a member of the Executive Committee of the
Community Relations Commission and was leader of the Texas Legislative Mission
to Israel. He also has served on the executive committee of the American Israel
Public Affairs Committee and the board of the Susan B. Anthony List, a pro-life
political action committee. He also served as Vice Chairman of United Jewish
Communities Human Services and Social Policy Pillar. He co-chaired the group's
"Washington Fly-In" event. Most recently, Polland serves on the Board of
Directors for American Values, a national non-profit organization committed to
uniting the American people around the vision of our Founding Fathers, with a
dedication to protect the values of family, faith and freedom. Polland earned a
degree in Business Administration and his Juris Doctor at the University of
Texas. While there, he was named a Cactus Outstanding Student, a College of
Business Administration Outstanding Student and a member of the Friars Honor
Society. He served in the United States Air Force and Army reserves. Polland was
honored the "Elected Official of the Year" awarded from the Republican National
Hispanic Assembly and he received the "Tuff Tusk" award from the National
Federation of Pachyderm Clubs and was also named "Reaganite of the Year" by the
Reagan Alumni Association. Gary is author of the book, "A Time for Choosing 35
Years Later", (an update of President Reagan's classic speech.) Whether it's on
the web, in books, on television or radio in the forefront of the latest
political battle, Gary Polland is a conservative leader voters have come to rely
on for insight and information.
We will be electing members of the 2019 Board of Directors at this meeting. If
you have been a member for at least four months and are interested in serving,
please let us know in advance of the meeting so that you can be included on the
ballot.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – November 8 Hon. Kevin Yeary
Please join us to hear from this week’s featured speaker, Hon. Kevin Yeary,
Judge on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
About Judge Yeary:
Judge Kevin Patrick Yeary was elected to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in
2014. In 1991, he served as briefing attorney at the Texas Court of Criminal
Appeals. He has worked as a defense attorney in private practice and as an
Assistant District Attorney for Dallas, Harris and Bexar Counties. He is a
graduate of the St. Mary's University School of Law.
It’s time for dues again!
We are accepting payments for dues for 2019. Annual dues are $40, or $20 if you
are a member of another Pachyderm Club
Don't forget to "like" us on Facebook. We've hit a record of over 800 'likes'!
Thank you for helping us achieve our goal!
We have started a new menu option for entree size salad, soup of the day and
dessert, for those who would prefer it instead of the selected entrée.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – November 1 Ray Hunt regarding Proposition B
The November election is just a week away! Please join us to hear from this
week’s featured speaker, HPOU’s past president, Ray Hunt. He will discuss
Proposition B on the November ballot.
About Ray Hunt:
Ray is a Native Houstonian, and graduated from UT Austin. He joined HPD in 1989,
was appointed in 1997 to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement by
then-Governor George Bush, was HPOU President from 2012-2018, is the current
Immediate Past President of HPOU, and is a lifelong Republican.
We will be electing members of the board of directors next month. If you have
been a member for at least four months and are interested in serving, please let
us know, so that you can be included on the ballot.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – October 25 Hon. Jennifer Caughey and Hon.
Roger Bridgwater
The November election is just a few weeks away and early voting begins Monday,
October 22nd! Downtown Pachyderm will continue featuring Republican candidates
who are on the November ballot. Please come hear about their races, and see what
you can do to help them WIN!
This week’s featured speakers are: Hon. Jennifer Caughey, Justice on the 1st
Court of Appeals, and, Hon. Roger Bridgwater, candidate for Judge of Harris
County Criminal Court #15

About Justice Caughey, in her own words:
Serving you as a Justice on Texas’s First Court of Appeals has been one of the
greatest honors of my life. In this role, I work hard every day addressing a
broad docket of civil and criminal appeals from Harris County and nine
surrounding counties. I am on the ballot in 2018 to keep my seat, and I hope to
earn your support.
While serving in this role, I have authored more than 100 opinions and
contributed to another approximately 160. In each one, I have honored the
promises I made when I took my oath of office. I promised to preserve, protect,
and defend the Constitutions of Texas and the United States. I promised to give
each and every case time and respect—to study all briefs and the record and to
independently and thoroughly research the law. And I promised to faithfully
apply the law (statutes, the Constitution, and contracts) as it is written so we
remain governed by laws, not men. I have worked tirelessly every day to keep
those commitments.
My background prepared me well for this role. I grew up in Houston. I earned my
undergraduate degree Phi Beta Kappa from Princeton University and my law degree
from Harvard Law School, where I was a leader of the Journal of Law & Public
Policy and taught legal research and writing.
After law school, I served as a law clerk on federal and state appellate courts,
where I assisted with drafting opinions. I then developed a fulfilling practice
in Houston at Baker Botts and Smyser Kaplan & Veselka, and at Gibson Dunn in
Washington, D.C. I handled a diverse litigation docket at the trial and
appellate levels, focusing on complex civil cases.
During my clerkships and in private practice, I saw firsthand the utmost
importance of electing judges who are committed to the Constitution and the rule
of law, who believe that we are governed by laws and not men, and who respect
limited government and the separation of powers. It is a true privilege to be
able to carry out these principles every day. I am very grateful for your trust
in me.
I am also grateful for my wonderful family. My husband Ryan and I met in
college, were married eleven years ago here in Houston at St. Martin’s Episcopal
Church, and have two children, Emily and James, who bring us endless joy.
I look forward to getting to know you and would be honored to have your support.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Caughey

About Roger Bridgwater:
Roger Bridgwater was highly respected as Judge of the 178th Criminal District
Court of Harris County and was among the over two-dozen Excellent Republican
Judges who were swept out by the Obama landslide of 2008. Bridgwater, a licensed
attorney since 1979, returned to private practice of law in January 2013. Roger,
an esteemed attorney and counselor of the law, brings to his private practice
unique trial skills and personal relationships developed in his 37 years of
experience as an Assistant District Attorney, Criminal Defense Attorney, and
State District Criminal Court Judge. He is knowledgeable and stands firm in
support of his client and their representation. Before re-entering private
practice, from December 2008 to December 2012, he served in the Office of
Patricia R. Lykos, Harris County District Attorney (HCDA) as Chief of the
Professional Development, Community Protection, and Ethics Bureau. Bridgwater
was a part of Judge Lykos transition team in December 2008 and joined her staff
full-time in January 2009. His areas of responsibilities include coordinating
office-wide training and continuing legal education for all 272 Assistant
District Attorneys (ADA) including the 61 Investigators in the DA’s office as
well as overseeing the 73 ADA's within this Bureau assigned to the 15 Criminal
County Courts, the Mental Health and Child Exploitation Sections as well as the
Family Violence and the Crimes Against Children Divisions. He is also charged
with development and implementation of special programs including those
associated with the DWI Intervention and other diversion opportunities. Prior to
serving in his current position as a Bureau Chief in the HCDA Office, Bridgwater
worked as an Assistant Harris County District Attorney (1979-1983) under former
District Attorneys Carol Vance and Johnny Holmes until leaving to serve in
private practice in the Law Offices of Roger Bridgwater, P.C. (1984-2007). In
2007, Bridgwater received the gubernatorial appointment by Texas Governor, Rick
Perry, to preside as Judge of the 178th Harris County Criminal District Court.
In May 1975, Bridgwater graduated from Sam Houston State University where he
Majored in English, Minored in Business Administration and obtained a Bachelor
of Arts Degree with Secondary Education Teaching Certification. After admission
to South Texas College of Law (1975-1978), Bridgwater while in school full-time
was employed as a Harris County Criminal Court Trial Clerk (1975-1977) as well
as a Harris County Criminal District Court Coordinator (1977-1979). From July
1983 to July 2007, Attorney Bridgwater, through the Law Offices of Roger
Bridgwater, was actively engaged in the private practice of law with primary
emphasis on protecting the rights of the wrongfully accused. Roger is known for
his advocacy in behalf of his clients as well as his determination to protect
their rights as he pursues their vindication Roger and his wife of over 40
years, Mary Ann, daughter of former County Criminal Court Judge, Jack Treadway,
in December 1975. They have two married daughters and 3 grandchildren. Roger is
very active in our community. He has served as Chair and/or Board Member of
several non-profit ministries. He is also a past Chair of the Houston Bar
Association Criminal Law and Procedure Section and previously served as a
trustee of Houston Baptist University. The Bridgwater family has also served on
numerous short-term local, national and international mission trips since 1989.
He is a former Deacon Chair at Houston’s First Baptist Church where he and Mary
Ann were active members for 38 years.
Downtown Houston Pachyderms – October 18 Hon. Renee Magee, Ruben Villarreal,
Hon. James Lombardino

About Renee Magee:
Renee Magee was born in Texas City and was one of eight children. At a young
age, her father's job took Renee and her family to Offutt Air Force Base in
Nebraska. During this time, Renee began swimming competitively at age 5 1/2. She
eventually went on to represent Texas and the United States in the 1976 Olympics
in Montreal. (See Team USA below.) Renee returned to Texas in high school where
she graduated from Clear Lake High School and went on to complete college and
law school at the University of Houston.
Renee is one of the most respected in her field for being fair, honest and hard
working. Throughout her athletic career and her career as a top prosecutor,
Renee's drive and determination have humbly been on display. The same drive and
determination that made her a young Olympian and the same respected record she
has earned as a prosecutor and district court judge will continue to benefit the
citizens of Harris County upon her re-election.
Renee began working at the Harris County District Attorney office in 1992. Renee
was a strong asset for the citizens of Harris County as an Assistant District
Attorney for 21 years and as a District Court Judge in the 337th for 4 years.
Her accomplishments included:
• Trying 148 criminal cases to a jury including murder, sexual assault,
aggravated robbery and home invasion cases
• A 12-year tenure as a felony district court chief supervising junior
prosecutors in 4 District courts
• Trying 10 capital murder cases to a jury
• Six years as a felony chief in the white collar crime and public assistance
fraud-special crimes divisions.
As Judge of the 337th District court, Renee significantly reduced her pending
caseload through diligence and hard work in an effort to provide a fair and
speedy resolution of cases. Renee also volunteered to preside over a mental
health caseload, wherein she supervised mentally ill defendants who were on
probation for criminal offenses and needed assistance in connecting with
community programs designed to prevent recidivism.
Renee and her husband, Tucker, reside in Houston. Renee has two grown children:
Angela, a physician with the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and
Christopher, a licensed attorney in Miami, Florida. Renee and Tucker are the
proud grandparents of four-year-old Benjamin and two-year-old, Elissa. Renee's
parents, June and Jack Magee, reside in El Lago, Texas. Renee is a lifelong
Republican and a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church.
Renee put her pride in her country and her special talent on the world stage
when she competed in the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. Renee broke the glass
ceiling for female swimmers in Texas. She was the first female Texas swimmer to
make an Olympic team in an individual event. In April 2011, Renee was inducted
into the Texas Swimming & Diving Hall of Fame.

About Ruben Villarreal
Ruben is a graduate of Pasadena High School and received two Master’s degrees
from Houston Baptist University, an MBA and an MAP.
Ruben’s leadership has been forged and proven over the years as he has co-pastored
with his father at La Iglesia del Pueblo, a church that was founded by Pastor
Roberto Ruben and Rosalinda Villarreal and has remained in the North side of
Pasadena since 1981. La Iglesia del Pueblo is a dynamic church with well over
1,800 attendees at Sunday morning services. Ruben helps provide leadership for
over 25 employees and over 100 volunteers in the ministry.
In 2001, Ruben and his father, Pastor Roberto Ruben Villarreal, founded Radio
Aleluya, a network of over 15 radio stations in and around Houston with a
Spanish Christian format. Radio Aleluya has united over 100 local ministries in
the Houston area.
In 2003, Ruben became the school director of Pueblo’s Royal Christian School,
where his wife, Nallely Villarreal, is the current principal. Pueblo’s Royal
Christian School serves families with children from Pre-K to the 12th grade. The
school offers affordable private school education to primarily middle class and
low income families.
Pueblo’s Royal Christian School also has an adult education program helping
immigrants learn English and prepare for the US citizenship exam. Ruben has
worked with Rosie Siller, the adult program’s director and principal teacher, to
help over 1,000 residents reach the American dream of becoming US citizens.

Hon. James Lombardino has been an attorney since 1976, and has been the judge of
the 308th District Court since 2011. He joins us this week to talk about his
reelection campaign.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – October 11 Pastor Rafael Cruz
The November election is less than one month away and early voting begins
October 22nd! Downtown Pachyderm will continue featuring Republican candidates
who are on the November ballot. Please come hear about their races, and see what
you can do to help them WIN!
This week’s featured speaker is Pastor Rafael Cruz. Please join us to hear from
Senator Ted Cruz’s father!
About Pastor Cruz:
Rafael Cruz is a powerful example of the American Dream. Born in Cuba, Rafael
lived and suffered under a cruel, oppressive dictator. He began fighting
Batista’s regime as a teenager and was imprisoned and tortured simply because he
wanted to be free.
Rafael arrived in Texas in 1957 on a student visa. He got a job as a dishwasher,
making 50 cents an hour, and worked his way through the University of Texas,
while learning English. He later built a small business in further pursuit of
the American Dream.
In early 1980, Rafael Cruz joined the State Board of the Religious Roundtable, a
Judeo-Christian organization that mobilized millions of people of faith during
the Presidential Campaign of Ronald Reagan.
He is an ordained minister and the Director of Grace for America, sharing the
Word of God in churches and Pastors Conferences throughout the United States. He
is the author of A Time for Action, Empowering the Faithful to Reclaim America.
His son, Ted Cruz, is a constitutional conservative U.S. Senator from Texas and
former a candidate for United States President.
When Ted was a child growing up in Houston, Rafael would tell him, “When we
faced oppression in Cuba, I had a place to flee to. If we lose our freedom here,
where do we go?”
That’s why Rev. Cruz is passionate about returning America to the biblical and
historical foundations that made this country exceptional.
It’s time for dues again!
Beginning this month, we are accepting payments for dues for 2019. Annual dues
are $40, or $20 if you are a member of another Pachyderm Club
Don't forget to "like" us on Facebook. We've hit a record of over 800 'likes'!
Thank you for helping us achieve our goal!
We have started a new menu option for entree size salad, soup of the day and
dessert, for those who would prefer it instead of the selected entrée.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – October 4 Hon. Jim Murphy
The November election is just one month away! Downtown Pachyderm is featuring
Republican candidates who are on the November ballot. Please come hear about
their races, and see what you can do to help them WIN!
This week’s featured speaker is the Honorable Jim Murphy, State Representative
District 133, who is seeking reelection.

About Rep. Murphy-
State Representative Jim Murphy serves in the Texas House, representing District
133 in West Houston. Murphy is currently in his fifth term. Murphy serves as the
Chairman of the House Committee on Special Purpose Districts and is a member of
the Ways & Means Committee. He also serves as the Floor Leader of the House
Republican Caucus.
Murphy’s legislative work has been recognized with awards from the Combined Law
Enforcement Association of Texas, Texas Right to Life, Texas Conservative
Coalition, Texas Association of Manufacturers, National Federation of
Independent Business, Houston Executive Council, Texas Charter School
Association, National Coalition for Capital, and Texas Association of Business.
Murphy represents Texas on the US Energy Council, and the NCSL Committee on
State and Local Revenue. He serves on the Board of the Texas Conservative
Coalition (TCC) and is the Co-Chair for the TCC’s task force on Budget and
Revenue.
Prior to his service in the Legislature, Murphy began his professional career as
a teacher in the City of Houston. Murphy was twice elected to the HCC Board of
Trustees and served from 1997 to 2006. He is President of District Management
Services, a consulting firm assisting economic development organizations. For
over 20 years, he has served as one of the driving forces of Westchase District
– the 4.2 square mile business district in West Houston.
Murphy has served on numerous boards in the community including the Houston West
Chamber of Commerce, West Houston Medical Center, and the Houston Association of
Commercial Real Estate Professionals. He is an active member of the Greater
Houston Partnership, the Houston Association of Realtors, and the Urban Land
Institute.
Murphy’s community service includes work with the Jaycees — where he served as
local President and as State President. He was named one of the Five Outstanding
Young Texans in 1995. He was a founder and Vice Chair of the Alief Education
Foundation and was appointed to the John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership
Institute’s Advisory Council by the UT Regents.
Murphy grew up in West Houston and graduated from Strake Jesuit and UT Austin.
He and his wife, Dr. Kathleen Murphy, have two adult sons, Robert and Pace. They
are active members of St. John Vianney Catholic Church.
It’s time for dues again!
Beginning this month, we are accepting payments for dues for 2019. Annual dues
are $40, or $20 if you are a member of another Pachyderm Club
Don't forget to "like" us on Facebook. We've hit a record of over 800 'likes'!
Thank you for helping us achieve our goal!
We have started a new menu option for entree size salad, soup of the day and
dessert, for those who would prefer it instead of the selected entrée.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club –September 27th Hon. Debra Ibarra Mayfield, Hon.
Clyde Leuchtag
The November election is less than 2 months away! Downtown Pachyderm will be
featuring Republican candidates who are on the November ballot. Please come hear
about their races, and see what you can do to help them WIN!
This week’s featured speakers are the Honorable Debra Ibarra Mayfield, Judge of
the 190th District Court, and, the Honorable Clyde Leuchtag, former Judge and
candidate for Harris County Civil Court at Law #1
About Judge Mayfield-
Hon. Debra Ibarra Mayfield is a two-time judicial appointee of Governor Greg
Abbott. Judge Mayfield became Abbott's first judicial appointee in Harris County
when he tapped her for the 165th District Court. Most recently, Governor Abbott
appointed Judge Mayfield to the 190th District Court, a post to which she will
run for re-election in 2018.
Before becoming a State District Judge, Debra was the first Latina County Court
at Law Judge in Harris County. Having been unanimously appointed by the
Commissioners' Court, she served as Judge of County Civil Court at Law No. 1.
Judge Mayfield has served as senior in-house legal counsel for Enterprise
Products, one of the largest publicly traded partnerships and a leading North
American provider of midstream energy services. She also served as adjunct
professor at the University of Houston Law Center, teaching private property
rights and eminent domain. Before her judicial career, Judge Mayfield was a
partner in a civil defense firm where she handled litigation and appeals in both
state and federal courts across the State of Texas.
Judge Mayfield is an alumna of Texas A&M University and South Texas College of
Law Houston. She serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations and
bar associations, including the Association for the Advancement of Mexican
Americans (AAMA), the Association of Women Attorneys (AWA), and the Mexican
American Bar Association of Houston (MABAH).
She has received numerous recognitions for her public service, including being
selected as a "Woman on the Move" by Texas Executive Women, award the "Public
Service Award" from South Texas College of Law, the Amicus Award by the Mexican
American Bar Association of Texas, selected as one of "Houston's 50 Most
Influential Women" by Houston Women Magazine, and awarded the "Outstanding
Mentor Award" by the Houston Young Lawyers' Association. Also, the Texas State
Bar Convention honored her for her significant contributions to the Hispanic
legal community.
Judge Mayfield is married to Eric Mayfield, a former United States Army Captain,
and they have two young children.
About Judge Leuchtag-
Former Judge, Hon. Clyde Leuchtag, was the judge of Harris County Civil Court at
Law #1 from June 2015 to December 2016 -- and was the people's judge inside and
outside the courtroom. Before every county-wide Republican up for election in
November 2016 was swept out of office, Judge Leuchtag had earned a reputation
for FAIRNESS and for treating all people with RESPECT and courtesy, while
faithfully following the law.
Judge Leuchtag has a proven track record of excellence in his 18 months on the
bench from June 2015 to December 2016.
Judge Leuchtag was also the highest rated county civil court judge by the
Houston Bar Association's Judicial Candidate Qualification Questionnaires. No
mandamus appeals were ever filed against Judge Leuchtag, and as of September
2018, none of Judge Leuchtag's decisions have been reversed and only 1 judgment
modified!

About Sophia:
Sophia Mafrige is a native Houstonian whose 30 year legal career has delved into
all levels of litigation, transactional and real/estate property matters.
Graduating with her law degree from South Texas College of Law-Houston in 1988,
she became a licensed attorney with the State Bar of Texas that same year.
Sophia launched her own law practice in 1991 and has handled a comprehensive
litany of civil litigation matters including commercial/contract litigation,
condemnation/eminent domain proceedings, consumer law, personal injury, ad
valorem property tax collection and defense, family law, appraisal district
protests as an Agent for property owners, probate, real estate title disputes,
civil mediations, collections and transactional work. Throughout, she has
represented individuals, corporations and small businesses on both sides of the
docket in cases involving monetary amounts ranging from hundreds to millions of
dollars.
Sophia serves as Commissioner and Chairman of the City of Houston Police
Officers' Civil Service Commission, is a Fellow with the Houston Bar Foundation,
participates with South Texas College of Law’s Advocacy Program, with the
Houston Gala Committee for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and, is a
member of the following organizations: Houston Bar Association, Houston Realty
Business Coalition, Association of Women Attorneys, Delta Theta Phi Law
Fraternity and Gamma Phi Beta Sorority.
Sophia is a lifetime member of St. George Orthodox Christian Church where she
served for over 20 years as an elected member of the Parish Council, and, as
Council President, Vice-President and Secretary for multiple terms in each role.
Sophia was appointed in 2012 to the Legal Affairs Committee for the Assembly of
Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the U.S.A. In 2017, she volunteered with IOCC for
Hurricane Harvey relief.
Sophia has served as an officer or board member in Magic Circle RW, the Greater
Houston Council of Federated Republican Womens Clubs, and Pachyderm Clubs. She
is currently on the Board and past President of Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club,
and was appointed to the National Pachyderm Foundation Board in 2015. Sophia was
an Honoree in the 2014 and 2012 Texas Federation of Republican Womens Clubs
Tribute to Women.
She is on the November 6th ballot as the Republican Nominee for Judge of Harris
County Civil Court at Law Number 4. #MamaMiaVoteforSophia
.
It’s time for dues again!
We are accepting payments for dues for 2018. Annual dues are $40, or $20 if you
are a member of another Pachyderm Club
Don't forget to "like" us on Facebook. We've hit a record of over 800 'likes'!
Thank you for helping us achieve our goal!
We have started a new menu option for entree size salad, soup of the day and
dessert, for those who would prefer it instead of the selected entrée.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club –September 13th Hon. Orlando Sanchez
The November election is just 2 months away! Downtown Pachyderm will be
featuring Republican candidates who are on the November ballot. Please come hear
about their races, and see what you can do to help them WIN!
This week’s featured speaker is the Honorable Orlando Sanchez, Harris County
Treasurer.
Elected in November of 2006, Harris County Treasurer, Orlando Sanchez, the first
immigrant to be chosen county-wide by the voters for a non-judicial office,
oversees Harris County’s multiple bank accounts, pays the county’s expenses and
is an independent set of eyes in overseeing spending of county taxpayer dollars.
Sanchez is seeking re-election.
Sanchez came to Houston in 1962 when his father was hired by former Harris
County Judge Roy Hofheinz to be one of two Spanish announcers for the Colt 45s
Baseball Club and then the Houston Astros. Sanchez grew up in southwest Houston
and graduated from Bellaire High School before joining the U.S. Air Force in
1976. After his tour he enlisted in the 147th Fighter Interceptor Group of the
Texas Air National Guard at the then-named Ellington Field.
He graduated cum laude from the University of Houston with a degree in political
science and embarked on a career as a public servant, first as a three-term
Houston City Council member and then as Harris County Treasurer. Orlando was
named the University of Houston’s College of Social Sciences Distinguished
Alumnus. Orlando also sits on the Harris County Bail Bonds Board, is a member of
the Board of Directors of Capital Bank, a life member of the Houston Livestock
Show and Rodeo, the 100 Club of Houston and is a former advisory member of the
University of Houston Law School Foundation and current advisory member of
Volunteer Interfaith Caregivers-Southwest (VIC-SW), an organization that
provides free one-on-one assistance to the frail and elderly in southwest
Houston through a network of volunteers who provide services. In addition, he is
a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and British–American Fellow.
In 1995 Orlando was elected to serve as a member of the Houston City Council. He
was the first Latino immigrant elected to a city-wide position in Houston. He
served three terms and helped his colleagues pass the first property tax cut in
decades. Orlando also chaired the city’s International Trade Committee, the
Legislative Affairs Committee and chaired the Cellular Tower Working Committee.
He has served on the Texas Attorney General’s Municipal Advisory Committee and
was appointed to the U.S. Senate Task Force on Hispanic Affairs.
Orlando has one daughter, Aubrie, who graduated from Boston University in 2014.
It’s time for dues again!
We are accepting payments for dues for 2018. Annual dues are $40, or $20 if you
are a member of another Pachyderm Club
Don't forget to "like" us on Facebook. We've hit a record of over 800 'likes'!
Thank you for helping us achieve our goal!
We have started a new menu option for entree size salad, soup of the day and
dessert, for those who would prefer it instead of the selected entrée.
UPCOMING MEETINGS/EVENTS-
September 13 Hon. Orlando Sanchez
September 20 Hon. Roger Bridgwater
September 27 Hon Clyde Leuchtag, Hon Debra Ibarra Mayfield
October 4 Hon. Jim Murphy
October 11 Pastor Rafael Cruz
October 18 Hon. Renee Magee
LOCATION:
The Pearl at the SAM Houston Hotel
1117 Prairie [between Fannin and San Jacinto streets]
11:30 a.m. Networking
12 Noon lunch and program
$20.00 [fixed 3-course lunch, with tea or coffee, inclusive of gratuity and
taxes]
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Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club –September 6th
The November election is just 2 months away! Downtown Pachyderm will be
featuring Republican candidates who are on the November ballot. Please come hear
about their races, and see what you can do to help them WIN!
This week’s featured speakers are the Honorable Linda Garcia, candidate for
Judge of Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 6, and, the Honorable Bill
Boyce, Justice on the Fourteenth Court of Appeals, Place 6

Judge Linda Garcia was unanimously appointed by Harris County Commissioners
Court as judge of the newly-created Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 16
in December 2015 and took the bench on January 4, 2016. After being defeated in
the 2016 election, she is the nominee for Court 6, which is an open bench.
Prior to taking the bench, Judge Garcia was a prosecutor with the Harris County
District Attorney’s Office for over 15 years, where she tried over 70 jury
trials to a verdict, served as a chief prosecutor in the Misdemeanor and Justice
Court Divisions, and served in the Post Conviction Writs, Child Abuse, and Grand
Jury Divisions. Judge Garcia also held statewide office for 9 years as a
gubernatorial appointee to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, where she was
responsible for release and revocation decisions for inmates, made
recommendations to the Governor on death penalty cases, and served as the
Board’s liaison to TDCJ-Victim Services Division and the Chairman of the Rules
Committee. Judge Linda Garcia and her husband, Tom, have been married for 18
years and have one son, Trent; the family are active members of and attend
Annunciation Catholic Church.

Justice Bill Boyce was appointed to the Fourteenth Court of Appeals in December
2007 after practicing law for 18 years as an associate and partner at Fulbright
& Jaworski L.L.P. While in private practice he argued more than 60 cases in
appellate courts throughout Texas and across the country, including the Supreme
Court of the United States. He has been board certified by the Texas Board of
Legal Specialization in Civil Appellate Law since 1994, and has served on the
board’s appellate exam drafting committee. He has been chosen as Appellate Judge
of the year by the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists.
Justice Boyce graduated with honors from Northwestern University in 1985, and
graduated with honors from Northwestern University School of Law in 1988. He
served as a law clerk for the Hon. W. Eugene Davis of the United States Court of
Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
He is a member of the Texas Judicial Council; a member of the Supreme Court
Advisory Committee; an elected member of the American Law Institute; an
executive committee member of the Garland R. Walker American Inn of Court; an
adjunct faculty member at the University of Houston Law Center; a longtime
member of the State Bar of Texas and Houston Bar Association appellate practice
sections; and a frequent CLE speaker.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club –August 30th
The November election is less than 3 months away! Over the next couple of
months, Downtown Pachyderm will be featuring Republican candidates who are on
the November ballot. Please come hear about their races, and see what you can do
to help them WIN!
This week’s featured speaker is the Honorable John Culberson, US Congressman for
the 7th Congressional District
About Congressman Culberson, in his own words:
Houston is my home. I was born and raised in West University and went to West U
Elementary and graduated from Lamar High School. As a third-generation
Houstonian and a fifth-generation Texan, and a 25-year resident of Copperfield,
it’s an honor to represent our hometown in Congress.
Since I was first elected, my principal promise to District 7 has been to
protect our quality of life so that Houston will always be a safe, fun and
friendly place to raise a family and run a business.
District 7 voters have entrusted me with their votes since 2000 because I’ve
kept my word to them. This has enabled me to build enough seniority in Congress
to become a member of the influential House Appropriations Committee where I can
deliver significant results for Houston and for Texas to protect our safety, our
economy, and our quality of life.
Being on the Appropriations Committee is the reason I was able to spearhead $141
billion in hurricane relief and deliver $457 million in flood control dollars to
Harris County. The most recent hurricane relief bill provides help for
homeowners, business owners and to repair and expand our flood control system.
The Houston Chronicle said, “we don’t want to think what would have happened to
Houston after Harvey if John Culberson had not been in Congress.”
As the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and
Science, I am responsible for being a good steward of our scarce and hard-earned
tax dollars. I focus our dollars effectively where they will do the most good
and have the most impact to protect our safety, promote economic growth and
revitalize scientific research and space exploration.
For example, I have dramatically increased the number of U.S. attorneys and
judges prosecuting crime and smuggling on our southern border. I also secured
millions of dollars to protect victims of human trafficking, to protect missing
and exploited children and to protect women from violence.
One of my missions as chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and
Science is to properly fund NASA and restore America’s space program to the
glory days of Apollo. I believe in protecting scientific research from political
pressure. I pledge to passionately protect the independence of scientists and
scientific research, so we can get objective and accurate data to make good
policy decisions.
While I may not be alive to witness some of the missions my committee is
funding, my daughter and her children will be. And I share the feelings of my
favorite Founding Father Thomas Jefferson who often said, “I like the dreams of
the future better than the memories of the past.”
Next to being a father and a husband, representing my neighbors in District 7 is
the greatest joy and privilege of my life. I have kept my word to grow the
American economy by helping to spearhead passage of the largest tax cuts in US
history; to ensure our safety by enforcing our immigration laws, securing our
southern border and protecting our most vulnerable; to strengthen our flood
control network; to expand the Katy Freeway in record time with no earmarks; to
protect the quality of life and businesses in the Galleria and Afton Oaks by
keeping rail off of Post Oak and Richmond; to expand Houston’s oil and gas
industry by eliminating the oil export ban and opening up access to shale
production in west Texas and offshore drilling in the Gulf, and above all by
working every day to make Houston and Texas an even better place to live.
My wife, Belinda, and I have been married for more than 25 years. Our daughter,
Caroline, is currently a liberal arts honors student at the University of Texas.
We are members of Memorial Drive United Methodist Church and associate members
of Second Baptist Church.
Proverbs tell us that our good name is our most valuable possession and is worth
more than all the gold and silver on Earth. I believe this to my core, and I
will always do my very best to represent you honorably and consistently as a
free market fiscal conservative who is devoted to letting Texans run Texas and
to making the dreams of the future come true.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club –August 23rd
The November election is less than 3 months away! Over the next few months,
Downtown Pachyderm will be featuring Republican candidates who are on the
November ballot. Please come hear about their races, and see what you can do to
help them WIN!
This week’s featured speakers are Xavier Alfaro, candidate for Judge of Harris
County Criminal Court #5, and, Phillip Aronoff, Candidate for the 29th
Congressional District

About Xavier:
Xavier Alfaro is a conservative Texas native with extensive courtroom experience
who has also spent time working hard in the private sector. As a former Harris
County prosecutor and seasoned criminal law attorney with his own firm, Xavier
will be the kind of judge who always puts our community and the Constitution
first.
Xavier graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Arts in
Government. He went on to attend and graduate from the St. Thomas University
School of Law.
Xavier, who is bilingual, also has private sector experience in the brokerage
and banking industry and early in his legal career he joined the Harris County
District Attorney’s Office, where he gained experience in both felony and
misdemeanor cases.
Xavier, who has been married to his wife Angie for 17 years, also once served as
a Chief Prosecutor in one of Harris County’s misdemeanor courts.
With the experience and the work ethic that drove him through college, law
school, the private sector and years of practice in our courts, voters can be
sure they will be getting a hardworking judge with common sense – a leader who
will not forget his conservative values.

About Phillip– in his own words:
I am Phillip Aronoff and I am filing to run for the United States Congress in
the 29th district of Texas. I have vast experience in business, in politics and
as an honorary consul general for more than a decade. I am fluent in Spanish,
and have been to Mexico too many times to count, both for business and pleasure.
I understand the importance of Houston as a global business center, and know the
ways to build on that. I ran George W. Bush’s first campaign for governor in
Harris County, and I have close relationships with many local politicians, past
and present, from Al Green to Tom DeLay, among others
Why Am I Running in the 29th District?
• First, as a Republican I do not want to give a “free ride” to the Democrats.
• Second, and most importantly, I want to provide the residents of the 29th
district superior solutions to the problems facing our country today. The
solutions offered by the Democratic Party is to empower government, not the
people. I want to empower you.
As a grandson of immigrants to this country, I have always welcomed and approved
of new immigrants to the United States, especially from Latin America. The
reason is that they share our values of family, hard work, patriotism and love
of God as well as limited government, free enterprise, and personal
responsibility. What I have come to realize is that these new citizens have not
come over to the Republican column when they vote. I believe the reason is that
they do not even hear our message.
It is my goal and desire to share the ideas and values that can give everyone an
equal chance to fulfill their life’s destiny to the best of their ability. I
believe in Ronald Reagan’s analysis that “The person who agrees with you 80
percent of the time is a friend and an ally - not a 20 percent traitor.” I want
to demonstrate that the Conservative movement and the values I have embraced
will enhance life’s opportunities for all people living in the US.
I look forward to an honorable and lively debate on the issues with State
Senator Sylvia Garcia, the Democrat candidate. If the residents of the 29th
district will give me a chance to explain my views, and they will listen with an
open mind, I am confident the voters will vote for me and I can become their
next US Congressman.
My challenge will be exactly how to get the people to listen to and analyze both
my opponent’s and my perspectives on how to manage the problems facing both the
country and our great city of Houston, as it continues to rebound from the
devastating blows delivered by Hurricane Harvey. I am confident I can provide
the better pathway to raise our children and pursue life’s treasures.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club –August 9th
The November election is just 3 months away! Over the next few months, Downtown
Pachyderm will be featuring Republican candidates who are on the November
ballot. Please come hear about their races, and see what you can do to help them
WIN!
This week’s featured speakers are Michelle Fraga, Candidate for Judge of the
295th Civil District Court, and, Rachel Edwards, Regional Field Director on the
Ted Cruz for Senate Campaign. We will also be collecting school supplies for
Lone Star Republicans’ back to school rally, so please bring a donation!
About Michelle:
Michelle Fraga, candidate for judge of the 295th Civil District Court believes
that Harris County needs a strong Republican jurist with conservative values
that is faithful to the Constitution. Michelle believes it is the judge’s civic
duty to run a court with judicial economy, adherence to the rule of law treat
all those who come before her with respect and fairness.
Michelle is a native Houstonian, graduate of Cy-Fair High School, the University
of Houston and South Texas College of Law Houston.
Michelle began her career with the Harris County Attorney’s officewhere she
defended and protected Harris County’s interest and the interest of Sheriff’s
deputies. Michelle served as special counsel to the Harris County Sheriff.
Currently, her practice focuses on complex civil litigation including family
law, probate, employment and civil rights cases.
Michelle is committed to the Houston community, and volunteers at organizations
including M.D. Anderson, Sheltering Arms and AIDS Foundation, Houston. She is a
member of the Junior League of Houston, a board member of the Harriet and Joe
Foster YMCA and on the advisory board of Catholic Charities. Professional
memberships include the Houston Bar Association, the Mexican American Bar
Association and the Hispanic Bar Association.
Michelle is married to Stephen, a native Houstonian. Stephen is president of
Tejas Office Products, Inc., a family owned business located in the Heights. He
is a graduate of Strake Jesuit College Preparatory and Texas A & M (’97). He is
a board member of the United Way of Greater Houston, the Memorial Hermann
Hospital Foundation, and chairman of the board of the Sports Authority
Foundation. Michelle and Stephen live in Oak Forest, and have three boys,
Gregory and Stephen (8) and Andrew (3). The boys attend St. Rose of Lima
Catholic School.
About Rachel:
Rachel Edwards is the Regional Field Director on the Ted Cruz for Senate
Campaign. Her position covers Southeast Texas for the Senator’s re-election
campaign. On January 24, 2014, DT Pachyderm presented Ted Cruz with the
Pachyderm Tough Tusk Award. Rachel will give us a campaign update.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club –August 2nd
The November election is about 3 months away! Over the next few months, Downtown
Pachyderm will be featuring Republican candidates who are on the November
ballot. Please come hear about their races, and see what you can do to help them
WIN!
This week’s featured speakers are Judge Dan Hinde [269th District Court<Civil>]
and Judge John Schmude [247th District Court<Family>]
About Judge Hinde:
Judge Dan Hinde has been capably handling his duties as Judge of the 269th
District Court of Harris County for over five years. Growing up here, he knows
Houston and what makes our city special. He was a National Merit Scholar
Finalist at Klein Forest High School before attending Texas A&M, where he
graduated magna cum laude. Then, it was on to the University of Texas School of
Law, where he served as an editor on the Texas Law Review and graduated with
honors in 1997.
Building on his academic success, Dan Hinde clerked for U.S. District Judge Sim
Lake (a Reagan appointee) and then worked in private practice with a varied
caseload. He brings a lifetime of community service and legal experience to his
current post as Judge for the 269th District Court. He is uniquely qualified to
administer justice in Harris County. During his five-plus years on the bench,
Judge Hinde has earned the respect of his peers for his confident leadership in
the courtroom and his measured and decisive rulings.
Dan and his wife Rosanna are members of First Presbyterian Church and the proud
parents of son David and daughter Anne.
About Judge Schmude:
Judge John Schmude, a Native Texan born and raised in Harris County, resides
with his wife and children in Spring. As the youngest of ten children & the
father of two, Judge Schmude’s commitment to family law is motivated by his
faith & his recognition that strong families are the necessary foundation of any
healthy society. As the Presiding Judge of the 247th Family District Court and
formerly as a successful family law attorney, he understands the substantial
impact that family court judges have in strengthening family relationships,
protecting children, upholding and defending the Constitution and establishing
just and amicable solutions when family relationships are strained.
-Rated either Outstanding or Above Average by nearly three quarters of Attorneys
in the most recent HBA Bar Poll
-Proven Record of Service to the Poor & Underprivileged
-Successful Family Lawyer Before Election to the Bench
-Experienced Business Leader and Problem Solver
-Compassionate, Fair and Impartial
-Staunch Defender of the Constitution & Rule of Law
It’s time for dues again!
We are accepting payments for dues for 2018. Annual dues are $40, or $20 if you
are a member of another Pachyderm Club
Don't forget to "like" us on Facebook. We've hit a record of over 800 'likes'!
Thank you for helping us achieve our goal!
We have started a new menu option for entree size salad, soup of the day and
dessert, for those who would prefer it instead of the selected entrée.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club –July 26th
Steven Mitby
This week’s featured speaker is Houston Attorney Steven Mitby on the Kavanaugh
Nomination and the Future of the Supreme Court
About Steven Mitby:
Steven J. Mitby represents companies and individuals in high stakes business
litigation throughout the United States.
A trial-oriented focus- In the past year, Mr. Mitby served as lead counsel in
major federal litigations in Texas, California, Michigan, Delaware, and Georgia
and a variety of state court matters in various jurisdictions.
Top accolades from peers- Mr. Mitby has been honored by his peers as one of the
“Best Lawyers in America,” a Texas “Super Lawyer,” a “Rising Star” of the Texas
Bar, and a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.
Highest academic honors- Mr. Mitby earned two Harvard degrees and graduated at
the top of his class. Mr. Mitby graduated summa cum laudefrom Harvard College
(the highest academic honor Harvard confers on its graduates) and cum laude from
Harvard Law School.
A diverse trial practice- Mr. Mitby handles complex commercial, energy, and
intellectual property litigation across a wide variety of industries, including
energy, oil and gas, software, real estate development, health care and medical
equipment, banking, and finance.
“Ten Million Dollar Club.”- Mr. Mitby is a member of Texas Lawyer’s elite “Ten
Million Dollar Club” for the small number of trial advocates who have won
verdicts of $10 million or more at trial.
Largest intentional tort verdict in Texas last year-Mr. Mitby won an $11.4
million jury verdict for business disparagement in a dispute between two Houston
technology companies. This win was the largest intentional tort verdict in Texas
in 2014 and easily the largest reputation-based tort verdict in Texas for the
past decade.
Beating big companies and big law firms- Mr. Mitby regularly represents
companies in complex commercial and intellectual property disputes against the
largest companies in the world.
Successes in the energy and petrochemical industries- Mr. Mitby has successfully
represented leading energy and petrochemical companies in contract, oil and gas,
and employment litigation.
Defending legitimate competition- Mr. Mitby regularly defends companies in
patent litigation brought by non-practicing entities.
Cutting-edge software licensing issues- Mr. Mitby successfully defended Versata
Software in patent and copyright litigation in the Northern District of
California brought by XimpleWare Corporation.
Probate disputes- In 2014, Mr. Mitby achieved a successful settlement in the
defense of a high profile will contest in Jefferson County, Texas.
Parachuting into cases to serve as lead trial counsel- Besides these recent
results, Mr. Mitby has been called in at the last-minute by other lawyers to try
cases.
Large damages models- Mr. Mitby has also developed special focus in patent
infringement and technology-related litigation.
Appellate victories- In addition to his trial practice, Mr. Mitby has achieved
significant appellate victories.
Protecting clients’ reputations in court and the media- In keeping with AZA’s
longstanding tradition of representing individual clients in sensitive legal
matters, Mr. Mitby also represents corporate executives and public officials in
high profile cases.
Publications and CLE presentations- Mr. Mitby has published and taught CLEs in a
variety of fields, including intellectual property, tort reform laws, and
defamation torts.
Legal community leadership- Mr. Mitby is a leader in the Houston legal
community. He serves on the Board of the Harvard Law School Association of
Houston, was appointed to the Texas Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee, was
selected to be a member of the Texas Bar Foundation, serves on the Advisory
Board of the Institute for Energy Law of the Center for American and
International Law, and is a Master in the Garland Walker Inn of Court.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club –July 19th
November 2018 Candidate Series speakers- Harris County Judge Ed Emmett
The November election is less than 4 months away! Over the next few months,
Downtown Pachyderm will be featuring Republican candidates who are on the
November ballot. Please come hear about their races, and see what you can do to
help them WIN!
This week’s featured speaker is Harris County Judge Ed Emmett!
As Harris County’s chief executive officer, Judge Emmett is responsible for
working with four county commissioners to oversee a county government serving
more than four million remarkably diverse residents. Judge Emmett believes
strongly that vision, planning and teamwork are the keys to maintaining Harris
County's economic strength and its commitment to opportunity and a unique
quality of life for every resident.
Following record flooding brought by Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Harris County
Commissioners Court has proposed a bond issue to deal with future rainfall
events. Judge Emmett has been touring the county, speaking to a variety of
groups about this matter. Please welcome him back to our club!
About Judge Emmett:
Edward M. Emmett became Harris County Judge on March 6, 2007.
A member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1979 to 1987, Judge Emmett
was chairman of the Committee on Energy, a member of the Transportation
Committee, and represented the state on numerous national committees relating to
energy and transportation policy.
In 1989, President George H. W. Bush nominated Emmett as a Commissioner at the
Interstate Commerce Commission. After being confirmed unanimously by the United
States Senate, Judge Emmett served on the commission for three years.
Judge Emmett has received international recognition for his work in
transportation and logistics policy. He was named Transportation Person of the
Year by Transportation Clubs International and one of the Top 20 Logistics
Professionals by Logistics Forum.
County Judge Emmett, working with the county commissioners, manages the nation's
third largest county. He also is director of Harris County's Office of Homeland
Security and Emergency Management, chairman of the Harris County Juvenile Board
and chairman of the Conference of Urban Counties Policy Committee.
Judge Emmett attended Bellaire High School. He graduated from Rice University in
1971 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and from the University of
Texas at Austin in 1974 with a Master of Public Affairs degree.
Judge Emmett has received numerous awards and honors, including Distinguished
Alumnus of Rice University, the Distinguished Public Service Award from the
Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, and the Presidential Call to Service
Award.
Judge Emmett and his wife, Gwen, have been married for 43 years and have four
children and 13 grandchildren.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club –July 12th
November 2018 Candidate Series speakers- Judge Sylvia Matthews and Dan Simons
The November election is less than 4 months away! Over the next few months,
Downtown Pachyderm will be featuring Republican candidates who are on the
November ballot. Please come hear about their races, and see what you can do to
help them WIN!
This week’s featured speakers are Judge
Sylvia Matthews [281st District Court] and Dan Simons [Candidate for Judge,
Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 8]
About Judge Matthews:
Governor Perry first appointed Judge Matthews to serve as judge of the 281st
District Court in December 2008. She was elected to a four-year term in 2010 and
then re-elected for another term in 2014. Since taking the bench, Judge Matthews
has presided over more than 150 jury trials and was elected by her peers to
serve as the Administrative Judge of the Board of Civil District Judges. She was
also appointed to preside over statewide multi-district litigation involving
alleged underpayment of insurance claims.
Judge Matthews is board certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal
Specialization and is an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Law
Center, teaching law students how to try cases. She also volunteers her time to
plan legal education programs for judges and lawyers and is a frequent speaker
at education programs. She is a 2005 alumna of Leadership Texas, the
longest-running leadership program for women in the United States; a Fellow of
the Houston Bar Foundation; a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation; and a
member of St. John the Divine Episcopal Church. Judge Matthews has served on the
board of the Association of Women Attorneys and currently serves on the board of
the Texas Association of Civil and Appellate Specialists.
When she took the bench, Judge Matthews had more than 20 years of trial
experience and was a partner in one of the largest law firms in the state. She
gained extensive experience in complex business litigation and cases involving
person injury through her private practice. She served on the firm's Diversity
Committee and Women’s Initiative Team.
She is a 1986 graduate of The University of South Carolina School of Law, where
she was a member of the Law Review, the Moot Court Bar, and the National Moot
Court Team. She earned her undergraduate degree in mathematics, cum laude, from
The College of Charleston. Judge Matthews has a daughter who is a CPA practicing
in Houston and a proud graduate of Texas A&M University. Judge Matthews enjoys
theater, architecture, running, and spending time with her husband.

About Dan Simons:
Dan Simons was born and raised in southeast Texas. His is an inspirational story
of someone persevering and thriving, in spite of his humble beginning. Dan’s
family lived in poverty throughout most of his childhood. There were times when
he was homeless and was forced to live in cars or tents to survive. He was
placed in foster care at a young age due to the instability of his family life.
At the age of twelve, seeking some sense of stability so that he could graduate
high school, he made the tough decision to move in with a family he met through
the Salvation Army. Through sheer determination and hard work, he graduated in
the top of his class and was named All-District Quarterback in his high school
senior year. Dan became the first person in his family to graduate High School.
After high school, he decided to serve his country by joining the U.S. Air
Force. After military life, he worked as a salesperson for an Art Gallery. In a
short amount of time, Dan became one of the top salesmen in the company.
However, after being overlooked for a promotion due to his young age and lack of
education, he decided to open his own art gallery with a partner. This gallery
gave him the opportunity to learn how to manage a business effectively. In 2005,
he moved back to Texas and lived on a couch with one goal in mind, to become a
lawyer. At 27 years of age, he started college at Angelina Junior College. He
later transferred to Sam Houston State University where he graduated number 1
out of 1,108 students in 2008. He went on to attend the Thurgood Marshall School
of Law in Houston, graduating Magna Cum Laude in December of 2011, and later to
the University of Houston for his Masters in Tax Law. While attending the
University of Houston in 2013, he applied with the Harris County District
Attorney’s Office and was offered a position. He served, successfully, as
Assistant District Attorney for Harris County, and was one of the most efficient
and effective prosecutors while at the DA’s Office. In early 2017, he left the
DA’s Office to work at Thiessen Law Firm as a criminal defense attorney. He then
decided to serve Harris County once again by campaigning for Judge of the
Criminal Court 8. In March of 2018, Dan became the GOP nominee for Harris County
Criminal Court at Law No. 8. Dan considers it an honor and privilege to serve
his country as a member of the U.S. military, and his local community as a
prosecutor and defense attorney. He does not share his story for sympathy but
hopes to serve as inspiration to others. Dan would bring honor and integrity
into the courtroom while keeping judicial independence at all times.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club –June 28th
November 2018 Candidate Series speakers- Judge Catherine Evans and Judge Michael
Landrum
As announced by HCRP Chairman, Paul Simpson, as of the Organizational Meeting
this past weekend, the November election was just 136 days away! Over the next
few months, Downtown Pachyderm will be featuring Republican candidates who are
on the November ballot. Please come hear about their races, and see what you can
do to help them WIN!
This week’s featured speakers are Judge Catherine Evans [180th District Court]
and Judge Michael Landrum [113th District Court]

About Judge Landrum:
Hon. Michael Landrum will present a program on the importance of electing
Republican judges.
Professional-
Incumbent Judge, 113th Civil District Court of Harris County, Texas since May,
2013
Board Certified, Civil Trial Law (1989) and Civil Appellate Law, (1995), Texas
Board of Legal Specialization
Highest rated “AV Pre-eminent” by Martindale Hubbell in ethics and proficiency
Multiple year panelist and lecturer, continuing legal education
Forty year legal career. Before taking the bench, represented clients in
hundreds of cases in state and federal trial courts and appearing in scores of
cases before state and federal appellate courts
Tax Master for Harris County Civil District Courts, 1996 thru 2010. This
involved dispositions in thousands of delinquent ad valorem tax cases
American Arbitration Panel of Neutrals deciding commercial and construction
arbitration matters, from 1990 to 2013; arbitrator for FINRA Dispute Resolution
from 2005 to 2013
Graduate, University of Texas School of Law, 1976
Graduate, University of St. Thomas, B. A. 1973, Cum Laude
Community & Personal-
The Landrums have been active in the Spring Branch Independent School District
for many years where Mary Grace served as an elected Trustee.
Houston Bar Association Alternate Dispute Resolution Section Council
Volunteer Judge for law school Moot Court and Mock Trial competitions
The Landrums are active members of St. Cecilia Catholic Church.
Member - Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists
Former Spring Branch ISD School Finance Team member
Former pro bono legal counsel to The Crossroads School - a private school
serving children with special needs
Married to Mary Grace for 34 years

About Judge Evans:
Hon. Catherine Evans was appointed Judge of the 180th District Court in 2013
when the previous judge was appointed to the Court of Appeals. She was elected
to a full term in 2014.
Catherine Evans has dedicated twelve years to pursuing justice as a prosecutor
at the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. She has tried criminal cases at
every level including capital murder cases. She sought and successfully obtained
the death penalty against five time killer Raymond Martinez.
For two and a half years, Catherine ran the Vehicular Crimes Section and oversaw
the charging and prosecution of every vehicular fatality in Harris County. As
Chief of Vehicular Crimes, she applied for, received and administered a more
than $600,000 grant from the Texas Department of Transportation to expand the No
Refusal Program – a program that provides search warrants to law enforcement
officers to prevent drunk drivers from avoiding the consequences of their
choices. Most significantly, she prosecuted the killer of Houston Police
Department Officer Kevin Will who was killed on duty by a drunk driver.
Catherine handled the case from the crime scene to the jury verdict. Her
innovative trial strategy involved using sophisticated crash reconstruction
evidence and even bringing the striking vehicle to the courthouse for the jury
to view in person. Her work in Vehicular Crimes was recognized by awards from
the Houston Police Officers Union, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and the Bay
Area Council on Drugs and Alcohol.
Catherine is an Assistant District Attorney Felony Chief, and she is currently
prosecuting white collar criminals that defraud our Harris County businesses.
Her other significant specialty assignments include the Child Abuse Division and
the Public Integrity Division. She has used her experience teaching for such
organizations as the Texas District and County Attorney Association, the
National District Attorney Association, the Louisiana District Attorney
Association, the Houston Police Department, the Harris County District
Attorney’s Office and the Harris County Constable Precinct 5.
Catherine graduated cum laude from the University of Houston Law Center in 2000.
She and her husband Jim, a local architect, and their two young children, Max
and Zoe, live in Houston where they attend Christ the King Presbyterian Church.
Catherine has continued her personal commitment to fighting drunk driving by
serving as a Board Member on Mothers Against Drunk Driving Regional Advisory
Board. Catherine was recently invited to be on the Houston Livestock Show and
Rodeo’s Speakers Committee and is excited to be a committee rookie!

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club –June 21st
Don Hooper on the August 2018 bond election
About Don:
Don Hooper is an energy executive based in Houston. He operates oil and gas
assets in addition to owning interest in power generation. Mr. Hooper has a
Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Houston. He has
worked as both a political consultant and lobbyist at the local, state, and
federal level. Mr. Hooper writes for the Houston Conservative Forum. Mr. Hooper
has written extensively on a variety of city, county, and state issues including
flooding City of Houston finances, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office,
pro-life matters, and other political issues.
Mr. Hooper regularly appears on KTRH radio and writes for the Houston
Conservative Forum.
http://houstonconservativeforum.com/
http://bigjollypolitics.com/author/don-hooper/
https://twitter.com/DonPHooper
It’s time for dues again!
We are accepting payments for dues for 2018. Annual dues are $40, or $20 if you
are a member of another Pachyderm Club
Don't forget to "like" us on Facebook. We've hit a record of over 800 'likes'!
Thank you for helping us achieve our goal!
We have started a new menu option for entree size salad, soup of the day and
dessert, for those who would prefer it instead of the selected entrée.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club –June 7th
Cindy Asche, Candidate for RPT Chairman
Cindy is running to be Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. The Chairman
will be elected at the upcoming State Convention being held in San Antonio, June
14-16
About Cindy: A 5th generation Texan, Cindy Crocker Asche was born in Waco and
raised in Austin, Texas. Raised by her two outstanding parents, Bill and Donna
Crocker, Cindy was taught at an early age to understand the value of character
and hard work. Cindy received her Bachelor’s degree in Business from Baylor
University in 1983, but she didn’t stop there. Always eager to grow and learn,
Cindy graduated with a BSN in Nursing from the University of Texas in 1986 after
working tirelessly to put herself through school by working in the Emergency
Room at St. David’s Hospital. She proudly worked 32 hours each weekend so she
could have full-time benefits and go to school during the week. Her dedication
to graduating debt free was an early indication of Cindy’s commitment to hard
work and fiscal responsibility.
Since 1986, Cindy has served in a variety of ER and Trauma roles from assistant
head nurse, trauma case manager, injury prevention coordinator, ER unit manager,
and ultimately ER manager. In each of these roles, Cindy demonstrated her
natural leadership abilities in high-stress situations. Through these positions,
she managed a 50+ member staff, administered multi-million dollar budgets, and
developed best-practices to ensure optimal efficiency in the office. These
skills she honed as a manager and leader are the same skills that would
ultimately shape her role as a leader in the Republican Party.
Raised in a conservative family, Cindy has always played an active role in the
Republican Party. From actively working alongside her father, Bill Crocker,
during his tenure as RNC National Committeeman for Texas, to serving as a State
Convention delegate, Grassroots Club member, and Precinct Chair in Denton
County, Cindy has a long history of involvement at every level in the
conservative movement.
In 2016, she was honored to serve as the Dallas-Area Captain for the Mighty
Texas Strike Force- a movement credited by many as playing a vital role in the
election of President Donald Trump. An active member of the Texas Federation of
Republican Women (TFRW) she is the current president of the Republican Women of
Greater North Texas, and Chaplain for TFRW, a current member of the Republican
Party of Texas Candidate Resource Committee (CRC), past president of Frisco Area
Republican Women, and a past member of the SD8 Republican Delegate Selection
Committee.
In addition to her Republican activities, Cindy has served in a variety of
leadership roles in her community. She spent three years as president of her
homeowners association, served as a member of the Collin County Medical Reserve
Corps, and as an active member of Christ Church Plano’s Youth Ministry. Cindy is
an advisory board member of First Liberty Institute and is proud to be an
Endowment Member of the National Rifle Association. Cindy and her husband,
Fritz, have three children and live in Frisco Texas. They attend Bent Tree Bible
Fellowship Church.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club –May 31st
Nelson Spear on Firearm Safety
Nelson Spear is coming from Midland to speak to our club about firearm safety.
Christian, conservative businessman, activist, thinker, and writer. A lifetime
of talking & writing about conservative issues. @NelsonSpear
Among his extensive credentials are
National delegate to three Republican National Conventions
Delegate – 1996 (Dole) • Credentials Committee
Alternate Delegate – 2000 (Bush)
Delegate – 2016 (Cruz)
State level activities in three states
Kansas Republican Party • Local activist
• One State Convention
• Several political campaigns
New Mexico Republican Party • Local activist
• Eight Republican State Conventions
• State Central Committee
• Over 25 political campaigns
Texas Republican Party • Local activist
• Five State Republican Conventions
• Credentials Committee and Platform Committee
• Over 30 political campaigns
• Senate District 31 Republican Volunteer of the Year – 2013
Other Political Activities
• General Counsel to Senator Konni Burton – 2015 (84th General Session)
• Profiled by Texans for Fiscal Responsibility – 2016
• Pro Life Advocate: 1986 – Present
• Second Amendment Advocate: 1975 – Present
• Small Government Advocate: 2007 – Present
• Writer: Author of several print and web-published articles

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club –May 24th
Randy Orr, Candidate for Texas Senate, SD 15
About Randy:
Randy Orr is a Republican candidate for District 15 of the Texas State Senate.
The general election is being held on November 6, 2018. Incumbent John Whitmire
(D), and Gilberto Velsquez Jr. (Libertarian) are also running in the Texas State
Senate District 15 general election.
From Randy’s website:
It is time for elected officials to start putting people first! The only way to
accomplish that goal is to promote Godly principles!
We can elect the most gifted, talented, and attractive individuals to office,
but without promoting Godly principles, we will continually come up lacking. In
fact we will spend more time and energy trying to remove these individuals from
office, than we used getting them elected.
When I say Godly principles, I mean being honest, truthful, treating others as
we want to be treated, and being people of integrity.
For our government to be successful, Godly principles must be upheld.
That is why I am asking for your support in the November 2018 election. First, I
am asking for your prayers. Second, I am asking for your financial support. And
third, I am asking for your support as a volunteer in this campaign. Thank you,
and let's start putting people first again!

Downtown Houston Pachyderms – May 17 Hon. Stan Stanart – Primary wrap-up, and
what it tells us about the fall
After graduation from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Science in
Electronic Engineering Technology, Stan worked sixteen years in the aerospace
industry. He focused his extensive computer hardware and software knowledge on
technology in avionic testing, missile defense, real-time simulation and system
testing for the international space station.
In 1994 he joined Compaq Computer Corporation where he was a developer and
advanced system architect and held numerous managerial positions utilizing his
technical expertise in computer product design and development.
In 2007 Stan joined the Harris County Tax Office as Manager of Hardware
Information Technology. He was instrumental in advancing the technological
abilities of that office improving services for the citizens of Harris County.
Stan was elected County Clerk of the third largest county in the country in
November 2010 and has made many improvements to the office which include:
• The implementation of online document viewing capabilities
• The redesign of the Marriage License and the creation of the “Certification of
Marriage” Certificate
• The implementation of electronic filing in County Civil and Probate Courts
• Became a Certified Elections/Registrar Administrator (CERA) through the
National Association of Election Officials
• Found and directed the move into the new Election Technology Center after the
2010 warehouse fire
• The implementation of online signature verification process for ballots by
mail saving tax-payers over $100,000.00 every county-wide election
• Implemented online filing capabilities for Campaign Finance Reports
Stan continues to improve the office’s technology to better serve the public. He
has far too many software certifications and accreditations to mention here
along with solid budgeting, negotiating, and problem solving experience. Since
1996, Stan has volunteered many hours to our local civic and political process
and was re-elected in November 2014.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club –May 10th Houston CM Mike Knox
“What the Heck is the Houston City Council Up to Now?”
Houston at large City Councilmember and fellow Pachyderm, Hon. Mike Knox, will
join us to fill us in on current issues and answer your questions.
Please join us for what is sure to be an informative meeting!
It’s time for dues again!
We are accepting payments for dues for 2018. Annual dues are $40, or $20 if you
are a member of another Pachyderm Club
Don't forget to "like" us on Facebook. We've hit a record of over 800 'likes'!
Thank you for helping us achieve our goal!
We have started a new menu option for entree size salad, soup of the day and
dessert, for those who would prefer it instead of the selected entrée.
Downtown Houston Pachyderms – May 3 Houston City Council Candidates – special
election, District K Anthony
Freddie, Larry
Blackmon, Lawrence McGaffie,
Carl David Evans,
Gerry Vander-Lyn and
Elisabeth Johnson
Following the untimely death of Hon. Larry Green, we are hosting the candidates
seeking to replace him on Houston City Council.

About Anthony FREDDIE
Freddie is a native Houstonian who started his public service as a public
employee of the City of Houston. Freddie’s community service began over 30 years
ago with his belief that public service is incumbent on all of us. His
experience has taught him patience, cooperation, compassion, the importance of
delegating work and the benefit of compromise.
Anthony served as Assistant to Mayor Lee P. Brown’s Chief of Staff where he was
responsible for managing daily office needs with regards to interactions with
elected officials, department directors, businesses and community leaders. In
this role he was directly involved on various issues, which included creating
policy, coordinating special projects, including planning, research and
presentations. Anthony was appointed Chair of the Super Neighborhood Alliance
where he assisted in the development of 88 Super Neighborhood Councils in which
residents of neighboring communities were encouraged to work together to
identify, plan, and set priorities to address the needs and concerns of their
community. Freddie was appointed as a committee member of the State of Texas EPA
Senate Bill 5 Committee for the City of Houston. He was instrumental in efforts
to create economic incentives to encourage Texans to reduce air pollution and
establish a statewide Emissions Reduction Fund.
In his 29+ tenure with the City of Houston he served in 4 major departments and
many partnerships with others; Building Service Department where he managed
thirty-four hundred electrical accounts with a cost usage of 91 million dollars
a year in electrical use. Freddie worked along with department directors and
other stake holders with this team created an annual savings of $20 million
dollars in the city’s energy contract.
While working in the Finance and Administration Department, Freddie served on
the implementation committee of GEMS 2000 where he provided this department and
other divisions training in screen usage, report writing, and workstation
installation in Advance Financial Management Systems.
Freddie worked within the city’s Aviation Department as Assistance to the
Airport Manager. He created and reviewed DOA service contracts, building plans
for renovation and airport daily emergency operation procedures.
As Constituent Service Manager with the Neighborhood Protection Corps Division
within the Houston Police Department, Freddie directed the development and
implementation of new and redesigned systems. Department projects included
designing and implementing City Council Cleanup, C3 Program, and employee
events, establishing goals and objectives.
As a member of The Greater Houston Partnership, he was a leader in successful
efforts to champion Houston's growth and success by being a part of business and
civic-minded leaders to address the region’s unique challenges. His mission was
to be involved in making Houston one of the world’s best places to live, work
and build a business.
In addition to his City of Houston roles. Freddie has worked with a national
not-for-profit organization World Youth Foundation, Inc., which provides
out-of-school-time programs focus on increasing self-confidence and accelerating
education & professional skills for youth within Harris County and beyond. He
served as Director of The Empowering Youth Initiative, A Child’s Walk Home
leadership program and in 2005 he earned the Volunteer of the Year of Award.
Freddie mentored and volunteered with Texas A & M Extension Services and
received the 2000 Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award for his outstanding
work.
Freddie currently serves as a board member Northeast YMCA, HISD HIPPY Advisory
Board and as a member of Economic Development Committee with the NAACP.
Beyond his committee assignments and roles, Freddie has been a champion for
seniors and individuals with disabilities, some of our most vulnerable residents
along with life experience, work experience and work ethics will make him a
strong advocates for the citizens and businesses of District K.

About Larry Blackmon:
Larry retired after 33 years of coaching, teaching and mentoring students in
several school districts in the Houston area. Larry holds a BA and a Master
degree in Public Administration.
Larry has spent his entire adulthood as a resident of District K. Even, before
the splitting of District D to create District K.
Larry was appointed in 1995, by Mayor Lee Brown to serve on the Houston
Industrial Board, the Houston Higher Education Learning Board and the Houston
Health Facilities Board. The Houston Industrial Development Board which Larry
served was authorized by a state of Texas law to fund specific public purposes
from the development of commercial, industrial, and manufacturing enterprises to
promoting and encouraging employment and public welfare. Since that 1995
appointed Larry has served under 5 mayors the city of Houston. Larry has the
heart of a servant.
Larry’s current occupation has really put his degrees and work experiences to
the test. Larry is currently employed by Linda Blackmon for whom he has been
working for the last 45 years. Larry understands the value for hard work and
persistent in getting a job well. This is what he bring to District K , hard
work and a job well done. Together this employment (marriage) with Linda
Blackmon produced 4 adult children and 4 grandchildren.
When Larry isn’t UBERing the grandchildren or volunteering on some project. He
still has to find time to get his honey do list done. So, time management is a
friend of his.
Larry finds time to serve on several advisory boards over the Harris County and
Fort Bend County.
Larry is most proud of his roots in District K having lived in the District over
30 years. Larry graduated from Jack Yates High School. He is very active Jack
Yates Lion Alumni. He is involved in the current 2 billion dollars construction
project for his alma mater. LARRY BLEEDS CRISMON AND GOLD!!!
Larry is Executive Director of Parents Against Community Crime Organization (PACCO)
Larry has been a public servant all his life, he believes in giving back to the
community.
After many prayers and permission and support from his employer Linda Blackmon.
Larry is striving to become your next city councilman from District K with your
Help!!

About Lawrence McGaffie:
In his own words:
When I was 14, my older brother was killed. My neighbor was Hiram Clarke “tha
Clarke” and was becoming gang infested. I had no one to look up to. Little by
little the community’s innocence was slowly being eroded as I saw my friends
getting locked up one after another. I wanted to help--my neighborhood was my
family--but felt completely powerless. Neighbors grew older, my parents feared
the worst, and community involvement was at an all time low. All the Sunday
school classes, bible studies and church revivals I spent my days immersed in
had no answers for my generation. How could I help my generation, who has no
young leaders and no one to inspire them, find their footing and their voice?
That question has, in large part, driven me over the past 15 years. Looking for
answers has taken me on a journey in military intelligence, biblical counseling,
and public speaking, working and volunteering across various sectors including
community service and education. The search has fueled my creative endeavors,
inviting me to seek out ways to bring hope to a lost generation. It has only
been in the past few years that one answer to the question has revealed itself:
you inspire them to lead.
Meet Lawrence
"I am excited to run for City Council. I'm only 30 but the past few years have
impressed upon me the need to stand up for my generation and speak up. I look
forward to bring a fresh perspective to City Hall and focusing on issues that
matter to us now. Gun violence and bullying are the biggest issues right now.
I'm here to listen and find out what you need to be successful in your
community. Together we can make change and INSPIRE THE LEAD."
Lawrence McGaffie is a native Houstonian and founded the Inspire the Lead, a non
profit movement designed to inspire young people from low income communities to
become leaders. Lawrence earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Film and Video Production
from The Art Institute of Houston.
He is an ordained minister and the Founder/ President of Alpha and Omega Bible
Fellowship. Prior to his role as President, Lawrence served as associate
minister, singles and youth leader and outreach minister to a number of churches
across Houston. He also served as Director of Community Engagement for the MLK
Association of Houston.
Lawrence also volunteered his time at God’s Food Pantry where he helped the
needy and homeless find hope and attain basic necessities. He is a decorated
disabled Army Veteran having been awarded two Army Achievement Medals for his
outstanding achievement during his recovery and rehabilitation.
Lawrence is an avid reader and writer and enjoys traveling and spending time
with friends and family. As a Candidate for City Council, Lawrence is focused on
the mission of inspiring, empowering and engaging young leaders while building
better, stronger communities.
Lawrence is married to Jasmine. They have 3 children age 7, 8, 9 and are
expecting a baby girl in May 2018.

About Carl David Evans
Carl David Evans has been elected twice as President of the Fort Bend Houston
Super Neighborhood Council 41 and Designated Representative for the Chasewood
Community Improvement Association.
Carl David Evans designed the Fort Bend Houston Super Neighborhood 41 logo,
creating a professional image for the Fort Bend Houston Super Neighborhood
Council.
He was the driving force behind getting the City of Houston to put the city's
logo on street signs at major intersections in Fort Bend Houston to prevent
confusion on the part of residents who thought, because of their Missouri City
zip code, they lived in Missouri City instead of the City of Houston. His
actions helped to ensure that residents of Fort Bend Houston were calling the
right emergency responders in times of emergencies.
Carl David Evans serves on the Board of Directors for SW Houston 2000 Inc., and
led the effort in getting Southwest Houston 2000 to host the Houston Mayoral
Debates held in Southwest Houston prior to the 2015 Houston mayoral elections.
As an active member of the Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, Carl David Evans
proudly serves in a leadership capacity in the men's Sunday School Class and is
a former youth superintendent.
Carl David Evans is an associate with White-Orugboh and Associates, PC,
Certified Public Accountants. He has been honored to receive numerous awards for
excellence, dedication, and community service from the Department of the Navy,
the State of Texas, the City of Houston, Southwest Houston 2000, and many other
organizations.
Carl David Evans graduated from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff with a
Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and Business Administration. He also
received a Masters Degree of Divinity from Houston Graduate School of Theology
and is a licensed minister.
Carl David Evans is blessed with three sons and five grandchildren.

About Gerry Vander-Lyn
Gerry Vander-Lyn is an accounting firm records management worker who’s been
involved in Republican politics for at least 50 years.
Gerry Vander-Lyn was born in Hermann Hospital and grew up in southwest Houston,
attending Mark Twain Elementary, Pershing Junior High, and Bellaire High School.
She graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Arts in History.
She has worked in various capacities in multiple sectors including social
services, finance, and non-profits.
Gerry is a life-long Republican getting her start working to elect Richard Nixon
in 1968. She has been a Delegate or Alternate Delegate to multiple Republican
State Conventions. She served on the State Rules Committee in 2016 and has been
reappointed to the State Rules Committee for 2018. She is currently a Republican
Precinct Chair for Precinct 541.
She has never run for public office before now, choosing instead to support
others in that endeavor. However, the time has come to step on the stage and
apply her skills and experience to solving the issues facing the City of Houston
today.

About Elisabeth Johnson:
Elisabeth Johnson is a native Houstonian and graduate of Southern University and
A&M College in Baton Rouge, LA; while at Southern she received her Bachelor of
Arts in Political Science. Immediately after graduating in 2009, she was
afforded the opportunity to work for former Mayor of Houston, Bill White, when
he ran for Governor of Texas in 2010 against Republican Rick Perry. As a
campaign organizer she moved to Dallas to cover ground within Dallas County and
the surrounding areas.
She’s helped organizations like TOP (Texas Organizing Project) and Working
America to pass the Wage Theft Ordinance in 2013 which made it possible for
employers not to steal wages from their employees. She is currently obtaining
her Executive Master of Public Administration from Texas Southern University and
graduates on May 12, 2018. she's an educator, a member of HBAD (Houston Black
American Democrats), a political organizer, and the Vice President for the
Houston Justice Coalition. She continues to volunteer, organize and mentor
throughout her community. She published her first book, “Wake Up: A Despairing
Cry to the Black Community” in September 2017
It will also be important to let the restaurant
know how many people to prepare for. Although we will not bill people if they do
not come, nor will we prohibit people who have not RSVPed from coming, please do
your best to indicate, either at the previous meeting, by email or on Facebook a
week in advance that you will be at the following meeting.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – April 26th
Dan Crenshaw, Runoff candidate for
CD 2.
Video
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm for lunch as we continue to feature
Republican runoff candidates over the next month leading up to the May 22nd
runoff election. Please look for event updates and plan to join us as we hear
from our Republican runoff candidates!
On April 26th, we will feature the following candidate: Lt. Commander Dan
Crenshaw (Retired), Runoff candidate for Congressional District 2
About Dan from his Facebook page:
Lieutenant Commander Dan Crenshaw (retired) is originally from Houston, Texas,
and a proud 6th generation Texan. His father’s career in the Texas oil and gas
industry moved his family all over the world, including Ecuador and Colombia. As
a result, Dan is fluent in Spanish. From an early age, Dan knew that he wanted
to serve his country with the most elite fighting force in history: the U.S.
Navy SEALs. Dan graduated from Tufts University in 2006, where he earned his
Naval officer commission through Navy ROTC. He immediately reported to SEAL
training in Coronado, CA, where he met his future wife, Tara, just a few months
later. After graduating SEAL training, Dan deployed to Fallujah, Iraq to join
SEAL Team Three, his first of five deployments overseas.
On Dan’s third deployment in 2012, his life changed forever. After six months of
combat operations, Dan was hit by an IED blast during a mission in Helmand
province, Afghanistan. He was evacuated and awoke from his medically induced
coma learning that his right eye had been destroyed in the blast and his left
eye was still present, but badly damaged. Dan was completely blind and the
doctors did not believe he would ever see again. Tara stood by him every day and
night, keeping faith and praying he would see again. After several difficult
surgeries, he eventually regained sight in his left eye, a miracle according to
the head surgeon. Dan refused to quit and went on to deploy twice more, first
back to the Middle East in 2014 and then South Korea in 2016.
Dan was medically retired in September of 2016, after ten years in the SEAL
Teams. He left service with two Bronze Stars (one with Valor), the Purple Heart,
and the Navy Commendation Medal with Valor, among many other recognitions. Soon
after, Dan completed his Master in Public Administration at the Harvard Kennedy
School of Government. In September of this year, he was back in Houston,
volunteering for days on end in areas of Katy devastated by Hurricane Harvey. He
saw first-hand the unthinkable losses that his neighbors suffered, but he also
saw Texan grit and resilience. He wanted to do more, and this November Dan and
Tara decided that the best way to serve the people of Texas would be in elected
office.
Dan is now running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Texas’ 2nd district,
where Dan grew up and where his family lives now. He believes in service before
self, and understands that there is no higher calling than service to the
American people. His wife Tara is no stranger to service either: she comes from
a career Navy family, and is an active fundraiser for families of fallen service
members and suicide prevention.
Dan is a staunch Republican and knows the importance of carrying the
conservative movement through to the next generation. Dan can no longer fight on
the battlefield, but he can bring the integrity, leadership, vision, and
tenacity learned in the SEAL teams to fight in Congress for common sense
policies that ensure our nation’s prosperity and security, represent our
Christian values, and again give Texans a reason to be proud of their leaders.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – April 19th
Phillip Aronoff, Runoff candidate
for CD 29
Video
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm for lunch as we continue to feature
Republican runoff candidates over the next month leading up to the May 22nd
runoff election. Please look for event updates and plan to join us as we hear
from our Republican runoff candidates!
On April 19th, we will feature the following candidate: Phillip Aronoff, Runoff
candidate for Congressional District 29
About Phillip from his website:
While we still have a run-off to deal with for the GOP nomination, I am fired up
and eager to move forward toward victory in November.
I want to thank everyone who supported and voted for me. It is deeply
appreciated, and I hope to have your continued support to help win the run-off
on May 22, and then turn this seat from blue to red in November.
I am Phillip Aronoff and I am filing to run for the United States Congress in
the 29th district of Texas. I have vast experience in business, in politics and
as an honorary consul general for more than a decade. I am fluent in Spanish,
and have been to Mexico too many times to count, both for business and pleasure.
I understand the importance of Houston as a global business center, and know the
ways to build on that. I ran George W. Bush’s first campaign for governor in
Harris County, and I have close relationships with many local politicians, past
and present, from Al Green to Tom DeLay, among others
First, as a Republican I do not want to give a “free ride” to the Democrats.
Second, and most importantly, I want to provide the residents of the 29th
district superior solutions to the problems facing our country today. The
solutions offered by the Democratic Party is to empower government, not the
people. I want to empower you.
As a grandson of immigrants to this country, I have always welcomed and approved
of new immigrants to the United States, especially from Latin America. The
reason is that they share our values of family, hard work, patriotism and love
of God as well as limited government, free enterprise, and personal
responsibility. What I have come to realize is that these new citizens have not
come over to the Republican column when they vote. I believe the reason is that
they do not even hear our message.
It is my goal and desire to share the ideas and values that can give everyone an
equal chance to fulfill their life’s destiny to the best of their ability. I
believe in Ronald Reagan’s analysis that “The person who agrees with you 80
percent of the time is a friend and an ally - not a 20 percent traitor.” I want
to demonstrate that the Conservative movement and the values I have embraced
will enhance life’s opportunities for all people living in the US.
I look forward to an honorable and lively debate on the issues with whomever is
the victor in the Democratic primary. If the residents of the 29th district will
give me a chance to explain my views, and they will listen with an open mind, I
am confident the voters will vote for me and I can become their next US
Congressman.
My challenge will be exactly how to get the people to listen to and analyze both
my opponent’s and my perspectives on how to manage the problems facing both the
country and our great city of Houston, as it continues to rebound from the
devastating blows delivered by Hurricane Harvey. I am confident I can provide
the better pathway to raise our children and pursue life’s treasures.
It’s time for dues again!
We are accepting payments for dues for 2018. Annual dues are $40, or $20 if you
are a member of another Pachyderm Club
Don't forget to "like" us on Facebook. We've hit a record of over 800 'likes'!
Thank you for helping us achieve our goal!
We have started a new menu option for entree size salad, soup of the day and
dessert, for those who would prefer it instead of the selected entrée.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – April 12th
Richard Risinger, Runoff candidate
for Judge of the 295th District Court
Video
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm for lunch as we feature Republican runoff
candidates over the next two months leading up to the May runoff election. We
will be announcing speakers as we get closer to meeting dates. Please look for
event updates and plan to join us as we hear from our Republican runoff
candidates!
On April 12th, we will feature the following candidate: Richard Risinger, Runoff
candidate for Judge 295th District Court
About Richard from his website:
I have served the community as a municipal attorney, including as legal advisor,
prosecutor, and civil litigation attorney, for over 26 years. I also served the
community as a municipal judge, for which I was appointed by current Harris
County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 8, Place 2, Louie Ditta. As an attorney
and judge, I took the oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and
laws of the United States and of this State, and I have upheld my oath
throughout my professional career. As a legal advisor and an attorney for
mayors, other city officials, supervisors, and employees of the city, I have
provided legal advice and services regarding several different areas of law and
issues. As a prosecutor, I helped resolve thousands of cases through
negotiations and through jury trials, as well as judge trials. As a civil
litigation attorney, I have been lead counsel in numerous legal matters,
including claims, lawsuits, appeals, hearings, and negotiating in mediations. I
have also worked with outside counsel on such legal matters.
As a judge, I made decisions based on the law and the facts. I also attended the
Texas Municipal Courts Education Center Judges Seminar every year.
I have gained valuable experience over the years meeting and working with
thousands of people from all walks of life, including mayors, other city
officials, chiefs of police, police officers, firefighters, supervisors,
employees, legal secretaries, volunteers, judges, clerks, bailiffs, court
reporters, attorneys, witnesses, jurors, and residents. Areas of law practice,
among others, include: Administrative, Appellate, Civil Litigation, Contracts,
Criminal, Employment, Government/Municipal, Land Use, Personal Injury, Real
Estate. I have also served the community by leading and/or volunteering with
several organizations, including:
• 2012 Republican Party Nominee for Judge of the 80th Civil District Court
(Harris County) • Pasadena South Rotary – Past President/Member • Preston Trails
South Neighborhood Association – Past President/Member • Pasadena Noon Optimist
Club – Past President • Walnut Hill Owner’s Association – Past President • Clear
Lake Area Republicans – Past President/Member • Cherry Tree Republicans – Member
• Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – Member • Bay Area Republican Women –
Associate Member • San Jacinto Republican Women – Associate Member • Delegate to
Texas Republican State Conventions • Delegate to the Texas Republican
Presidential Straw Poll • First Christian Church of Pasadena • Coach Little
League Baseball.
My wife, Debra Risinger, and I are natives and life-long residents of Harris
County. We have been blessed with two wonderful children and attend First
Christian Church of Pasadena. We have also been very involved in the community
for many years. Among other Republican Party involvement, Debra has served as
President of the San Jacinto Republican Women and as the District Director for
State Representative Dennis Paul.
I graduated from Sam Rayburn High School in 1982. Thereafter, I attended Sam
Houston State University, then continued my education at the University of Texas
at Austin, where I earned my Bachelor of Business Administration degree, Finance
major, in 1986. I went on to study law at Pepperdine University law school in
Malibu, California and London, England, then completed my Doctor of
Jurisprudence at the University of Houston law school in 1990.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – April 5th Hon.
Jeff Williams, Runoff Candidate
for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5, Place 2
Video
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm for lunch as we feature Republican runoff
candidates over the next two months leading up to the May runoff election. We
will be announcing speakers as we get closer to meeting dates. Please look for
event updates and plan to join us as we hear from our Republican runoff
candidates!
On April 5th, we will feature the following candidate: Hon. Jeff Williams,
Runoff Candidate for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5, Place 2
Jeff Williams’ life is one of integrity, hard work, family, conservatism and
education.
After graduating from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Arts
degree, Judge Jeff Williams moved to Houston in 1979. He attended law school at
South Texas College of Law in downtown Houston; the heart of the legal
community, and law clerked for the respected U.S. Supreme Court litigator J.
Edwin Smith. Judge Williams graduated in 1981 and began his legal career in
Houston as a general civil law practitioner.
In 2010, after almost 30 years of private practice, Judge Williams was elected
as the Justice of the Peace for Harris County, Pct 5, Place 2, with 80% of the
vote.
Judge Jeff Williams is a lifelong Conservative. He has volunteered to work on
many conservative campaigns; served as the Republican Chairman and Election
Judge for precinct 625 for 4 years; and has been a delegate to many party
conventions.
Having been self employed since 1984 in a general civil practice, managing
employees, paying taxes and making payroll; Judge Williams understands the needs
of businessmen. In his legal career, he has worked with both landlords and
tenants, written and construed contracts and determined matters involving
negligence.
Judge Williams served 5 years on active Duty as a Captain in the Texas Army
State Guard, as a JAG officer assigned to the Headquarters Unit at Camp Mabry in
Austin. He has volunteered to write wills and powers of attorney for deploying
Texas Army National Guard troops. Judge Williams has also earned his Basic
Military Emergency Management Skill badge and trained in Terrorist Incident
Response sponsored by the United States Department of Homeland Security.
With his decades of experience and legal knowledge as a practicing attorney, and
now as Justice of the Peace, Judge Williams is able and does Rule strictly
according to the law regardless of race, nationality, accents, religion or
political party. He is eminently qualified and willing to continue his service
to the community both on and off the bench.
Judge Williams feels it is important to give back to his community, and has
ridden in an annual charity 150 mile bicycle race that raises funds to help
patients suffering from Multiple Sclerosis.
Judge Williams and his wife Rita are longtime residents of Houston, and have
raised their two sons here. David, an Eagle Scout, is now attending the
University of Texas at Austin, and younger brother Justin is following the path
to Eagle as well. The Williams have been a scouting family for 14 years. Judge
Williams was a Life Scout, and is an Assistant Scoutmaster with the troop and
Rita is a volunteer and past Den Leader in the boys Cub Scout Pack.
Rita speaks fluent Spanish and Judge Williams is conversant in Spanish.
Both the Judge and his wife are actively involved in their houses of worship.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – March 22nd Michelle Fraga, Runoff Candidate
for Judge of the 295TH District Court
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm for lunch as we feature Republican runoff
candidates over the next two months leading up to the May runoff election. We
will be announcing speakers as we get closer to meeting dates. Please look for
event updates and plan to join us as we hear from our Republican runoff
candidates!
This week, we will feature the following candidate: Michelle Fraga, Candidate
for Judge of the 295th Civil District Court.
Michelle believes Harris County needs a strong Republican jurist with
conservative values that is faithful to the constitution. Michelle believes it
is the judge’s civic duty to run a court with judicial economy, adherence to the
rule of law, treat all those who come before her with respect, and fairness.
Michelle is a native Houstonian, graduate of Cy-Fair High School, the University
of Houston, and South Texas College of Law Houston.
Michelle began her career at the Harris County Attorney’s Office where she
defended and protected Harris County’s interest and the interest of Sheriffs'
deputies. Michelle served as special of counsel to the Harris County Sheriff.
Currently, her practices focuses on complex civil litigation including family
law, probate, employment, and civil rights cases.
Michelle is committed to the Houston community and volunteers at organizations
including M.D. Anderson, Sheltering Arms, and AIDS Foundation Houston. She is a
member of the Junior League of Houston, a board member of the Harriet & Joe
Foster YMCA and on the advisory board of Catholic Charities. Professional
memberships include: Houston Bar Association, Mexican-American Bar Association,
and Hispanic Bar Association.
Michelle is married to Stephen, a native Houstonian. Stephen is president of
Tejas Office Products, Inc. a family owned business located in the Heights. He
is a graduate of Strake Jesuit College Preparatory and Texas A&M University
(‘97). He is board member of the United Way of Greater Houston, The Memorial
Hermann Hospital Foundation, and Chairman of the Board of the Sports Authority
Foundation. Michelle and Stephen live in Oak Forest and have three boys, Gregory
and Stephen (8) and Andrew (3). The boys attend St. Rose of Lima Catholic
School.

Downtown Houston Pachyderms – March 15
Carmen Montiel, Candidate for US
Congress, 29th District
Video
CARMEN MARIA LECHIN
Carmen Maria was born in Venezuela into a traditional Spanish Colonial family,
in which education, hard work and giving back were priorities, and began her
charity work as a young girl in her church youth program. When Carmen was just
16 years old, just like in a Hollywood movie, the president of the Miss
Venezuela pageant discovered her. Her beauty and elegance earned her the titles
of Miss Venezuela, Miss South America, and Second Runner-Up in the Miss Universe
Pageant in 1984. Carmen Maria immediately put her celebrity to use in the
service of others, and created the foundation “Las Misses” to help pediatric
hospitals in Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru.
Carmen studied Arts at Universidad Central of Venezuela, and her television
career was launched in 1984, when she joined “Buenos Dias Venezuela” on
Venevision. She later became anchorwoman for “Complicidades,” a show comparable
to “The View.” As a broadcaster, she also found her voice as a disc jockey and
producer, and her career expanded further to Mexico, Panama and Peru, earning
her many awards in the television industry as well as for community service. Her
television awards include: Woman of the Year, Zulia 1984; Lions Club Award 1985;
Uni-Prensa Award 1985; Fundación “Las Granjas Infantiles” 1986; Meridiano de Oro
1987 and 1988; and Aquila de Oro 1988.
In May 1988, Carmen Maria moved to the United States to continue her education.
In 1991, she was awarded degrees in Broadcasting and Spanish, Magna Cum Laude,
at East Tennessee State University. Proof positive that beauty and brains are
not mutually exclusive!
Carmen Maria moved to Houston in the summer of 1991, where she began working as
a reporter for Telemundo-Houston, and worked her way up to news anchorwoman. She
went on to cover floods, the 1992 GOP Convention, and developed a health
segment. Volunteerism always remained a priority for Carmen, and as a TV
personality, she was recognized for her work in the Houston community by the
Consulate General of Mexico and The Houston Area Women’s Center. She also lent
her voice to the United Way and the Rainforest Foundations.
In 1995, her career took a different path when she became pregnant with her
first daughter. She now has three beautiful children: Alexandra Isabel, Carmen
Maria and Juan Diego. Her family is the most important aspect of her life. The
education of her children is her top priority. Today, Carmen Maria continues to
serve the Houston community through many charitable organizations.
Carmen Maria has been a passionate force in Houston’s Latin American community
and is active in the Latin Women Initiative, chairing their luncheon in 2006. In
2008, she chaired the “Gala de las Americas” for the Institute of Hispanic
Culture. She has also been active within the Museum of Fine Arts participating
on various committees and boards. She personally organized the Latin Maecenas
for the Museum’s Latin American Art Department. Currently, she sits on the Board
of Directors of UNICEF, Virtuosi of Houston, and the Institute of Hispanic
Culture, as well as on the Advisory Board of the Latin Women Initiative Carmen
Maria has also served on the board of Success Scholarships. In each organization
she served, she has been recognized for her strong work ethic, and her
willingness to “get her hands dirty” and to “get it done!”
In 2008, Carmen Maria was named among the 25 most beautiful people of Houston by
H Texas magazine and in 2009 as the most elegant lady of the European and Latin
communities by Dinastia Latina magazine. She was named Woman of Distinction in
2010 and in 2011 Best Dress in Houston.
Carmen Maria is a Domestic Violence Survivor and is dedicating her life to help
other women to overcome this tragic situation.
Carmen Maria has proved to be a warrior. She is a Domestic Violence Survivor and
is dedicating her life to help other women in this situation. Specially to teach
young girls to recognize a predator at first side.
Carmen Maria is thankful for her life. She says there has never been a dull
moment. Her life has been full of surprises, different experiences, and sudden
changes--all of them wonderful!


CONGRATULATIONS!
To Pachyderm Past President Sohpia Mafrige for handily winning her primary race
for Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. 4

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – March 8th Dr. David Schein, Author of The
Decline of America: 100 Years of Leadership Failures
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm for our first lunch meeting after the
March 6th Primary! This week, we will welcome author Dr. David Schein, Author of
The Decline of America: 100 Years of Leadership Failures
It’s time for dues again!
We are accepting payments for dues for 2018. Annual dues are $40, or $20 if you
are a member of another Pachyderm Club
Don't forget to "like" us on Facebook. We've hit a record of over 700 'likes'!
Thank you for helping us achieve our goal!

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – March 1st Republican Primary Candidates and Ed
Johnson on Early Voting
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm for our last lunch meeting before
Election Day! This week, we will have a make up day for candidates and Ed
Johnson will give us an update on Early Voting.
The following candidates have responded to attend: Dan Crenshaw for
Congressional District #2.
It’s time for dues again!
We are accepting payments for dues for 2018. Annual dues are $40, or $20 if you
are a member of another Pachyderm Club
Don't forget to "like" us on Facebook. We've hit a record of over 700 'likes'!
Thank you for helping us achieve our goal!
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – February 22nd Republican Primary Candidates
and Go Texan!
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm for lunch as we continue to feature
contested primary candidates over the final two weeks leading up to the March
primary, and will be announcing speakers as we get closer to meeting dates.
Please look for event updates and plan to join us as we hear from our contested
Republican primary candidates!
This week, we will feature the following candidates: Erin Swanson for Judge of
Harris County Civil Court at Law #2, Melanie Flowers for Judge of the 257th
District Court, Sharon Hemphill for Judge of the 189th District Court
There are over 30 contested primary races with over 80 candidates in all or part
of Harris County on March 6. We have invited all the candidates who had email
addresses on file with either the Secretary of State or the Harris County
Republican Party. If you know a candidate who has not spoken and is not
scheduled, please ask them to contact us as soon as possible, so we can schedule
them as well.
29th Congressional District

Gene Green, Incumbent




Phillip Aronoff
Jaimy Blanco Carmen Maria Montiel
Robert Schafranek
County Civil Court at Law #4


Sophia
Mafrige
David Tang
Texas House district 150


James Wilson
Valoree Swanson
Court of Criminal Appeals Place 8



Michelle Slaughter
Dib Waldrip
Jay Brandon
185th District Court


Stacey W. Bond
Maritza Antu
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm for lunch as we feature contested primary
candidates over the next couple of months leading up to the March primary, and
will be announcing speakers as we get closer to meeting dates. Please look for
event updates and plan to join us as we hear from our contested Republican
primary candidates!
This week, we will feature the following candidates: Candidates for 29th
Congressional District, Candidates for County Civil Court at Law #4, James
Wilson for HD 150, Hon. Michelle Slaughter for Court of Criminal Appeals Place
8, and Hon. Stacey Webb Bond for 185th District Court
There are over 30 contested primary races with over 80 candidates in all or part
of Harris County on March 6. We have invited all the candidates who had email
addresses on file with either the Secretary of State or the Harris County
Republican Party. If you know a candidate who has not spoken and is not
scheduled, please ask them to contact us as soon as possible, so we can schedule
them as well.
The 29th Congressional District was created after the 1990 census. The only
representative it has ever had is Gene Green, who is retiring after 26 years in
Congress, as well as serving as a state senator and a state representative. Four
Republicans are seeking this seat: Phillip Aronoff, Jaimy Blanco, Carmen Maria
Montiel and Robert Schafranek.
Hon. Roberta Lloyd is retiring from the bench of County Civil Court at Law 4 at
the end of this term. There are two candidates vying to replace her, Sophia
Mafrige and David Tang.
Valoree Swanson was elected to represent District 150 in north Harris County in
2016. She is opposed this year by James Wilson.
Michelle Slaughter is judge of the 405th District Court in Galveston County. She
is running for the Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 8, a seat currently held by
Hon. Elsa Alcala, who is retiring.
Stacey Webb Bond previously served as judge of the 179th District Court. She is
running for the 185th District Court, which is currently held by Hon. Susan
Brown, who is retiring.

Paul Simpson
and Chris Carmona



Dib Waldrip Jay Brandon
Michelle Slaughter


Terry Yates
Katy Boatman
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – February 8th Republican Primary Candidates
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm for lunch as we continue to feature
contested primary candidates over the next month leading up to the March
primary, and will be announcing speakers as we get closer to meeting dates.
Please look for event updates and plan to join us as we hear from our contested
Republican primary candidates!
This week, we will feature the following candidates: Candidates for Party Chair,
Court of Criminal Appeals Place 8, First Court of Appeals Place 7
Paul Simpson has served as Harris County Republican Party Chair since his
election in 2014. He is being challenged by Chris Carmona.
The Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest appellate Court for criminal cases
in the State of Texas. Three Republicans have filed to replace Hon. Elsa Alcala,
who is retiring at the end of this term. We will hear from two of them, Hon. Dib
Waldrip and Jay Brandon this week. We will hear from the third candidate, Hon.
Michelle Slaughter, on February 15th
The First Court of Appeals hears criminal and civil appeals from ten counties,
including Harris County. Hon. Terry Jennings is retiring at the end of this
term. The candidates vying to replace him, Hon. Terry Yates and Katy Boatman
will share their qualifications with us.
It’s time for dues again!
We are accepting payments for dues for 2018. Annual dues are $40, or $20 if you
are a member of another Pachyderm Club
Don't forget to "like" us on Facebook. We've hit a record of over 700 'likes'!
Thank you for helping us achieve our goal!
Texas Land Commissioner Candidates




Jerry Patterson
Davey Edwards
Rick Range
George P. Bush
U. S. Representative, District 22




James Green
Danny Nguyen
Pete Olson
Eric Zmrhal
280th District Court



Angelina Gooden
George Clevenger
Geric Tipsword
Texas Senate District 17


Kristen Tassin
Joan Huffman
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club – February 1st Republican Primary Candidates
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm for lunch as we feature contested primary
candidates over the next couple of months leading up to the March primary, and
will be announcing speakers as we get closer to meeting dates. Please look for
event updates and plan to join us as we hear from our contested Republican
primary candidates!
This week, we will feature the following candidates: Rick Range, candidate for
Land Commissioner; Candidates for 22nd Congressional District; Candidates for
280th District Court; Kristin Tassin, candidate for Senate District 17
The Twenty-Second Congressional District was created following the 1970 census.
The Hon. Pete Olson is the incumbent. Congressman Olson has three challengers in
the Republican primary, James Green, Danny Nguyen, Eric Zmrhal, all of whom will
be speaking at our club.
The 280th District Court handles protective orders exclusively. Governor Abbott
appointed Hon. Angelina Gooden to this bench, following the retirement of Judge
Lynn Bradshaw-Hull. Judge Gooden and her two opponents, George Clevenger and
Geric Tipsword, will address us about their plans for this Court.
Rick Range is running for Land Commissioner. He will address us about his plans
for the office.
Kristin Tassin is running for Senator, Senate District 17.

Who will succeed Ted Poe?




Dan Crenshaw Kathaleen Wall
Rick Walker
David Balat




Kevin Roberts Dr. Jon Spiers
Malcolm Whittaker Jonny Havens

Justin L. Lurie
Downtown Pachyderm Club January 25th Republican Primary
Candidates for CD2
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm for lunch as we feature contested primary
candidates over the next couple of months leading up to the March primary, and
will be announcing speakers as we get closer to meeting dates. Please look for
event updates and plan to join us as we hear from our contested Republican
primary candidates!
This week, we will feature candidates who are seeking to replace
Congressman Ted Poe in
Congressional District 2
After a long career as prosecutor, then criminal court judge, Hon. Ted Poe
resigned his bench to seek election in the Second Congressional District, which
at the time stretched from Jefferson County to Northeast Harris County. The
lines of the district were re-drawn after the 2010 census, and his district is
now totally within Harris County, and curls around to Southwest Houston. After
fourteen years in Congress, including numerous floor speeches that concluded
with the phrase . . .and thats the way it is, and beating cancer, Poe has
decided to retire and spend more time with his grandchildren. Nine candidates
are seeking to replace him. This week, we will welcome eight of the nine
candidates for the Second Congressional District. We hope to see you there as
well.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club January 18th Republican Primary Candidates
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm for lunch as we feature contested primary
candidates over the next couple of months leading up to the March primary, and
will be announcing speakers as we get closer to meeting dates. Please look for
event updates and plan to join us as we hear from our contested Republican
primary candidates!
This week, we will feature candidates for Justice of the Peace Pct. 5 Place 2,
State Rep. District 126, the 185th Criminal District Court, the 295th Civil
District Court, and the 189th Civil District Court.
We have confirmed two of the three candidates for Justice of the Peace Pct. 5
Place 2: Judge Jeff Williams running for re-election and J.R. Harris. The third
candidate, Mike Wolfe, is scheduled for a makeup date on March 1st.
The Hon. Bill Burke is retiring at the end of this term in office from the 189th
Civil District Court. Both candidates for this court, the Hon. Erin Lunceford
and Sharon Hemphill, will speak at our meeting.
Judge Caroline Baker is not seeking reelection to the 295th Civil District
Court. All three of the candidates seeking to replace her will be speaking at
our meeting: Fred Shuchart, Richard Risinger and Michelle Fraga.
Judge Susan Brown is retiring after twenty years as the Judge of the 185th
District Court. Both candidates for this court, the Hon. Stacey Webb Bond and
Maritza Antu, will tell us about their qualifications to sit on this bench.
Three candidates are running to replace the Hon. Kevin Roberts in House District
126: Sam Harless, husband of former State Rep. Patricia Harless, SREC member
Gail Stanart, and, Kevin Fulton. Sam Harless and Kevin Fulton will be present at
our meeting, Gail Stanart will be represented by her husband, County Clerk Stan
Stanart,
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club January 11th Republican Primary Candidates
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm for lunch as we feature contested primary
candidates over the next couple of months leading up to the March primary, and
will be announcing speakers as we get closer to meeting dates. Please look for
event updates and plan to join us as we hear from our contested Republican
primary candidates!
This week, we will welcome Judge Jay Karahan and Dan Simons, candidates for
Harris County Criminal Court at Law #8, Judge Theresa Chang of Harris County
Civil Court at Law #2, and, Trey Blocker, running for Commissioner of
Agriculture
Daniel Simons has been licensed since 2012, A former assistant district attorney
in Harris County, he is currently in private practice.
About Judge Jay Karahan:
Judge Karahan was born and raised in Tampa Florida. He was very active in high
school music activities and student government, and worked daily in his fathers
unairconditioned warehouse to earn money for college. He attended Florida State
University and graduated with an honors degree in Music Theory and a certificate
in vocal performance. During college he worked at two jobs to support himself,
including one working in the kitchen of a sorority house where two young woman
were slain by the infamous Ted Bundy. This tragic incident was a turning point
for Judge Karahan, and he determined to become a lawyer in order to prosecute
the perpetrators of similar crimes. He became familiar with the law first as an
intern for a year at the Hillsborough County States Attorneys Office in Tampa,
and then matriculated into South Texas College of Law in Houston in 1979. Judge
Karahan attended law classes at night and interned during the day at the Harris
County District Attorneys Office in the intake and grand jury divisions. He
graduated with a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1983.
From 1983 to 1987, Judge Karahan served as an Assistant District Attorney for
Harris County, Texas. He was a member of the District Attorneys child abuse
committee and specialized in child abuse prosecutions, a difficult but vital
assignment. In 1987, the U.S. Attorney General appointed him an Assistant United
States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas. As a federal prosecutor he
served in the Major Offender Division, Bank Fraud Task Force, and as a district
coordinator for child exploitation investigations and prosecutions. While there
he successfully prosecuted two FBI Top Ten fugitives for an interstate
kidnapping and robbery spree, for which he received the U.S. Attorney Generals
Special Achievement Award. As both a state and federal prosecutor Judge Karahan
tried to jury verdict over 100 serious felony cases. In 1988, Judge Karahan was
certified as a Criminal Law Specialist by the Texas Board of Legal
Specialization, and he has maintained that certification ever since.
Judge Karahan left government practice in 1991 to serve as litigation and
compliance counsel for a Fortune 100 company based in Houston He moved to
private practice in 1995 to open the white-collar defense firm of Jay Karahan &
Associates, where he specialized in state and federal criminal trials and
appeals, mediations, and corporate compliance and investigations. As a defender
he tried an additional 30 serious felony jury trials.
From 1987 to 1997, Judge Karahan taught criminal trial advocacy as an Adjunct
Professor of Law at South Texas College of Law. He has served as Chair of the
Administration of Justice Committee, and as Chair of the Criminal Law and
Procedure Section, both of the Houston Bar Association. He has also served as
vice-president and director of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association.
Judge Karahan speaks on criminal justice issues and concerns at CLE seminars, at
colleges and universities locally and abroad, at Houston area public and private
schools and in the community, with a particular emphasis on domestic violence.
Judge Karahan has also lectured and published articles on the use of expert
witnesses concerning the reliability of eyewitness testimony in criminal cases,
as well as law practice in the Harris County Criminal-Courts-at-Law. Judge
Karahan also serves as visiting judge for moot court and mock trial competitions
at South Texas College of Law. He spends additional time with youthful
offenders, especially 17-19 year old adult probationers who meet with him for
mentoring and compliance evaluations.
Judge Karahan presides in one of Harris Countys SOBER (Saving Ourselves by
Education and Recovery) Courts for DWI repeat offenders and Court 8 was one of
five pilot courts in Harris County to introduce this successful program. The
SOBER Court program was established in January, 2008 by the Harris County
Criminal Courts-at-Law and the Texas Legislature to focus on intervention and
rehabilitation of DWI repeat offenders with alcohol and substance abuse
problems. These sentencing practices in SOBER court reduce probationer
recidivism (re-offending) and increase successful probations in our courts.
Judge Karahans sentencing practices are designed to motivate and empower
offenders to return to integrity with the community and to live productive,
law-abiding lives. Judge Karahan is a committee member of the Indigent Defense
Committee which is now exploring the feasibility for this program in Harris
County. He also serves on the Jury Use Committee and the SOBER Courts Committee.
Outside of the courtroom, Judge Karahan is a member of St. Martins Episcopal
Church where he serves as a chalice bearer, a lay reader, a member of the
Shepherds Guild, and sings in the choir. He is active in community theatre, and
was one of the founding members of Night Court in 1989, an all lawyer musical
review that has raised nearly a million dollars for charity. Judge Karahan is a
frequent singer of the National Anthem at regional events, and in his spare time
he enjoys reading, cooking with his family, and competitive carom billiards.
About Judge Theresa Chang:
Judge Theresa Chang is the Presiding Judge of Harris County Civil Court at Law
#2. She was unanimously appointed by the Commissioners Court and elected by the
voters of Harris County in 2012 and 2014.
It is extremely important to Judge Theresa Chang that Constitution is guarded
and individual rights are protected, and the cases in her court are resolved in
a fair and speedy fashion.
Since Judge Theresa Chang took the office in 2012, She reduced the court docket
by 45%. Under Judge Changs leadership, less than 1% of disposed cases in Civil
Court #2 went on to appeal.
Judge Chang obtained her M.S. in Chemical Engineering in the Texas A&M
University System and was a registered Professional Engineer prior to earning
her law degree from the South Texas College of Law Houston.
After graduation, she worked as an Assistant County Attorney for 10 years and
served as Division Chief of Revenue Division and Compliance Division of the
Harris County Attorneys Office. In 2007, Chang was unanimously appointed as
District Clerk of Harris County by 59 District Court Judges. Later, Chang served
as an Associate Judge of Houston Municipal Courts till she became the Judge of
County Civil Court #2.
Judge Chang has served as a Commissioner of the Commission for Lawyer Discipline
of State Bar of Texas for 6 years. She has served on the Board of Directors of
State Bar and Asian American Bar Association.
In 1997, then Governor Bush appointed Chang to serve on the Board of Regents of
University of Houston System. Chang also serves and has served on the board of
many community organizations, such as South Texas College of Law Houston, Asian
Chamber of Commerce, Chinese Community Center, YMCA, Houston Area Urban League,
Houston Grand Opera, Texas Executive Women, American Leadership Forum and
Governors Commission for Women.
Because of Changs professionalism and community involvements, she has been
honored as Elected Official of the Year by Texas Asian Republican Club in 2016;
George Bush Award by Asian Pacific American Heritage Association in 2016; Impact
Award by Asian American Bar Association in 2012; Distinguished Alumni by Texas
A&M Kingsville in 2011; 50 Most Influential Women in Houston by Women Magazine
in 2010; and Women on the Move by Texas Executive Women in 2005.
Judge Changs husband, Peter, is a cardiologist. They have been married for 35
years. They have two sons, Winston and Spencer. They are active members of
Ascension Catholic Church.
About Trey Blocker:
Trey is a 6th generation Texan. His forefathers were among the most respected
cattlemen of their time. His great, great uncle drove the first cattle onto the
XIT Ranch, and gave the ranch its name. The son of a sheet-metal worker father
and a horse-trainer mother, Trey Blocker was raised with Christian values and a
strong work ethic; learning at an early age the importance and true meaning of
honesty, personal integrity, and the value of a hard days work.
While still in law school at the University of Texas, Trey established the Civil
Liberties Defense Foundation (CLDF) to protect and defend the Second Amendment
rights of Texas gun owners under threat by liberal cities and their elected
officials. Today, CLDF is continuing to defend conservative values and protect
Texans by suing Sanctuary Cities that continue to harbor criminal aliens and
defy the ban on Sanctuary Cities passed by the Texas Legislature and signed into
law by Governor Abbott.
Trey is the conservative podcast host of The Trey Blocker Show. He founded the
podcast to educate, motivate, and entertain in a way that improves political and
social discourse, featuring in-depth interviews of leading conservative leaders,
elected officials, and activists in Texas.
A former lobbyist, Trey left his practice after witnessing firsthand the
corruptive nature of politics in Austin and deciding that public service through
elected office was the best way to affect positive change for his beloved state.
He announced his campaign for Texas Agriculture Commissioner on November 29th,
2017 with a pledge to restore honesty, integrity, and fiscal responsibility back
to the Department of Agriculture.
Trey is life-long outdoorsman and hunting and shooting enthusiast. He earned a
bachelor of arts degree with honors from Hampden-Sydney College, where he served
as student body president, and a law degree from the University of Texas School
of Law. He also attended the Dallas Theological Seminary. Trey resides in
Fredericksburg, Texas.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club December 7th Christmas Lunch
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm for lunch as we celebrate Christmas with
Senator Paul Bettencourt, Install the 2018 Board and Officers, and collect
necessities for the Star of Hope Mission!
About Senator Bettencourt-
Paul Bettencourt is Chief Executive Officer of Bettencourt Tax Advisors, LLC., a
Radio and TV personality, former Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector from 1998
to 2008, and the current Texas Senator from District 7. At the Tax Office, he
introduced Smart Government and developed a customer service-driven
organization. His team created the first major online Property Tax Payment
System and the first county tax office website with online Automotive
Registration in Texas. (His motto was Get on-line, not in-line.) His
leadership in office and the community earned Paul the Taxpayer Advocate of the
Year award from Americans for Prosperity, the Hero of Faith award from the
Houston Area Pastors Council, and the Pioneer award from the Harris County
Republican Party. He also was awarded the Tough Tusk Award by the Greater
Houston Pachyderm Club.
Paul has also held the offices of the Texas Republican Party Treasurer, the
Harris County Republican Party Vice Chair and Treasurer, a National Republican
Party Alternate from Texas in 2000, a National Delegate in 2004 and 2008, and
Presidential Elector in the 2012 Presidential Election from Congressional
District 7.
After a decade of public service, Paul started his own business in 2009. With a
focus on customer service, technology, and best business practices, Bettencourt
Tax Advisors, LLC assists in reducing property tax bills for its clients and has
successfully expanded to over 30 employees.
Paul ran for the Texas Senate in District 7 and won with 71.8% of the vote. As
the newly elected Senator of SD 7, he was honored to be appointed to the Senate
Finance Committee by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who also appointed Paul to
the Senate Committees on Intergovernmental Relations (Vice Chair), Education,
and Higher Education. At the conclusion of the Legislative Session, Senator
Bettencourt was recognized by Capitol Inside as Most Valuable Freshman and by
Governor Abbott as an architect of tax relief.
Additionally Senator Bettencourt was named Chair of the Select Committee on
Property Tax Reform and Relief by Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and was unanimously
elected by his colleagues to serve as Chair of the Texas Senate Republican
Caucus.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club November 30th
DT Pachyderm presents Angelina Gooden on the Protective Order Court, HCC Trustee
runoff candidates. We will also conduct elections for 2018 Board members.
As our community works to recover from Hurricane Harvey, we are happy to resume
our weekly Thursday lunch meetings at a new location: The Pearl at the SAM
Houston Hotel. We look forward to this new chapter for the Club, and are
grateful for the many wonderful years we had meeting at the Spaghetti Warehouse.
Please reply to the Facebook event so we can estimate attendance. Thank you!
About Angelina:
Angelina Gooden, a practicing attorney in Houston, was recently appointed by
Governor Abbott to the 280th Family Law Domestic Violence Court, "the Family
Protective Order Court", in Harris County in 2018. She has practiced law since
1989, working for both private law firms and in the non-profit sector as a
contract attorney with Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse for 11 consecutive
years. She is presently a partner in Gooden and Gooden, with her husband Elijah
Gooden, III.
Angelina is a graduate of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law and a member of
the State Bar of Texas. She obtained her Masters of Arts in Urban Affairs and
Human Resources from Norfolk State University, and her Bachelors of Arts in
Sociology from Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia.
Angelina has been a speaker on protective orders and domestic violence issues
over the years. She presently sits on the board of the Bridge Over Troubled
Waters, Inc. a domestic violence shelter, is a member of the Texas Council on
Family Violence and has previously served as a volunteer on the Houston Council
on Domestic Violence. Angelina has represented litigants in all types of family
law cases and has often served as an Amicus Attorney/Attorney Ad Litem to
protect the interest of children. Throughout her career, Angelina has been
appointed by four Harris County Family Law Judges to serve as a Special Master
to hear family law cases and served as a Continuing Legal Education Presenter in
family law seminars.
As an active Republican, Angelina was as a delegate to the Senate District 11
Republican Party Convention in Harris County and a delegate to the Republican
Party of Texas Convention for the years of 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014 & 2016.
Angelina is an active member of the San Jacinto Republican Women and Pachyderm
Club of Northwest Houston. She holds Associate Memberships with the Yellow Rose
of Texas Republican Women, Bay Area Republican Women and Texas Tea Party
Republican Women.
Angelina is the youngest child of military veterans. She is a longstanding
member of the New Covenant Christian Church. Angelina is a loving wife for over
27 years, a mother of four and grandmother of three.
HCC Trustees:
Runoff candidates for HCC Trustee District IX (9) have been invited to speak. We
will hear from Rev. Gene Pack and Pretta VanDible Stallworth, or their
representatives.
We look forward to seeing everyone!

November 23 - Thanksgiving

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club November 16th
DT Pachyderm presents Realtor and Veteran, Morad Fiki, on the Houston Real
Estate Market Before and After Hurricane Harvey
As our community works to recover from Hurricane Harvey, we are happy to resume
our weekly Thursday lunch meetings at a new location: The Pearl at the SAM
Houston Hotel. We look forward to this new chapter for the Club, and are
grateful for the many wonderful years we had meeting at the Spaghetti Warehouse.
Please reply to the Facebook event so we can estimate attendance. Thank you!
About Morad:
Upon honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy in 2013, Morad Fiki has tackled the
high end luxury Houston residential real estate market. Morad has always strived
to use Innovative and unorthodox marketing strategies for high end Luxury
residential Properties. Constantly thinking "outside of the box," Morad
consistently uses enhanced Social media techniques to target online buyers for
his high end listings. He strives to be on the forefront of the "Next New Thing"
and has thus been dubbed as the Future of Houston Luxury Real Estate. Morad Fiki
has been named in the latest issue of Houston Luxury Magazine as one of
Houston's Top Luxury Real Estate Professionals".
We look forward to seeing everyone!

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club November 9th
DT Pachyderm presents Dr. Davey Edwards, candidate for Texas Land Commissioner
As our community works to recover from Hurricane Harvey, we are happy to resume
our weekly Thursday lunch meetings at a new location: The Pearl at the SAM
Houston Hotel. We look forward to this new chapter for the Club, and are
grateful for the many wonderful years we had meeting at the Spaghetti Warehouse.
Please reply to the Facebook event so we can estimate attendance. Thank you!
About Dr. Edwards, per his website:
Im a 6th generation Texan that is qualified in land administration systems and
passionate about my Texas heritage. The Texas General Land Office, the first
created agency in 1836, is an unknown but important agency in Texas tasked with
generating revenue for the Permanent School Fund which supports public education
in Texas. The GLO is also responsible for the maintenance and preservation of
the Alamo.
I am standing up for Texas and pursuing this prestigious office. My goal is to
be the voice of Texans by addressing the following issues:
Protecting the Texas General Land Office from the neglect and abuse of
politicians by being a steward of Texas sovereign lands using my expertise.
Properly applying the statutes for the preservation and maintenance of the Alamo
through transparent leadership and perpetuation of the Alamo Complex using
historical architecture and restoring remembrances of those who died for Texas
sovereignty in the 1836 battle!
Continue to fight against intrusions of Federal land claims against Texans and
the interest of the State of Texas.
Providing the lowest interest rate loans for Veterans who seek to purchase Texas
lands and homes.
Monitoring and conservation of Texas mystique coastline without forcibly
infringing on the private property rights of Texans.
Educate Texans and the world on the importance of the Texas General Land Office
and proper land administration systems management.
Following the Texas Aggie Core Values (Excellence, Integrity, Leadership,
Loyalty, Respect, and Selfless Service), I will lead through Texas conservative
values which represents Texans.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club November 2nd
DT Pachyderm presents HISD Trustee Candidates and a discussion with State
Representative Jim Murphy and local businessman, James Noteware, of the bonds
and proposals on the November 2017 ballot
As our community works to recover from Hurricane Harvey, we are happy to resume
our weekly Thursday lunch meetings at a new location: The Pearl at the SAM
Houston Hotel. We look forward to this new chapter for the Club, and are
grateful for the many wonderful years we had meeting at the Spaghetti Warehouse.
Please reply to the Facebook event so we can estimate attendance. Thank you!
This Thursday, we will hear from several HISD Trustee candidates about their
races. To date, we have confirmed the following:
1. Sue Deigaard
2. Sean Cheben
3. John Luman
4. Robert Lundin
5. Daniel Albert
Also, we will have a discussion of the Bond issues and proposals on the November
ballot, with State Representative Jim Murphy and local businessman James
Noteware providing different viewpoints.
We look forward to seeing everyone!

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club October 26th
DT Pachyderm presents Meteorologist, Frank Billingsley
As our community works to recover from Hurricane Harvey, we are happy to resume
our weekly Thursday lunch meetings at a new location: The Pearl at the SAM
Houston Hotel. We look forward to this new chapter for the Club, and are
grateful for the many wonderful years we had meeting at the Spaghetti Warehouse.
Please reply to the Facebook event so we can estimate attendance. Thank you!
About Mr. Billingsley:
Raised in Alabama, Frank Billingsley has called Houston home since 1989 and
joined KPRC 2 as chief meteorologist in February 1995.
"I try to make the weather clear and easy to understand. The challenge is taking
a complicated subject and making it simple, but I really enjoy it," he said.
"Of course, since Hurricanes Ike, Rita and Tropical Storm Allison, we've all
become more aware of just how powerful weather can be and while I can't control
the weather, I can be there to warn people when their lives or property is in
danger. That's what makes my job worth it to me. I feel like I have a chance to
give back to the world," Frank said.
Many viewers recall Radar the Weather Dog with Frank from 2003 to 2006. Radar
now lives happily fat and retired pursuing other interests! Throughout Frank's
life, his dogs have included Buster, Buff, Smokey, Rock, Hudson, and River-- one
beagle, two spaniels and three schnauzers.
Since joining the KPRC 2 team in 1995, Frank has received Best Weathercaster
awards from the Associated Press seven times, the Houston Press Club four times,
the Houston Press newspaper four times and the Dallas Press Club three times.
The Houston Chronicle named Frank the "Ultimate Weatherman."
A Washington & Lee University graduate, Frank received his Broadcast Meteorology
Certification from Mississippi State University. He holds the seals of approval
from both the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather
Association.
We look forward to seeing everyone!

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club October 19th
DT Pachyderm presents US Marshal Gary Blankinship
As our community works to recover from Hurricane Harvey, we are happy to resume
our weekly Thursday lunch meetings at a new location: The Pearl at the SAM
Houston Hotel. We look forward to this new chapter for the Club, and are
grateful for the many wonderful years we had meeting at the Spaghetti Warehouse.
Please reply to the Facebook event so we can estimate attendance. Thank you!
About Mr. Blankinship:
Gary L. Blankinship retired as a Senior Police Officer with the Houston Police
Department and President of the Houston Police Officers Union. Blankinship has
served in law enforcement for 35 years. In 1993, after the death of his partner
in the line of duty, Blankinship founded the Assist the Officer Foundation to
provide short-term, immediate financial assistance for officers critically
injured or disabled in the line of duty. He also has served as Vice President
for the National Association of Police Organizations.
We look forward to seeing everyone!

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club October 12th
DT Pachyderm presents Elaine Stolte with the Childrens Assessment Center
As our community works to recover from Hurricane Harvey, we are happy to resume
our weekly Thursday lunch meetings at a new location: The Pearl at the SAM
Houston Hotel. We look forward to this new chapter for the Club, and are
grateful for the many wonderful years we had meeting at the Spaghetti Warehouse.
Please reply to the Facebook event so we can estimate attendance. Thank you!
About Ms. Stolte:
Elaine Stolte, Childrens Assessment Center
The Childrens Assessment Center [CAC] provides a safe haven to sexually abused
children and their families - a place where they can receive the kind of care
and treatment they so richly deserve. They employ an extraordinarily effective
multidisciplinary team approach in the prevention, assessment, investigation,
referral for prosecution and treatment of child sexual abuse. Their goal is to
promote the complete healing of child victims of sexual abuse and their
families.
Elaine Stolte is the executive director of the CAC. The CAC is an accredited
member of the National Children's Alliance, part of a national movement to
create child-friendly intervention systems for sexually abused children, and a
member of the Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas. The CAC is also one of the
largest child abuse advocacy centers of its kind in the nation.
We look forward to seeing everyone!

About Judge Yeary:
Judge Kevin Patrick Yeary is a native South Texan. He was born in Cotulla, and
raised in Laredo. He and his wife, Suzie, have 4 daughters, and they currently
live in Wimberley. Judge Yeary was elected to the Texas Court of Criminal
Appeals in 2014. From 1991 to 1992, he served as a briefing attorney at the
Court of Criminal Appeals to the late Honorable Judge Bill M. White. He is the
only currently serving Judge on the Court to have also worked for the Court as a
briefing attorney. After briefing at the Court, Judge Yeary worked for three
years in a private firm, practicing civil litigation and criminal defense.
Immediately prior to his election, he was employed for 19 years as an appellate
lawyer in large DAs offices across Texas. He has worked for the Dallas County
DAs Office, the Harris County DAs Office, and the Bexar County DAs Office. He
has appeared as counsel and argued before both the Court of Criminal Appeals and
the Texas Supreme Court, and he has prepared and filed briefs in cases before
the United States Supreme Court. He received both his undergraduate degree and
his law degree from St. Marys University.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club September 28th
DT Pachyderm presents HCRP Chairman, Paul Simpson
As our community works to recover from Hurricane Harvey, we are happy to resume
our weekly Thursday lunch meetings at a new location: The Pearl at the SAM
Houston Hotel. We look forward to this new chapter for the Club, and are
grateful for the many wonderful years we had meeting at the Spaghetti Warehouse.
Please reply to the Facebook event so we can estimate attendance. Thank you!
About Paul Simpson:
A lawyer and engineer by profession, Paul's lifelong passion has been
conservative political activism. A pro-life conservative, Paul has been a
Republican political leader since he was in high school. Growing up in and near
New Orleans, Paul joined the Louisiana Teen-Age Republicans at age thirteen, and
was elected state chair by the time he was sixteen.
After being named National Outstanding Teen-Age Republican, Paul came to Houston
to attend Rice University, where he was active in student government and chaired
the Young Republicans. Pauls summer jobs (besides construction and offshore oil
field work) included working for a national conservative organization in
recruiting and mobilizing young people for conservative Republican congressional
campaigns in Michigan and Iowa.
After graduating from Rice with degrees in history and engineering, Paul went to
work as an engineer in the oil industry.
He designed and oversaw drilling and producing wells in different areas of the
country and offshore, supervised engineering teams, and managed
multi-million-dollar projects constructing and installing onshore and offshore
platforms, facilities, and pipelines.
While working full-time in the oil and gas business, Paul put himself through
law school at night, graduating with honors from the University of Houston law
school. A licensed engineer and patent lawyer, Pauls law practice primarily
involves oil and gas disputes and transactions. He has been a partner with the
law firm of McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore since 2001.
Paul is a lector at the 4,000-family St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church, where
he was formerly president of the Pastoral Council and Committee Chair of the Boy
Scout Troop. He also served as president of St. Catherines Montessori School,
overseeing a multi-million-dollar capital campaign, and served for four years on
the board of Incarnate Word Academy in downtown Houston.
Paul and his wife Kathy, married over 30 years, have a son and a daughter, who
are both Houston natives, graduates of Franciscan University, and proud
Republicans!
We look forward to seeing everyone!

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club September 21st
DT Pachyderm presents Commissioner Cactus Jack Cagle
As our community works to recover from Hurricane Harvey, we are happy to resume
our weekly Thursday lunch meetings at a new location: The Pearl at the SAM
Houston Hotel. We look forward to this new chapter for the Club, and are
grateful for the many wonderful years we had meeting at the Spaghetti Warehouse.
About Commissioner Cagle:
Commissioner R. Jack Cagle has served as county commissioner for Harris County
Precinct 4 since 2011. He is serving his second four-year term following his
re-election on November 4, 2014.
As commissioner, Cagle represents 1.2 million residents and manages a staff of
469 employees with a Precinct 4 budget of $245 million.
He has spent 30 years working with and serving the citizens of Harris County
Precinct 4 as an attorney, elected judge, and now county commissioner.
As a member of Commissioners Court, he has also been selected to serve as a
representative on the board of the Houston-Galveston Area Council and on the
Board of Directors of the statewide Public Power Pool.
Until his appointment to Commissioners Court, Cagle served 11 years as judge of
Harris County Civil Court-at Law No. 1. Harris County voters elected him to the
bench countywide in 2000 and re-elected him in 2002, 2006, and 2010.
As judge, Commissioner Cagle consistently earned high ratings from the Houston
Bar Association and received numerous awards from legal, business, political,
and community groups. Twice recognized as Judge of the Year by law enforcement
groups, Cagle was also recognized by the Mexican American Bar Association of
Houston and served as an officer in the Association of Women Attorneys. He was
elected by his peers to be administrative judge for the County Civil Courts and
as president of the Texas Association of County Court at Law Judges.
Commissioner Cagle is a graduate of Rice University with triple majors in
economics, history, and managerial studies, as well as a graduate of Baylor Law
School. He is married to Janet and they have three children: Richard, Victoria,
and Elizabeth.
We look forward to seeing everyone!

DT Pachyderm: Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by Hurricane
Harvey and its aftermath. The Spaghetti Warehouse suffered extensive damage as
reflected in this photo, so our meeting this Thursday, August 31st, is CANCELED.
We will notify you about future meetings as soon as arrangements are made, and
look forward to hearing from State Rep. Valoree Swanson about the special
session in the near future. In the meantime, be safe, pray for our first
responders and elected officials, and help your neighbors! God bless the great
State of Texas!

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club August 24th
DT Pachyderm presents Frank Nadolney - Are you ready for some football??
Frank Nadolney is our speaker this week. Franks father played college football
for the legendary Knute Rockne at Notre Dame, and was in the National Football
League in its early days. He has a wealth of memorabilia and information about
the history of collegiate and professional football.
Franks background includes
Past President C Club
Past Chairman San Jacinto College Foundation
Past President Houston Realty Breakfast Club, NASA Board of Realtors, Pasadena
Board of Realtors
Pas President National Association of Independent Fee Appraisers, Houston
Chapter
Director, East Houston Regional Medical Center, San Jacinto College Foundation,
National Association of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors
Special Commissioner Eminent Domain Hearings for the City of Houston, Harris
County and State of Texas
Frank has been a member of the North Shore Rotary Club for 53 years, and has had
50 years of perfect attendance. This past year was their 42nd annual fish fry,
and has raised a total of 5.6 million net dollars for charity. The North Shore
Rotary Club is the number one rotary club in Texas and the USA at raising money
for charity.
We look forward to seeing everyone!

Downtown Houston Pachyderms August 17 Bill Tofte, Author, collecting school
supplies for back to school rally
The Constitution: UNMASKED, a journey through critical words and phrases in
the Constitution.
Tofte expounds on several topics, attempting to answer various questions.
Is the Constitution a Living Document?
Have changes in technology and culture made it irrelevant?
Are scholars, lawyers, and Supreme Court justices the only persons qualified to
determine the meaning and application of the Constitution?
Are our elected and appointed officials abiding by their oath of office to
support and defend the Constitution?
Tofte hopes to draw attention, away from current issues and problems, back to
the greatest government document in history.
About Bill:
Family: 5 children, 3 grandchildren, remarried
Education: 1968 Graduate, Waltrip High School (HISD)
1972 Graduate, University of Texas, BBA
Work: 1972-1974: Teacher, HISD
1974-2016: Exec Vice-President ITD Precision
Highlights:
Company named 2012 Family Business of the Year by the SBA Houston District.
2009-2010 Chairman: Houston Area Liberty Campaign.
A featured speaker; Houston Tax Rally; April 15, 2009; 10,000+ audience.
Ran for U.S. Congress 2012.
Authored Little Red Book on the Little-read Constitution 2015

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club August 10th
DT Pachyderm presents Matt Wiltshire with Texans for Greg Abbott
Join us for Matts presentation on the topic of How to #KeepTexasRed for a
Generation
About Matt:
Matt Wiltshire is one of the Houston Field Organizers with Texans for Greg
Abbott responsible for building a winning team that will last for decades. An
outspoken leader among the new generation of conservatives, Matt will speak to
us about how to build lasting political associations, combating the culture war,
and the challenges faced in 21st century campaigning. Prior to joining Team
Abbott, Matt worked at the Blakemore and Associates consulting firm and led the
College Republicans in Houston.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club August 3rd
DT Pachyderm presents Catherine Engelbrecht, Founder of True the Vote
Join us to learn about this important organization from its founder, Catherine
Engelbrecht. Catherine will share their efforts to fight voter fraud nationwide.
About Catherine:
Founder and President, True the Vote
Catherine is a mother, business owner, native Texan, and lifelong practitioner
of common sense.
What became a full-time call to grassroots activism first started in 2008, when
she could no longer watch silently as government made decisions that stood in
stark contrast to Americas principles of personal liberty and economic freedom.
In 2009 she started True the Vote, a citizen-led effort to restore honor and
integrity to our electoral system. True the Vote educates voters, researches the
veracity of voter rolls, trains and mobilizes citizens to work at the polls,and
advocates for election code reform legislation. In just a few short years, True
the Vote has become the nations leading voters rights organization.
Catherine believes when government isn't held accountable, it inevitably abuses
the rights of American citizens. So, when she learned the Internal Revenue
Service was targeting her organization and others, Catherine stood her ground
and took action. Under her leadership, True the Vote launched a
precedent-setting lawsuit against the IRS and its top leadership.
As a nationally recognized spokesperson on voters rights, Catherine has
appeared on television and talk radio, testified before Congress and state
legislatures, and spoken to grassroots activists across the nation.
Catherine may still be a newcomer to politics, but shes rolled up her sleeves,
put on her waders, jumped in to defend the Country and she believes shes
right where shes supposed to be.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club July 27th
DT Pachyderm presents Josh Blackman, STCL-Houston Constitutional Law Professor,
speaking on the future of Obamacare
About Josh:
Josh Blackman is an Associate Professor of Law at South Texas College of Law
Houston who specializes in constitutional law, the United States Supreme Court,
and the intersection of law and technology. Josh is the author of the critically
acclaimed Unprecedented: The Constitutional Challenge to Obamacare. He is also
author of Unraveled: Obamacare, Religious Liberty, and Executive Power. He was
selected by Forbes Magazine for the 30 Under 30" in Law and Policy. Josh is the
author of over two dozen law review articles, and his commentary has appeared in
The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, USA Today, L.A. Times,
and other national publications. Josh has joined several legal briefs on behalf
of the Cato Institute in challenges to Obamacare and executive action on
immigration. He has also co-authored several essays and op-eds with Cato senior
fellow Ilya Shapiro, including an article in the Cato Supreme Court Review. Josh
is the founder and President of the Harlan Institute, the founder of Fantasy
SCOTUS, the Internets Premier Supreme Court Fantasy League, and blogs at
JoshBlackman.com.
About Michael:
Michael Dokupil co-founded SFC Capital Management in 1999 where he focuses on
statistical arbitrage trading strategies. Michael is the chair of the North
Korean division of the Human Rights Foundation (HRF). He first began working
with HRFs "Disrupt North Korea" program in 2015 during a site visit to Seoul. It
was at this occasion that he was able to meet numerous defector and refugee
partner organizations, and learn more about how outside information is the key
to liberating the North Korean people. Michael has helped the program grow
through various initiatives, events, and new partnerships as the organization
continues to increase the flow of outside information into North Korea. Michael
is a life-long Houstonian where he resides with his four children: David,
Benjamin, Annabelle, and Jonathan.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club June 29th
DT Pachyderm presents Christopher Harvey, President of the MLK Association of
Houston
About Christopher:
Christopher is a Native Houstonian and currently serves as President of the MLK
Association of Houston. He served as a precinct chair 2004-2006 in Harris County
and 2006-2014 in Brazoria County. He is the former Chairman of the Republican
Party of Brazoria County Outreach Committee, was a delegate to the Republican
National Convention in 2016, an alternate delegate to the Republican National
Convention in 2008, and, is a former member of the NAACP Houston Chapter Board
of Directors.
Christopher will be talking about the Mission of the MLK Association of Houston,
and how important engagement is to the Republican Party of Texas.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club June 22nd
DT Pachyderm presents State Rep. Briscoe Cain, District 128, with a Legislative
update
About Rep. Cain:
Briscoe Cain is a proven conservative leader with strong moral convictions
always ready to defend Texas and our values from the constant onslaught by
progressives against our faith, family, and freedoms.
A lifelong resident of Harris County, Briscoes Texas roots run deeper than
most. Named Briscoe in honor of a family surname Briscoe, his lineal ancestor,
Andrew Briscoe fought in the Texian Army and was a signor of the Texas
Declaration of Independence.
Briscoe grew up in a working class home in Deer Park. The son of a plant
operator and occupational nurse, he was taught the value of hard work and a
strong commitment to his community. Briscoe worked his way through college and
graduate school where he earned a bachelors from the University of
Houston-Downtown and a doctorate of jurisprudence from South Texas College of
Law.
Briscoe and B4Briscoe has been a conservative leader since college where he
founded the Republican club at UH-D, later founded the first pro-life law
student organization in Texas, and was the President of the South Texas chapter
of the Federalist Society , a conservative legal organization with notable
members like Senator Ted Cruz and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
A Christian with a record of defending the unborn, religious liberty and
traditional marriage, Briscoe served as legal counsel for several individuals in
the case in which the Houston mayor subpoenaed the sermons of five pastors . In
December of 2015, Briscoe successfully defended the the Religious Rights of
Beaumont Police Officers when the City of Beaumont banned them from having Bible
Study on their lunch break. In November 2015, Briscoe represented the Houston
area teacher who was fired for refusing to call a 6-year-old girl a boy. In
August of 2015, Briscoe filed an amicus brief on behalf of the U.S. Pastor
Council with the Texas Supreme Court.
In addition to his First Amendment advocacy in the courts, Briscoe has advised
and worked on legislation for several traditional values groups. Notably,
Briscoe worked with Rep. Dwayne Bohac on the Merry Christmas Bill and helped to
draft HB 1901 with Rep. Matt Krause, a bill that gives due process rights to the
unborn.
Because its about what you do, not what you say, Briscoe puts his Pro-Life
beliefs into action by serving as an attorney for several pro-life
organizations. Recently, Briscoes advocacy made headline news when he released
invoices exposing four Texas Medical Schools for using tax dollars to purchase
aborted fetal tissue. At just 31 years of age, Briscoe serves as In-House
Counsel for Students for Life of America; Texas Legal Counsel for Operation
Rescue; General Counsel for Save the Storks; and Board Member of Right to Life
Advocates, Inc.
Briscoe also serves the State of Texas as First Lieutenant in the Texas State
Guard.
A loving husband and proud of father of three, Briscoe and his wife Bergundi are
residents of Deer Park. The Cain family attends Greater Harvest Community
Church.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club June 15th
DT Pachyderm presents Justice Ken Wise, Wise About Texas: More Stories of Texas
History
About Justice Ken Wise:
Justice Ken Wise was appointed to the 14th Court of Appeals by Governor Rick
Perry in October 2013. Prior to his appointment, Justice Wise served as the
Judge of the 334th Judicial District Court in Harris County and Judge of the
152nd Judicial District Court in Harris County.
Justice Wise earned his bachelors degree from Texas A&M University, where he
competed as a member of the intercollegiate rodeo team.
Justice Wise is very active in the service of the bar and the judiciary. He
co-chaired a State Bar task force that conducted the first complete study of the
Texas Court system since 1894. He has also served as a multi-district litigation
judge as well as a visiting judge in counties across the State of Texas.
Justice Wise is an avid Texas historian. He hosts the Texas history podcast Wise
About Texas which has thousands of listeners nationwide. He has written several
scholarly articles and given dozens of speeches on all aspects of Texas history.
Justice Wise serves on the Archives Committee of the Texas State Historical
Association. He is a Trustee of the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society and a
member of the Supreme Court Task Force on Historic Court Record Preservation.
A native Houstonian, Justice Wise has been very active in the Houston community.
Justice Wise is a director of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and an
advisory director of the Former Texas Ranger Foundation. In 2015, the Governor
of Kentucky commissioned Justice Wise as a Kentucky Colonel.
Ken is a fifth-generation native Texan with roots dating back to Houston in
1836. He is married to Sara Wise and they have two children, Sarah Jane and
Jackson.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club June 8th
DT Pachyderm presents Tim Stroud and Jana Rodriguez with Easter Seals of Greater
Houston speaking about resources and programs for Veterans
About Jana Rodriguez:
Janas interest in technology began to flourish in high school when she produced
school media. This lead her to Apple, where she delivered training as a
Creative for nearly 10 beautiful years.
Jana studied communication, technology, and emergency medicine through various
programs. She also studied the Czech language at Charles University in Prague.
Jana believes there is an incredible power within communicating and connecting
to one another through modern technology. She has a passion to share skills and
knowledge with others.
Janas experience assisting seniors with technology through Apple, often helping
adults with their first Apple product, has been an asset to BridgingApps.
BridgingApps is a proud program of Easter seals of Greater Houston that is
bridging the gap between technology and people with disabilities. Using
touch-based technology and proper training to significantly impact the lives of
people with disabilities. These devices can also provide accessibility for
people who may have been disengaged from the world due to various reasons.
Janas greatest passion is to guide those who may need more time and patience to
learn.
Jana is a proud veteran of the United States Army where she served as a combat
medic in the Florida Army National Guard. While in service, it was her privilege
to provide aid to fellow soldiers. Now as a veteran, it is an honor for Jana to
reach out to veterans and their families with the services and programs that can
improve their lives.
Janas current top 5 apps are Runtastic, Waze, Apple Music, Calm, and companion.
About Tim Stroud:
Timothy Stroud is a former combat medic in the United States Army. He served his
country on active duty with deployments to Kosovo, Kuwait and Iraq, through
Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). During these years, Tim learned volumes about
team building, leadership, and camaraderie and was quickly promoted to a Non
Commissioned Officer. He also sought out a mentor during his transition back
into civilian life and began a seven-year relationship with leadership expert
Mr. Paul J. Meyer.
Tim excelled as a non-traditional student at Grand Canyon University, finishing
his education by utilizing his Post-9/11 GI Bill. He graduated with Academic
Honors with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Management from the Ken Blanchard
College of Business and quickly followed it with a Masters in Leadership from
the same program.
Volunteering in the community, Mr. Stroud worked in collaboration with the State
of Texas, NAMI, SAMSHA, and BEITZ to better understand the early signs of Post
Traumatic Stress and how to successfully get veterans and family members
connected with resources. This led Tim to become one of the first Peer to Peer
Support Facilitators in Texas and helping start the support groups in Central
Texas.
Tim resides in Houston, Texas and continues to champion several causes for
veterans and their families. He was recognized as one of the top All Time Blood
Donors by the Robertson Blood Center on Ft. Hood where he has donated over five
and a half gallons. He continues to work with veterans and their families
through Easter Seals of Greater Houston to help veterans with mental health
services. One of the avenues is through providing trained service dogs for
deserving veterans.
Tim has two daughters, aptly nicknamed The Hurricane and The Tornado that keep
him grounded. He will be receiving the Humanitarian Award from the Latino
Learning Center on June 15th and is here today to share some of the resources
available to veterans and their families in the greater Houston area.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club June 1st
DT Pachyderm presents COL Albert J. Nahas, Noted author speaking on Warriors
Remembered/ Vietnam War Memorials
About Colonel Nahas:
Coming from an Army family, Albert Nahas joined the Army after graduating from
West Point in June 1967. He found his way to Vietnam in July 1968, where he
spent eighteen months with the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry, 101st Airborne
Division as a platoon leader, reconnaissance platoon leader, company executive
officer, and finally as a company commander.
His twenty-six year military career included service with both infantry and
engineer units, teaching at West Point, developing new weapons and equipment for
the Infantry, and deploying for a brief time to Desert Storm. After retiring as
a Colonel, he had success in several industries including manufacturing, power
plant construction, and operating a global broadband telecommunications network.
He founded and still leads Focused Leadership, a very successful executive
coaching company, and is also a registered Professional Engineer.
Colonel Nahas is the recipient of the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star for Valor
with first Oak Leaf Cluster, the Purple Heart and several other awards, but
takes the greatest pride in being an Airborne Ranger with a Combat Infantry
Badge as a Screaming Eagle combat veteran. He is the author of the book Warriors
Remembered, the only photo documentary of Vietnam veteran memorials from all 50
states. He and his wife, Carolyn currently live in Sugar Land, Texas.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club May 25th
DT Pachyderm presents Lee Shuchart speaking on The Effect of the Judiciary on
Business, Especially the Medical Profession
About Lee:
Lee received her Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law in 1986 after
earning a Bachelor's degree in History from Baylor University. During sixteen
years in private practice, she was involved in trying medical malpractice,
commercial general liability, and employment discrimination cases. Lee joined
Western Litigation Inc. in 2002 and is an Executive Vice-President. In 2014, she
was promoted to serve as the companys Direct of Auditing and Training. In that
capacity she is involved with oversite of Western Litigations 50 claims
attorneys and claims analyst and is involved in professional liability
litigation across the United States.
During her tenure with Western, Lee has managed litigation and worked with
attorneys in 45 states as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. She
is also involved in advising physician groups, hospitals, long term care
facilities and nsurance carriers on issues relating to protecting their business
assets and information in challenging litigation arenas
She is married to Fred Shuchart, the managing partner of Cooper & Scullys
Houston office and they have two adult children.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club May 18th
DT Pachyderm presents the Honorable Erin Lunceford on the topic of straight
ticket voting issues and HB25
About Judge Lunceford:
Erin Lunceford is currently Counsel at Norton Rose Fulbright in their Houston
office. In July 2015, she was appointed by Governor Abbott to fill the remaining
term as judge of the 61st Judicial District Court in Harris County, Texas. In
her 17 months on the bench, Erin presided over 30 jury trials and ended her
service in December 2016 with the lowest inventory of cases of all 24 Harris
County Civil District Judges.
Prior to serving as Judge, Erin primarily defended healthcare clients in
personal injury lawsuits. Over her 28 year career, she tried more than 33 cases
to verdict and handled over 38 appeals, including a successful brief and
argument to the Texas Supreme Court in 2015.
Erin is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law and is an active member of
the American Board of Trial Advocates, currently serving as the Houston Chapter
Treasurer. She is also a board member of the Houston Bar Association and a
member of the Committee on Pattern Jury Charges, Malpractice, Premises &
Products.
Licensed to practice in Texas, and before the US District Courts for the
Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas and the Western District of Arkansas,
the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the US Supreme Court, Erin received her
JD from the University of Houston Law Center and her BA from the University of
Colorado Boulder.
Erin has just declared her candidacy for Judge of the 189th Civil District
Court, which will be an open bench due to the mandatory retirement of current
Judge Bill Burke.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club May 11th
DT Pachyderm presents Dr. Kent Reynolds, Regional Christian Leadership Director
for AIPAC
About Dr. Reynolds:
Dr. Reynolds has thirty-nine years of effective pastoral, academic, and
nonprofit leadership experience. He also brings over thirty years of work in
international aid, education, economic empowerment, and leadership development.
As a pastor, he was passionate in his teaching about Israel in terms of its
Scriptural and historical relevance as well as current events. He led multiple
trips there as well. Since that time, he has come to realize the strategic
importance of Israel as an American ally, as a democratic nation, and because of
its endeavor to insure the basic rights of all of its citizens. He has a B.A. in
Behavioral Science from Lakeland College, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and a Masters
in Theology from Emory University in Atlanta. His doctorate is in Cross-Cultural
Leadership Development from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky,
the research for which was conducted entirely in Tanzania, East Africa. He has
taught advanced leadership at the doctoral level and helped administrate a
unique academic program devoted to enhancing the leadership skills of seasoned
professionals. Dr. Reynolds personally led a multi-year comprehensive community
revitalization project involving public and private sector collaboration. He has
a proven track record of organizational and community transformation. He has
worked in numerous areas of the world among diverse population groups. Because
of this, he has a global perspective and a unique ability to work with a vast
array of individuals and groups from different backgrounds, ethnicities, and
perspectives. He brings his training, experience, and passion for Israel to
AIPAC at an important time in its development. He and his wife, Sandy, have
three grown children and eight grandchildren.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club May 4
Downtown Houston Pachyderms May 4 Change in speaker, not in topic
Jonathon McClellan regarding high speed rail
DT Pachyderm presents Jonathon McClellan with Texas Central Partners, LLC
Jonathon will discuss the high speed rail project between Houston and the
Dallas/Ft. Worth area
About Texas Central Partners, LLC:
Texas Central Partners, LLC (Texas Central) is a private company bringing a
transformational project to Texas that advances the economy, respects Texan
values and keeps our state on track for future growth.
We are a Texas-based private company, employing a market-led approach. Unlike
other high-speed rail projects, we are backed by private investors, not public
funds.
Texas Central is developing a new high-speed passenger rail system that will
connect Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston using a proven, world-class technology
that will provide a travel time of less than 90 minutes.
About Jonathon McClellan:
Over the past decade, conservative Texas politics have featured a series of
inspirational leaders with one thing in common: Jonathon McClellan. He has shown
a real knack for being where the action is, from Rick Perrys presence at the
birth of the Texas TEA Party to Ted Cruzs meteoric rise from the Texas Attorney
Generals office to the U.S. Senate to a presidential campaign. Along the way,
he has built an unmatched grassroots network across the state and nation and
developed a firm grasp of what moves public perception.
Jonathon joined the Public Blueprint team in 2016 after serving as Regional
Political Director for Senator Ted Cruzs presidential campaign. Working from
his Texas base, Jonathon managed the upstart candidates political operations in
key battleground states including Iowa and South Carolina.
The Baylor graduates relationship with Cruz stretches back to 2012 when
McClellans grassroots expertise and organizing skills played a key role in one
of the biggest upsets in Texas political history. When McClellan joined the Cruz
team as Political Director, the candidate was polling at 2%, but ended up
winning a Republican primary runoff by 14 points and the general election by 16
points.
After the election, he continued on Team Cruz, splitting time between his
responsibilities as State Outreach Director for the federal office and the Jobs
Growth and Freedom Fund PAC.
McClellan also has a rare combination of experience and deep connections in the
executive, legislative and judicial branches of Texas government, having served
on Rick Perrys 2010 Gubernatorial reelection campaign; Representative Wayne
Christians staff (as Legislative Director and Chief of Staff); and on Texas
Supreme Court Justice Dale Wainwrights team.
Jonathon and his wife, Sarah, make their home in Houston with their daughter.
When not building effective coalitions for his Public Blueprint clients,
Jonathon enjoys traveling, Baylor football games, and barbecuing on his Big
Green Egg.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club April 27th
DT Pachyderm presents Texas Comptroller, Glenn Hegar
About Comptroller Hegar:
Elected in November 2014, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar is a strong advocate for
job growth and greater diversification of the Texas economy. A staunch supporter
of government transparency, Hegar believes all levels of government should be
open and accountable to those who pay the bills Texas taxpayers. Hegar serves
as Texas chief financial officer, treasurer, check writer, tax collector,
procurement officer and revenue estimator.
In the Texas Senate, Hegar oversaw state and local revenue matters during the
83rd legislative session and was instrumental in cutting $1 billion in taxes for
Texas taxpayers and businesses. As a business owner, Comptroller Hegar knows
first hand that individuals, not government, will make better decisions with
their hard-earned tax dollars and in turn help boost the economy.
Hegar also served as chair of the Sunset Advisory Commission, working to
eliminate inefficiency in government agencies. In that role, he abolished six
state agencies, saving taxpayers over $160 million dollars in the process. As a
former member of the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate, Hegar
worked on a wide-range of common sense solutions that impact everyday citizens,
such as public education, transportation, tax cuts, property tax reform, water
issues and tort reform.
Before his Senate tenure, Hegar attended Texas A&M as an undergraduate, where he
earned a Bachelor of Arts. He then attended St. Marys University, earning a
Master of Arts and his law degree. At the University of Arkansas, he earned his
Master of Laws.
Hegar is a sixth generation Texan, who grew up farming land that has been in his
family since the mid-1800s. His upbringing taught him the core values of
character, honesty, integrity and hard work. These are the same values that he
and his wife, Dara, work to instill in their three young children: Julia, Jonah
and Claire.
April 13 - No Meeting - Sameach Pesach (Happy
Passover), Happy Easter
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club April 20th
DT Pachyderm presents Professor Jeffrey F. Addicott, Lt. Colonel (U.S. Army,
ret.)
About Professor Addicott:
Lt. Colonel (U.S. Army, ret.) Jeffrey F. Addicott is a Professor of Law and the
Director of the Center for Terrorism Law. An active duty Army officer in the
Judge Advocate Generals Corps for twenty years, Addicott spent a quarter of his
career as the senior legal advisor to the United States Armys Special Forces.
As an internationally recognized authority on national security law, Addicott
not only lectures and participates in professional and academic organizations
both in the United States and abroad (more than 700 speeches), but he has also
testified before Congress on a variety of legal issues. He has also been a
regular contributor to national and international news media outlets to include
FOX NEWS Channel, MSNBC, CNN, BBC, New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street
Journal, USA Today, (more than 4,000 media interviews). Addicott is a prolific
author, publishing over 60 books, articles and monographs on a variety of legal
topics.
Among his many contributions to the field, Addicott pioneered the teaching of
law of war and human rights courses to the militaries of numerous nascent
democracies in Eastern Europe and Latin America. For these efforts he was
awarded the Legion of Merit, named the Army Judge Advocate of the Year, and
honored as a co-recipient of the American Bar Associations Hodson Award.
Addicott has served in senior legal positions in Germany, Korea, Panama, and
throughout the United States. Addicott holds a Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.)
and Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the University of Virginia School of Law. He
also received a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the Army Judge Advocate Generals
School, where he was the Deputy Director of the International and Operational
Law Division, and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Alabama School of
Law. Apart from teaching a variety of courses at the law school, Addicott served
as the Associate Dean for Administration at St. Marys University School of Law
(2006-2007).
Highlights and Awards
Recipient: St. Marys Alumni Associations 2007 St. Marys University School of
Law Distinguished Faculty Award, awarded each year to the distinguished law
faculty member.
Recipient of the 2011 Vice Admiral George C. Dyer Award, Military Order of the
World Wars, awarded each year to the most outstanding article published by the
Officer Review magazine.
Recipient of the Distinguish Service Medal of the State of Alabama, 1999, for
exceptionally meritorious and distinguished military or civilian service for or
to the benefit of the United States or the State of Alabama.
Co-recipient: American Bar Associations Hodson Award for 1995, awarded each
year to the outstanding public sector law office in the nation.
Recipient: 1993 Outstanding Career Army Judge Advocate Award, awarded by the
Judge Advocates Bar Association.
Recipient: 1983 Academy of Health Sciences Commanders Award Hospital Law.
Member of the Bar of Alabama; U.S. Supreme Court; Court of Military Appeals;
American Bar Association; International Society for Military Law; the Law of
War; Military Order of the World Wars; Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society; Special
Forces Association; Sons of Confederate Veterans; board member of the Toda
Institute for Peace; contributing editor for JURIST; Law Faculty on Federalist
Society.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club April 6th
DT Pachyderm presents local grassroots activist, Eddie Gallegos
Join us to hear about Eddies experience working with Project Veritas and
attending protests.
About Eddie:
Eddie has been an active member of the grassroots movement for nearly eight
years. He has worked with Project Veritas to investigate Battleground Texas. He
has attended numerous venues including the 9/12 March on D.C., the Restoring
Honor rally, the Reason Rally, multiple grassroots events, pro-union and
pro-abortion events, and most recently the Women's March in Austin. He has
walked among people during the Occupy Houston protest, pro-Gaza rallies,
pro-Syrian and pro-Egypt rallies and witnessed Muslims at the Texas State
Capitol shouting 'allahu akbar' during a pro-Muslim event. He has been a guest
on The Sam Malone Show and has been interviewed on television on several
occasions. He has provided recounts of many events through the lens of his
camera, camcorder, written accounts, slide shows, and has interviewed people
from both the left and right to provide a from-the-ground view of issues.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club March 30th
DT Pachyderm presents Dr. Robin Armstrong, RNC Committeeman from Texas
About Robin:
Dr. Robin Armstrong was elected as the National Committeeman from Texas in June
of 2012. He is a politician and physician who served as vice chairman of the
Republican Party of Texas from 2006-2010. Mr. Armstrong has a B.A. in
microbiology from Texas A&M University and an M.D. from the University of Texas
Medical Branch in Galveston. He did his residency in internal medicine and is on
the staff of the Mainland Medical Center in Texas City, TX.
Dr. Armstrong has been active in both politics and his community. He has
traveled on missionary journeys to Africa and Nicaragua and worked in inner city
and youth ministries in addition to leading a mens Bible study group. His
activities in grassroots republican politics include serving as a city chair, an
election judge, a precinct chair, a poll watcher, a convention delegate, a
Senatorial District Convention chairman, and most recently as the State
Republican Executive committeeman for Texas Senate District 11. Armstrong and
his wife Martha, who is also a medical doctor, have four sons, Daniel, Gabriel,
Joshua and Noah.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club March 23rd
DT Pachyderm presents Sonia Rivera, Executive Director of Texas Latino GOP PAC
About Sonia:
Sonia Rivera is a native of Michigan and has lived in the Houston area since the
age of 19. She is the daughter of Mexican Immigrants who spent the early part of
her life as migrant farm workers, and ultimately settled in the State of
Michigan. While in college, she majored in Psychology, and minored in Sociology.
She spent the first 11 years working within the non profit sector, managing and
developing youth programs under the Health and Human Service umbrella, with high
risk youth populations providing Educational and Social Support Programs in the
area's of Substance Abuse Prevention, Intervention, and Youth Homelessness,
prior to forming her own corporation and nonprofit in 2008, and 2010
respectively.
She has over 25 years of experience in project management, program development,
staff training & development, writing policies & procedures for new companies,
and participated in various community needs assessment projects.
In 2009 she founded Youth Genesis Consulting, Inc. and currently serves as the
CEO. Youth Genesis is a Youth Services Corporation and includes programs in
Leadership Development, Dropout Prevention, and offender education.
She has simultaneously worked as a consultant: Sonia Rivera USA, working with
various business entities assisting to develop, implement, and manage new
projects, from educational support programs to business development projects,
with focus on project evaluation, setting policies, staffing, scheduling, staff
development and training.
Founder/President of YGC Inc. in 2010, a non-profit community youth
organization; YGC has produced programs in the arts such as the Flor y Canto
Summer Arts Camp at Talento Bilingue, the marquee program under YGC Inc. is its
arts in after-shool program (Art Evolution), and annual Teen Conferences (Teen
Evolution), in addition to participating in community service support programs.
Sonia has actively served with numerous other community organizations through
the years such as Hispanic Womans Network of Texas, previously served on the
board of Hispanic Woman in Leadership, and the Houston Hispanic Chamber of
Commerce, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and Latino Learning Center. In
addition, Sonia is actively involved with Talento Bilingue de Houston Cultural
Arts Center assisting in fund development, and coordinating special events.
Sonia has received numerous awards for her service in the community, and
volunteerism, and was among the HWIL 100 Women in Leadership recipients in 2008.
In 2016, Sonia became Executive Director of Texas Latino GOP PAC

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club March 16th
DT Pachyderm presents Mark E. Harrington, J.D., L.L.M., local immigration
attorney, with a Republican perspective on the immigration issues facing our
country
About Mark:
Attorney Mark Harrington is authorized to practice Immigration Law throughout
the entire United States and has successfully represented hundreds of employers,
scientific researchers, and individuals before the USCIS. Mr. Harrington has
been a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) since 2001.
From June 2009 through June 2011 Mr. Harrington served as the Chairman of State
Bar of Texas Committee on Laws Relating to Immigration & Nationality. Mr.
Harrington is a member of the Houston Committee on Foreign Relations (houstoncfr.org).
Prior to practicing immigration law, Mr. Harrington worked on Capitol Hill in
Washington, DC. For three years, he served as a counsel to the House Committee
on Science, Research Subcommittee. Among other topics, he handled issues
relating to foreign-born researchers, including the need for additional H1B
Visas. Attorney Harrington also spent two years working for New Mexico U.S.
Senator Pete V. Domenici.
Mr. Harrington obtained his LL.M. degree from Georgetown University in
Washington, DC and his J.D. degree, with honors, from Suffolk University Law
School in Boston, Massachusetts. He received his bachelor's degree from Boston
College.

About Eric:
Eric Dick was born and raised in Houston, Texas. He received his Bachelor of
Business Administration from the University of Phoenix in 2004 and earned his
Juris Doctor from the Thomas M. Cooley law School, the largest law school in the
United States. Eric has also received his L.L.M., which is an advanced law
degree in taxation, from the University of Alabama School of Law.
Eric was elected to the Harris County Department of Education Board of Trustees
in 2016.
As a passionate Houston insurance claims attorney with multiple Super Lawyers
Rising Stars℠ inclusions for his unparalleled legal skill, Eric has an in-depth
knowledge of insurance law and hands-on experience resolving complex insurance
disputes. He is a licensed real estate sales agent and a licensed insurance
agent, which means he has unique insider knowledge of the insurance industry and
how they operate. Eric is an honest, aggressive lawyer and exceptional litigator
who knows how to think outside of the box.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club March 2nd
Its Rodeo time in Houston! Join us for lunch with Hon. Cindy Bennett Smith for
a presentation on the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
About Cindy:
Cindy Bennett Smith is an attorney in her 15th Year of practice. Cindy serves as
Municipal Judge for the City of Tomball. Cindy also has her own private
practice, Bennett Smith & Associates, which primarily focuses on representing
small businesses. The firm assists clients with dealings from startup through
day-to-day operations, including contract issues, litigation, collection and
employment matters. Cindy is also a proud Republican. She has served as
President of Northwest Forest Republican Women, and on the board of Greater
Houston Council of Federated Republican Women. Cindy has worked extensively on
campaigns, and most recently spent more than a year campaigning for her own
election bid for District Court in the November 2016 election. Cindy volunteers
a great deal of time as a Coordinator for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Speakers Committee. The Speakers Committee serves as the face of HLSR, and
Speakers address businesses, Chambers of Commerce and other organizations, as
well as putting on Rodeo Days at Houston area elementary schools every week of
the school year. Cindy is excited to share great information about the economic
impact of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on our city. She will be
presenting to Downtown Pachyderm on March 2. Hope to see you there!

Downtown Houston Pachyderms February 23 Hon. Chris Daniel
Native Houstonian Chris Daniel was elected Harris County District Clerk on Nov.
2, 2010 and took the oath of office on Jan. 1. He was reelected in November 2014
to another term. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Chris earned
his degree in mechanical engineering. As an engineer, Chris designed oilfield
tool and management projects and served as Project Manager in the Tubing
Division and Research Project Manager in the Drill Pipe Division of National
Oilwell Varco. In November of 2006, Chris became one of the youngest elected
officials in the state of Texas when he defeated the Board Chair of Lone Star
College System. During his time there, Chris spearheaded the Student Success
Initiative and served as student liaison to the Board, helping bring textbooks
online and helping the college expand to more than 60,000 full time students. In
that time, the college grew to be the second largest in Texas. Chris attended
Night Law School at the South Texas College of Law, where he became involved in
Intellectual Property and Patent Law and served as Nighttime Student Senator and
Senior Student Senator of Student Government. Chris volunteers for Big Brothers
Big Sisters, the Houston Food Bank, Target Hunger and Rotary. He is an Eagle
Scout, a Lifetime Member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and a member of
the Gatekeeper and the Lamb and Goat Auction committees. He loves to travel and
has visited more than 14 countries. Chris is married to Jennifer Barber Daniel,
and they have a son, John Daniel, and a daughter, Amanda Daniel. The Daniels
live in Houston and are active members at Second Baptist Church.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club February 16th
Join us for lunch with Theresa Kosmoski, President of the Texas Federation of
Republican Women and HCRPs Parliamentarian
About Theresa:
Theresa Kosmoski currently serves as the President of the Texas Federation of
Republican Women and is a long-time political activist and former elected
official . She has been an officer on the Greater Houston Council of Republican
Women, served on various county-wide boards, the Harris County Republican party,
the Republican Party of Texas, and held a seat on the Executive Committee of the
National Federation of Republican Women.
For more than twenty years she has been actively involved in many local state
and national civic and non-profit organizations with a particular emphasis on
child advocacy and community improvement. In that time she has been intimately
involved in dozens of campaigns for both candidates and issues. As a retired
member of a local Board of Trustees, Theresa has actively pursued her interest
in public education policy and legislative issues. Professionally, Theresa began
her career in the banking and investment fields but has been a Registered
Parliamentarian for the last 20 years serving non-profit, corporate and
political organizations. She has been married to Mark for 30 years and has two
sons, both of whom are Eagle Scouts.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club February 9th
Join us for lunch with Alan Vera, Chair of HCRPs Ballot Security and a
Co-Founder of True-the-Vote, on the topic: The Final 2 Boxes for Freedom (Why
restoring election integrity is so critical)
About Alan Vera:
Alan D. Vera is President/CEO of the Quest Business agency and carries primary
responsibility for formation of marketing strategies
Alan also serves on a number of boards and committees, including:
Better Business Bureau of the Texas Gulf Coast
Chairman of the Board
Vice Chairman of the Board
Chairman of the Marketing committee
Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Board of Directors BBB Education Foundation
Chairman of the Board of the Education Foundation
Greater Houston Partnership
Board of Directors
Past chairman of the marketing committee
Member Services Advisory committee of the Greater Houston Partnership
His prior corporate, board and organizational credentials include:
President, Houston Chapter of the Business Marketing Association
Board member, Houston Chapter of the Business Marketing Association
Paid facilitator for the National Committee on Solid Waste Reduction
Board advisor to Infotechnology, Inc.
Board advisor for United Press International
National Brand Manager for The Procter & Gamble Company
Head & Shoulders shampoo
Coast Deodorant Soap
Biz Dry bleach
Mr. Clean Household Cleaner
He has received the following awards and recognition:
Marketer of the Year for 2000-2001 from the American Marketing Association
Emerging 10 Award from the Houston Minority Business Council (HMBC)
Runner up Entrepreneur of the Year from the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Keynote Speaker for the Emerging 10 Awards for HMBC
Seminar Speaker for the Kansas City Minority Supplier Trade Expo
He served five years in the U.S. Army as an Airborne Ranger. He attained the
rank of Captain and received numerous individual and unit awards and citations.
He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Loyola University in New Orleans, where he
also received many academic, leadership and military honors, including
Distinguished Military Graduate.
He is is one of the original founders of True the Vote, a non-partisan,
grassroots effort to restore integrity to U.S. elections.
He developed the training curriculum for Texas elections in 2010, and trained
over 1,000 poll watchers in Harris County for the 2010 general election. He has
served as an alternate precinct judge in the heart of Sheila Jackson Lees CD 18
for 4 consecutive elections.
Mr. Vera wrote the election observer curriculum for Wisconsin and has been
training observers in Wisconsin since June of 2011. Again, he trained over 1,000
observers for the recall election of Governor Walkerin person, online and via
video conferences.
Mr. Vera wrote the election observer curriculum for Virginia & North Carolina,
and trained observers in that state for the 2011 general election. He has
supervised development of the observer curricula for 16 other states and has
been directly involved in the creation of online/on-demand observer training
content to be made available in 16 states in preparation for the 2012 general
election.
Mr. Vera received the True the Vote Bayonet award for his service.
He serves on the Conservative Coalition of Harris County and was elected head of
Ballot Security by HCRP in 2014.
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
February 16- Eddie Gallegos on the recent protests
February 23- Hon. Chris Daniel, Harris County District Clerk
March 2- Hon. Cindy Bennett Smith on the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club February 2nd
Join us for lunch as Houston City Councilmember, Mike Knox, discusses the impact
of the Superbowl on the City of Houston
About CM Mike Knox:
Mike Knox is a native Houstonian. He married his high school sweetheart in 1977
and they have raised one son; who now serves the city as a Houston Police
Officer. Mike Knox obtained an Associate of Arts degree from the Houston
Community College and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of
Houston Downtown while working as a Houston Police Officer.
Mike has a long history of honorable public service.
Mike Knox is a veteran who served in the United States Air Force and served over
15 years as a Houston Police Officer. Mike was one of two officers responsible
for the creation of the Houston Police Departments first divisional gang unit
in 1988 and helped create and served on the original board of directors for the
Texas Gang Investigators Association.
Mike authored a book entitled Gangsta in the House; Understanding Gang Culture,
which was published in 1995. This book added to the knowledge base on gang
culture and was recognized in 2001 by the National Gang Research Center who
awarded it the prestigious Thrasher award.
Mike served his fellow officers as a Board Member of the Houston Police
Patrolmens Union and chaired the HPPU Political Action Committee. In addition,
he served as editor of the Sentinel (HPPU) monthly newsletter.
Shortly after publishing his book in 1995, Mike began a consulting business
focused on helping law enforcement, schools districts, and communities
understand and deal with street gangs and violent youthful offenders.
Mike Knox has served his community as a board member of the Spring Branch
Education Foundation and was among the original funders of the Spring Branch ISD
Fund for the Future endowment. He contributed to the creation of the Spring
Branch Good Neighbor program.
Mike was recruited in 2007 to help the Spring Branch Management District develop
the Public Safety component of its service plan and worked as their Director of
Community Service for three years.
For the past seven years Mike Knox has served as the President of the Yupon
Estates Homeowners Association.
Mike has a deep interest and investment in Houston and believes Houston City
Council deserves a dedicated servant.
Downtown Houston Pachyderms January 26, 2017 Herman Jadloski, President,
Foundation for Life and Judy Vatterott, former director
A Native Houstonian, Jadloski graduated from St. Pius High School. He received
his BA in teaching from Sam Houston State University. He then went on to receive
a Masters of Religious Education from the Notre Dame Pontifical Catechical
Institute in Arlington, VA.
After a career in education, Jadloski retired from the Harris County Department
of Education and HISD, where he taught high school English.
A lifelong Republican, Jadloski has served as Board President of Foundation for
Life from 2014 until the present. His viewpoint highlights the effects of
pro-life issues on societal ills. Abortion on demand has metastasized into
every issue affecting the family, he notes.
Jadloski was the first Republican Precinct Chair for Precinct 82 from 1980
1983. He was Precinct Chair for Precinct 58 from 1988 2014. Jadloski was
chosen to serve as an alternate Delegate to the Republican National Convention
in 1996 and 2000.
Jadloski appreciates the pro-life platform of the Republican Party, as well as
its fiscal and international policies.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club January 19th
Join us for lunch with Kevin Fulton, founding member of the MLK Association.
About Kevin:
Kevin Fulton is a shining example of the American Dream. Born in a gritty, gang
infested area, Kevin never had the opportunity to meet his biological father who
abandoned the household when he was only a few months old. His mother Pearl
immediately took control of the household and worked her way out of poverty.
Kevin watched as his mother worked long hours to provide her kids with the
opportunity to escape their surroundings. Pearl never blamed her race or society
for her position in life; instead she taught him the importance of prayer,
self-accountability and hard work to conquer poverty. Pearl's mindset and
perseverance were the foundation of the conservative values that would shape the
rest of his life.
Kevin took those values and lessons and demonstrated a strong sense of community
service as a child. Immediately upon graduating from high school, Kevin joined
the Army and served this great nation with distinction as a reconnaissance
soldier and received various honors for service during combat. His service
included guarding the borders of Europe, functioning as a liberator in the
Persian Gulf War and acting as a humanitarian in Operation Provide Comfort for
Kurdish Refugees in Turkey and Iraq.
After being Honorably Discharged from the Army, Kevin immediately enrolled in
college while continuing his service to the community by devoting his time on
the Board of Directors for a youth counseling organization, helping victims of
domestic violence, and training at risk students in conflict resolution. His
focus and dedication earned him a Juris Doctor Degree with a notation for
Distinguished Public Service.
Kevin periodically takes the time to visit subsidized housing communities to
encourage disadvantaged youth to embrace conservative values to rise above their
situation.
Broadening the Republican Party in low income areas has been a very important
mission for Kevin. He has dedicated considerable time and personal funds to
travel around low income areas talking about the Republican values that helped
him escape the trappings of poverty and gangs.
Kevin is a co-founder of the MLK Association of Texas which is a Republican
Party of Texas Auxiliary Club, which creates programs in low income areas to
assist lifting people out of poverty by teaching self-reliance and
accountability.
Kevin is also a strong supporter of prolife legislation lecturing to groups
about the impact of abortion on the Black community.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club January 12th
Join us for lunch with Harris County Republican Party Chairman, Paul Simpson
About Paul:
A lawyer and engineer by profession, Paul's lifelong passion has been
conservative political activism. A pro-life conservative, Paul has been a
Republican political leader since he was in high school. Growing up in and near
New Orleans, Paul joined the Louisiana Teen-Age Republicans at age thirteen, and
was elected state chair by the time he was sixteen.
After being named National Outstanding Teen-Age Republican, Paul came to Houston
to attend Rice University, where he was active in student government and chaired
the Young Republicans. Pauls summer jobs (besides construction and offshore oil
field work) included working for a national conservative organization in
recruiting and mobilizing young people for conservative Republican congressional
campaigns in Michigan and Iowa.
After graduating from Rice with degrees in history and engineering, Paul went to
work as an engineer in the oil industry.
He designed and oversaw drilling and producing wells in different areas of the
country and offshore, supervised engineering teams, and managed
multi-million-dollar projects constructing and installing onshore and offshore
platforms, facilities, and pipelines.
While working full-time in the oil and gas business, Paul put himself through
law school at night, graduating with honors from the University of Houston law
school. A licensed engineer and patent lawyer, Pauls law practice primarily
involves oil and gas disputes and transactions. He has been a partner with the
law firm of McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore since 2001.
Paul is a lector at the 4,000-family St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church, where
he was formerly president of the Pastoral Council and Committee Chair of the Boy
Scout Troop. He also served as president of St. Catherines Montessori School,
overseeing a multi-million-dollar capital campaign, and served for four years on
the board of Incarnate Word Academy in downtown Houston.
Paul and his wife Kathy, married over 30 years, have a son and a daughter, who
are both Houston natives, graduates of Franciscan University, and proud
Republicans!

Happy New Year everyone! Join us to welcome 2017 with Peggy Venable,
spokesperson for Texans for Education Opportunity
About Peggy:
Peggy Venable is working with Texans for Education Opportunity, EdChoice and the
Texas Public Policy Foundation on school choice and promoting Education Savings
Accounts.
Peggy has worked in public policy and grassroots campaigns in government, the
political arena and the private sector for over 35 years and served as AFP-Texas
director for 10 years.
Peggy created the Red Apple Project to focus on transparency and accountability
in public education and to advocate for school choice.
Peggy was named to the University Star Hall of Fame at Texas State University
and the national magazine Campaign and Elections named Venable as one of the top
25 Texas influencers. She has been named one of the top legislative
influencers on Twitter.
A native Texan, Peggy spent 13 years in Washington, D.C. Peggy served as the
first White House Liaison for the US Department of Education under Ronald
Reagan. She was working at the Department of Education when the iconic study A
Nation At Risk was underway. It was the countrys wake-up call that our
education system was falling behind other developed countries.
She directed the Take Pride in America grassroots
campaign, which encompassed eight federal agencies.
Peggy has served as senior staff at the Republican National Committee and was
Director of the Republican National Convention in 1984.
Peggy has guest hosted for syndicated talk show hosts around Texas, appears as a
guest on radio and TV, and has written over 100 pieces that have appeared in
leading Texas newspapers, and speaks to groups around the state on tax, budget
and regulatory issues. Her opinion pieces have appeared in the Wall Street
Journal, Fox News, Houston Chronicle, Dallas Morning News, Austin American
Statesman, Budget and Tax News, Heritage Insider, and numerous other
publications. She has won numerous public affairs and journalism awards.
Peggy formerly hosted the TV program The Beauty of Politics and later hosted
Inside Texas Politics.
Peggy served on the board for the Texas Center for Education Research as well as
Austin CEO Foundation, and the Reagan Conservative Society. She is a past
President of the Texas Womens Alliance as well as past President of the Texas
State University Foundation Board.
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
January 12- HCRP Chairman, Paul Simpson

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club November 17th
Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents Harris County Clerk and Chief Election
Official, Stan Stanart, with an election wrap-up. This will be our final regular
meeting of the year until our Christmas lunch.
About Stan Stanart:
After graduation from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Science in
Electronic Engineering Technology, Stan worked sixteen years in the aerospace
industry. He focused his extensive computer hardware and software knowledge on
technology in avionic testing, missile defense, real-time simulation and system
testing for the international space station.
In 1994 he joined Compaq Computer Corporation where he was a developer and
advanced system architect and held numerous managerial positions utilizing his
technical expertise in computer product design and development.
In 2007 Stan joined the Harris County Tax Office as Manager of Hardware
Information Technology. He was instrumental in advancing the technological
abilities of that office improving services for the citizens of Harris County.
Stan was elected County Clerk of the third largest county in the country in
November 2010 and has made many improvements to the office which include:
The implementation of online document viewing capabilities;
The redesign of the Marriage License and the creation of the Certification of
Marriage Certificate;
The implementation of electronic filing in County Civil and Probate Courts;
Became a Certified Elections/Registrar Administrator (CERA) through the National
Association of Election Officials;
Found and directed the move into the new Election Technology Center after the
2010 warehouse fire;
The implementation of online signature verification process for ballots by mail
saving tax-payers over $100,000.00 every county-wide election; and,
Implemented online filing capabilities for Campaign Finance Reports.
Stan continues to improve the offices technology to better serve the public. He
has far too many software certifications and accreditations to mention here
along with solid budgeting, negotiating, and problem solving experience. Since
1996, Stan has volunteered many hours to our local civic and political process
and was re-elected in November 2014.
We look forward to seeing everyone!
Downtown Houston Pachyderms November 10 Roundtable discussion of this
years election and plans for the future
.
Were exhausted!
And we dont have a speaker.
But we love spaghetti.
So if you have enough energy to make it up the stairs, come join us. Whether to
celebrate the Trump win, as well as our statewide victors and our friends in
congress and the legislature, lament the losses on the Harris County ballot, or
just be with friends, come join us for a lively discussion.


Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club November 3rd
Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents a panel discussion on the City of Houston
pension issues and liabilities with Craig Mason, Bill King and Bill Frazer.
We will also get a report on early voting from Club President, Ed Johnson.
We look forward to seeing everyone!

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club October 27th
Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents the Hon. Steve Radack, Harris County
Commissioner Precinct 3
After 11 years with the Houston Police Department, a successful stint in the
private sector and a four-year term as Harris County Precinct 5 Constable, Steve
Radack was first elected Commissioner of Precinct Three in 1988. Voters have
reelected him six times.
During his career in public service, Steve has pushed for greater efficiency at
all levels of local government by supporting programs aimed at promoting the
intelligent use of taxpayer dollars. He has emphasized privatization throughout
county government and been an outspoken advocate of making sure law enforcement
agencies have the tools they need to keep children and neighborhoods safe.
In addition to his role as a county policymaker, which has given him a voice in
regional health, transportation, and technology issues, Steve has also focused
on enhancing the quality of life for all residents of Precinct Three.
When he took office in January 1989, Precinct Three had only 10 parks. By
working with the community and aggressively advocating for a better quality of
life, Steve has increased the number of parks in the precinct to more than 62.
Precinct Three maintains about 15,000 acres of park land. Some of those
facilities are dog parks among the first in the nation. There is also an
environmentally-friendly network of hike, bike, and walking trails that covers
dozens of miles in the precinct. When Steve took office in 1989, trail mileage
in Precinct Three was 17 miles.
Community centers have also been expanded and two high-tech education facilities
for seniors were built with the help of federal grant funds. Under Steves
leadership, recreational facilities were also modernized, ties to the community
were strengthened through dealings with local youth sports leagues and problems
like childhood obesity have been tackled through the construction of unique
public-private "Kid Fit" parks aimed at giving families places to stay fit
together.
Steve has also worked hard to meet the infrastructure and transportation needs
of Precinct Three, which encompasses more than 450 square miles and is one of
the fastest growing and most diverse areas in the region. The precinct contains
both large segments of rural agricultural land and densely populated urban
areas. Steve has kept pace with immense population growth in the precinct by
continually participating in regional transportation initiatives aimed at
bettering mobility.
Steve and his wife, Sherry, who serves as Chief Justice of the Texas First Court
of Appeals, have four sons. They attend St. John Vianney Catholic Church.
We look forward to seeing everyone!

Take a break before early voting starts on Monday, October 24th, and enjoy
some comic relief as Eric Golub returns to DT Pachyderm! Eric Golub is Brooklyn
born, Long Island raised, and has lived in Los Angeles since 1990. He received
his Bachelors degree from the University of Judaism, and his MBA from USC. He
has been a stockbrokerage professional since 1994. He began blogging on March
11th, 2007, the three year anniversary of the Madrid bombings and the midpoint
of 9/11. He has been inflicting his world view on his unfortunate readers since
then. He blogs about politics Monday through Friday, and about football and
other human interest items on weekends. He speaks around the country to various
chapters of the Republican Womens Federated, Republican Jewish Coalition, Young
Republicans, College Republicans, and other GOP groups. He has done events with
everyone from Michele Bachmann to Michael Steele.
We look forward to seeing everyone!
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club October 13th
Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents Tom Moon, Presiding Judge of the Early
Voting Ballot Board for Harris County
Tom Moon, Presiding Judge of Harris Countys Early Voting Ballot Board, will
speak about security issues related to vote-by-mail ballots.
We look forward to seeing everyone!

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club October 6th
Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents
Kevin Jewell, Republican nominee for the 14th Court of Appeals, and, Don
Sumners, HCDE Board Member
DT Pachyderm has been scheduling Republican candidates, judges and elected
officials on the November 2016 ballot to speak. This week we will feature:
Kevin Jewell, Candidate for Justice, 14th Court of Appeals, Place 2
Also, Don Sumners, Harris County Department of Education Board Member, will
speak about HISD Proposition 1, and other propositions on the November ballot,
as well as issues facing HCDE.
We look forward to seeing everyone!
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club September 29th
Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents a Roundtable Discussion of the September
26th Presidential Debate
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club for a Roundtable Discussion of the
September 26th Presidential Debate, led by Club Secretary, Tom Zakes.
Share your thoughts about the candidates performances, post-debate polling, and
what the future holds for upcoming debates.
We look forward to seeing everyone!
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club September 22nd

Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents former Lieutenant Governor, Hon. David
Dewhurst
From Governor Dewhursts website:
David Dewhurst has embodied the Texas notion of servant leadership throughout
his life. Born to a WWII hero and a hard-working mother, Dewhurst lost his
father to a drunk driver at an early age. From working the docks on the Houston
Ship Channel to attending college on a basketball scholarship, Dewhurst set
himself apart with a solid work ethic, an abiding faith in God and a refusal to
quit.
At the height of the Cold War, Dewhurst dedicated his young adult life to
serving his country, first in the U.S. Air Force, then in the CIA and later in
the State Department. When he left government service, he returned to Houston to
begin his career in business. In the early 1980s, he started his own company,
but like so many other Texas businesses at the time, he lost nearly everything
when the oil and gas and real estate markets went bust. Dewhurst gradually built
back all that he had lost and more, and earned his reputation as an innovative,
tireless and successful businessman.
In 1995, then President Bill Clinton named Dewhurst a member of the Commission
on the Roles and Capabilities of the U.S. Intelligence Community where he worked
with distinguished leaders like Les Aspin and Warren Rudman to ensure the
protection of U.S. interests around the world.
In the wake of the September 11th attacks, Dewhurst was appointed chair of the
Texas Homeland Security Task Force, which developed key strategies for public
safety and emergencies that are still in use today.
In 1998, he was elected Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office where he
not only streamlined the agency and cut its spending, he also advocated for
veterans issues including the creation of new military cemeteries in Texas and
the expansion of the states veterans land programs.
He won election as Lt. Governor in the fall of 2002 and got to work in the 78th
session of the Texas Legislature. During his 12-year tenure as Lt. Governor,
Dewhurst oversaw one of the largest economic expansions in Texas history,
championed effective border security and advocated for traditional Texas values.
Throughout, he never lost sight of his real employers, the people of Texas.
In typical Dewhurst fashion, he took up rodeo, competing in team roping and
cutting events, and ended up being inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of
Fame in 2009.
Dewhurst maintains his commitment to servant leadership, working to expand his
energy holdings and remaining engaged in civic organizations in his Houston
hometown. A compelling, experienced conservative voice, David Dewhurst continues
his work to make the world a better, more conservative place.
We look forward to seeing everyone!
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Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club September 15th
Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents candidates for HISD Trustee, District 7
Four candidates have applied to run in a special election to be the trustee for
District 7, Houston Independent School District.
The candidates are Victoria Bryant,
John Luman,
Danielle Paulus and
Anne Sung.
We have confirmed that Victoria Bryant and John Luman will appear on September
15th.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club September 8
Hon. Duane Bohac
A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF HOUSE DISTRICT 138 WHO WORKS HARD AND GETS RESULTS FOR
OUR STATE AND LOCAL COMMUNITY
During his time in the Texas Legislature, Dwayne Bohac has focused on improving
local quality of life, keeping taxes low, cracking down on illegal immigration,
and improving public education.
At the local level, Bohac has worked to improve local flood control measures
through the use of retention ponds, given municipalities greater authority to
enforce apartment standards, increased local police patrols, passed tougher laws
against graffiti, and secured funds for local traffic mobility and esplanade
beautification projects.
At the state level, Bohac has led efforts to cap property tax appraisals at 5%
or less, increased funding for border security, co-authored the states Voter ID
law, helped pass stronger pro-life and pro-family legislation, and worked with
local teachers and school board members to improve public education and provide
fair teacher pay.
In 2012, he received nation recognition for authoring the Merry Christmas Bill
which allows teachers and students to celebrate Christmas and Hanukah in public
schools without fear of litigation.
Bohac currently serves as Vice Chair of the Business and Industry Committee and
on the powerful Ways & Means Committee. He is also Vice Chair of the Texas House
TEA Party Caucus.
Before being elected to the Legislature, Dwayne was active in the local
community having founded Save Our Neighborhoods/Northwest Coalition, served on
the White Oaks Bayou Association, and been a part of the Spring Branch
Revitalization Association.
A lifelong resident of Texas House District 138, Bohac was born in Northwest
Houston and now lives in the Spring Branch area and attends Second Baptist
Church. He graduated from Scarborough High School and earned Bachelors Degrees
in Political Science and Marketing from Texas A&M University.

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club September 1
Downtown Houston Pachyderms September 1 Hon. Michael McCaul, chair of
Homeland Security committee
Hon. Michael McCaul has represented the 10th Congressional District, which
stretches from Northwest Harris County to Travis County since his election in
2004. He is currently the chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security.
Congressman Michael T. McCaul is currently serving his sixth term representing
Texas' 10th District in the United States Congress. The 10th Congressional
District of Texas stretches from Austin to the Houston suburbs, and includes
Austin, Bastrop, Colorado, Fayette, Harris, Lee, Travis, Washington and Waller
Counties.
Homeland Security Chairman
On January 3, 2013, the beginning of the 113th Congress, Rep. McCaul became
Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security. The Committee has
oversight of the Department of Homeland Security ensuring it is able to carry
out its core mission of protecting the American people from terrorist attacks.
As Chairman, McCaul will prioritize the threat of international and domestic
terrorism, cyber security, airport security and fixing dysfunctional management
within DHS which contributes to wasted taxpayer dollars, delayed security
operations and corruption. Chairman McCaul will also prioritize border security
and elevate this as a national security issue.
Congressman McCaul is also the Chairman of the U.S.-Mexico Inter-Parliamentary
Group (I.P.G.) Every year the Group meets to discuss issues and events involving
the two nations. These meetings give both American and Mexican lawmakers the
opportunity to address the challenges facing our two countries.
He also serves on the Committee on Foreign Affairs working to ensure our
national security is strong.
Washington Reformer
Congressman McCaul has a strong track record as a leading fiscal conservative in
the Congress. He never forgets that every dollar the Congress appropriates is
the Peoples money, not the governments. As such, Congressman McCaul has fought
against the failed $787 billion stimulus, the $700 billion bailout, the Cap and
Trade national energy tax and the Affordable Care Act. In addition to his
conservative voting record, Congressman McCaul led the charge against earmarks,
which was adopted as the official policy of the House of Representatives during
the 112th Congress.
In recognition of his pro-growth, pro-jobs voting record, Congressman McCaul has
been awarded the U.S. Chamber of Commerces Spirit of Enterprise Award each year
he has served. Congressman Michael McCaul's stand against unprecedented
government expansion and out of control spending has also been recognized by the
American Conservative Union, which presented McCaul its coveted ACU Ratings
Award.
High Tech Leadership
With many NASA employees, universities and high tech companies in the 10th
District, Congressman McCaul's service on the Committee on Science and
Technology provides him the ability to enhance Texas' role as a global leader in
technology.
Congressman McCaul is co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional High Tech
Caucus and the Cybersecurity Caucus. In 2008, Rep. McCaul co-chaired the
Commission on Cybersecurity for the 44th Presidency which, along with the Center
for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), developed and presented
recommendations to President Obama to secure cyberspace and protect our national
interests.
The Information Technology Industry Council awarded Congressman McCaul its
coveted Legislator of the Year Award for 2009 for his support of congressional
policies that benefit American technology companies. TechNet, the bipartisan
political network of CEOs that promotes the growth of the innovation economy,
also awarded Congressman McCaul its annual Founders Circle Award, one of four
members of Congress recognized by the organization for their outstanding
leadership to champion the nations innovation economy.
Fighting Childhood Cancer
In the 112th Congress, McCauls legislation, the Creating Hope Act, was signed
by the president and became law in October 2012, creating incentives for
pharmaceutical companies to create new treatments for pediatric cancer patients.
McCaul co-chairs the Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus, which he founded
shortly after he was first elected to Congress.
Personal
Prior to Congress, Michael McCaul served as Chief of Counter Terrorism and
National Security in the U.S. Attorneys office, Western District of Texas, and
led the Joint Terrorism Task Force charged with detecting, deterring and
preventing terrorist activity. McCaul also served as Texas Deputy Attorney
General under current U.S. Senator John Cornyn, and served as a federal
prosecutor in the Department of Justices Public Integrity Section in
Washington, D.C. A fourth generation Texan, Congressman McCaul earned a B.A. in
Business and History from Trinity University and holds a J.D. from St. Mary's
University School of Law. In 2009 Congressman McCaul was honored with St. Mary's
Distinguished Graduate award. He is also a graduate of the Senior Executive
Fellows Program of the School of Government, Harvard University. Congressman
McCaul is married to his wife, Linda. They are proud parents of five children:
Caroline, Jewell, and the triplets Lauren, Michael and Avery.
A frequent guest on Sunday morning talk shows, Chairman McCaul will speak to us
about terrorism and national security
Congressman Michael McCaul, Chairman of Homeland Security, will be presenting
an update on security issues our country is facing.
"U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, is not ruling out challenging U.S. Sen.
Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in 2018, but he's emphasizing that he is not focused on it
for now.
"Like Reagan said, never say never, but it's not something I'm spending a whole
lot of time thinking about right now," McCaul told reporters Wednesday in
Austin. "
-Texas
Tribune, August 16, 2016
Heritage
Action Scorecard
97% - Sen. Ted Cruz
92% - Rep Louie Gohmert
83% - Rep. John Culberson
69% - Rep. Michael McCaul
49% - Sen. John Cornyn
RT @HouseHomeland "Today was the first commercial flight from the US to Cuba. @RepMcCaul
feels this has been a very rushed process.http://pic.twitter.com/dQFi24psNQ"
Please join us for this informative meeting!

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club August 25th
Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents Harris County Treasurer, Orlando Sanchez, on
getting out the Hispanic vote
Orlando Sanchez has lived in Houston since 1962 when his father was recruited by
former Harris County Judge Roy Hofheinz to be the Spanish voice of the Colt 45s
and the Houston Astros. Orlando grew up in southwest Houston and graduated from
Bellaire High School. In 1976, Orlando volunteered for service in the U.S. Air
Force; after being honorably discharged, he again volunteered with the 147th
Fighter Interceptor Group of the Texas Air National Guard at Ellington Field.
Orlando is a cum laude graduate of the University of Houston.
In 1995 Orlando was elected to serve as a member of the Houston City Council. He
served three terms and helped his colleagues pass the first property tax cut in
decades. Orlando also chaired the citys International Trade Committee, the
Legislative Affairs Committee and chaired the Cellular Tower Working Committee.
He has served on the Texas Attorney Generals Municipal Advisory Committee and
was appointed to the U.S. Senate Task Force on Hispanic Affairs.
Orlando is a member of the Board of Directors of Capital Bank, a life member of
the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, the 100 Club of Houston and is an advisory
member of the University of Houston Law School Foundation.
We look forward to seeing everyone!

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club August 18th
Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents Club President, Ed Johnson
Our esteemed Club President and National Pachyderm Board member, Ed Johnson,
will speak on the topic of Electronic Voting Machines and Voter Fraud
Downtown Pachyderms is again co-sponsoring the Back to School Rally with Lone
Star Republicans in Galena Park on Thursday, August 18 at 5 pm. Please bring any
school supplies you are able to donate to our meeting this Thursday!
We look forward to seeing everyone!

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club August 11th
Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents the Honorable Debra Ibarra Mayfield
DT Pachyderm will be scheduling Republican candidates, judges and elected
officials on the November 2016 ballot to speak over the next few months. This
week we will feature:
The Honorable Debra Ibarra Mayfield, appointed by Governor Abbott to be Judge of
the 165th Civil District Court, and the Republican nominee for the same bench.
About Judge Mayfield:
In 2015, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Debra Ibarra Mayfield as Judge of the
165th Civil District Court. Thereafter, the Texas Senate unanimously confirmed
her appointment.
Debra was Governor Abbott's first judicial appointment in Harris County. Before
becoming a State District Judge, Debra was the first Latina county court at law
judge in Harris County. She was Judge of Harris County Civil Court at Law Number
One, a bench to which the Harris County Commissioners Court unanimously
appointed her. In subsequent elections, Harris County citizens twice re-elected
Debra to continue her service. She also served as administrative judge of the
County Civil Court, and she currently serves as an adjunct professor at the
University of Houston Law Center teaching a course in private property rights
and eminent domain. Before becoming a judge, Debra was a partner in a civil
defense firm where she handled lawsuits and appeals across the State of Texas.
She also served as a courtappointed guardian ad litem, often to Spanish-only
speaking children. Part of the first generation in her family to attend college,
Debra is an alumna of Texas A&M University and South Texas College of Law. Debra
has received numerous accolades for her public service. She was selected as a
"Woman on the Move" by Texas Executive Women, awarded the "Public Service Award"
from South Texas College of Law, and she was given the Amicus Award
from the Mexican American Bar Association of Houston. In 2015, Debra was named
Top Latina 40 and Under" by the Mexican-American Bar Association of Texas and
as one of "Houston's 50 Most Influential Women" by Houston Woman Magazine. In
2016, the Houston Young Lawyers' Association honored Debra with the "Outstanding
Mentor Award" for her dedicated efforts in mentoring young lawyers and students.
She was also honored at the Texas State Bar Convention in 2016 for her
significant contributions to the Hispanic legal community.
Downtown Pachyderms is again co-sponsoring the Back to School Rally with Lone
Star Republicans in Galena Park on Thursday, August 18 at 5 pm. Please bring any
school supplies you are able to donate to our meetings between now and then.
We look forward to seeing everyone!
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club August 4th
Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents a National Convention Wrap-up
What went on behind the scenes in Cleveland? Many members and friends of our
club attended the National GOP Convention last month. Come hear from delegates
and alternates who were there for a first hand account of what it was like to be
in the arena.
Downtown Pachyderms is again co-sponsoring the Back to School Rally with Lone
Star Republicans in Galena Park on Thursday, August 18 at 5 pm. Please bring any
school supplies you are able to donate to our meetings between now and then.
We look forward to seeing everyone!
UPCOMING MEETINGS/EVENTS:
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Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents Republican candidates,
Mary McFaden,
candidate for Judge of the 339th District Court, and,
Rick Gonzales, candidate
for Constable, Precinct 6
DT Pachyderm will be scheduling Republican candidates, judges and elected
officials on the November 2016 ballot to speak over the next few months. This
week we will feature:
Mary McFaden- Republican nominee for Judge of the 339th District Court
Rick Gonzales- Republican nominee for Harris County Constable Precinct 6
We look forward to seeing everyone!
Downtown Houston presents Republican candidates, Jeff Hastings, candidate for
Judge of the 151st District Court, and, Kendall Baker. candidate for State
Representative District 137
DT Pachyderm will be scheduling Republican candidates, judges and elected
officials on the November 2016 ballot to speak over the next few months. This
week we will feature:
Jeff Hastings- the Republican nominee for Judge of the 151st District Court
Kendall Baker- the Republican nominee for State Representative House District
137
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club July 14th
Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents Republican candidates, Hon. Renee Magee,
Judge of the 337th District Court, and, Matt Murphy, candidate for State
Representative House District 147
DT Pachyderm will be scheduling Republican candidates, judges and elected
officials on the November 2016 ballot to speak over the next few months. This
week we will feature:
Hon. Renee Magee- Judge of the 337th District Court, and the Republican nominee
for same
Matt Murphy- the Republican nominee for State Representative House District 147
We look forward to seeing everyone!
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club July 7th
Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents Republican candidates, Hon. Sherry Radack,
Chief Justice of the First Court of Appeals, and Will Archer, candidate for
Judge of the 80th Civil District Court
DT Pachyderm will be scheduling Republican candidates, judges and elected
officials on the November 2016 ballot to speak over the next few months. This
week we will feature:
Hon. Sherry Radack- Chief Justice of the First Court of Appeals, and the
Republican nominee for same
Will Archer- the Republican nominee for Judge of the 80th Civil District Court
We look forward to seeing everyone!
Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents Republican Judges, Hon. Alyssa Lemkuil
and Hon. Linda Garcia
DT Pachyderm will be scheduling Republican judicial candidates and judges to
speak over the next few months. This month we will feature: Hon. Alyssa Lemkuil,
Judge of the 507th Family District Court, and, Hon. Linda Garcia, Judge of
Harris County Criminal Court at Law # 16

About Judge Lemkuil:
Hon. Alyssa Lemkuil was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to serve as the first
judge of the newly created 507th Family District Court effective January 1,
2016. She served as associate judge of the 308th Family District Court from
October 2012 through December 2015.
Judge Lemkuil is a 1982 graduate of Texas A&M University and a 1992 graduate of
the University of Houston Law Center. She was a child support prosecutor with
the Harris County Domestic Relations Office for 10 years and an
attorney/mediator in private practice for 6 years. She and her husband have been
married for over 15 years and are the parents of a 13-year-old daughter

About Judge
Garcia:
Hon. Linda Garcia is the first judge of the County Criminal Court at Law Number
16, which hears class A and B misdemeanor cases. She was appointed by Harris
County Commissioners Court, and is seeking the Republican Nomination to be on
the November ballot.
Judge Garcia is a 1993 graduate of the University of Houston Law School, and has
worked as an assistant District Attorney in Harris County, and has also served
on the Board of Pardons and Paroles for the State of Texas.
She and her husband Tom Butler have a teenage son.
We look forward to seeing everyone!
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Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club June 9th
Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents Republican judicial candidates,
Tom Zakes and
Sophia Mafrige
DT Pachyderm will be scheduling Republican judicial candidates to speak over the
next few months. This month we will feature: Tom Zakes, Republican nominee for
Harris County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3 Place 1, and, Sophia Mafrige,
Republican nominee for the 129th Civil District Court
Join us to hear about their judicial races and how you can help with their
campaigns! We look forward to seeing everyone!

Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club June 2nd
Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents
Dr. Bryan Chu, Republican nominee for State
Representative, House District 149
Dr. Bryan Chu is the Republican nominee challenging State Representative Hubert
Vo for House District 149. Join us to hear about his race and vision for the
District.
We look forward to seeing everyone!
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club May 26th
Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents Betty Avery, HCRPs Military Partnership
Committee Chairman, to discuss Memorial Day
Betty Boren Avery is Chairman of the Military Partnership Committee of the
Harris County Republican Party and a Blue Star Mom with a passion for Servant
Leadership, Youth, and Veterans. She is a Precinct Chair and an elected official
in the State of Texas. She has a MBA in eCommerce with a background in local
government, financial services, and oil & gas with an emphasis with Project
Management. In her role as Commissioner of Harris County Emergency Services
District #9, Commissioner Avery continues her service to the community.
With a son in the US ARMY, Betty has volunteered at military related events at
the Houston National Cemetery to honor Veterans. She has alerted others to the
Military Voting Procedures, raised awareness of PTSD, and assisted at Wings Over
Houston to foster the relationship between the Military and the community.
Raising three teenage daughters' at the same time taught Betty patience. One of
those daughters conducts Medical Research in the Texas Medical Center following
her father's career path, and the Twins utilize their strategic processing
skills in their career fields Mortgage and Transportation
We look forward to seeing everyone!
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club May 19th
Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents the Honorable Ken Wise, Justice on the 14th
Court of Appeals, Wise About Texas: Stories from Texas History
Justice Ken Wise was appointed to the 14th Court of Appeals by Governor Rick
Perry in October 2013. Prior to his appointment, Justice Wise served as the
Judge of the 334th Judicial District Court in Harris County and Judge of the
152nd Judicial District Court in Harris County.
Justice Wise earned his bachelors degree from Texas A&M University, where he
competed as a member of the intercollegiate rodeo team.
Justice Wise is very active in the service of the bar and the judiciary. He
co-chaired a State Bar task force that conducted the first complete study of the
Texas Court system since 1894. He has also served as a multi-district litigation
judge as well as a visiting judge in counties across the State of Texas.
Justice Wise is an avid Texas historian. He hosts the Texas history podcast Wise
About Texas which has thousands of listeners nationwide. He has written several
scholarly articles and given dozens of speeches on all aspects of Texas history.
Justice Wise is a Trustee of the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society and a
member of the Supreme Court Task Force on Historic Court Record Preservation.
A native Houstonian, Justice Wise has been very active in the Houston community.
Justice Wise is a director of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and an
advisory director of the Former Texas Ranger Foundation.
Ken is a fifth-generation native Texan. He is married to Sara Wise and they have
two children, Sarah Jane and Jackson.
We look forward to seeing everyone!
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club May 5th
Join us to celebrate Cinco De Mayo as Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents
Kameron Searle, Texas historian: Cinco de Mayo a Texas connection
Kameron Searle is a graduate of South Texas College of Law and practices law in
Houston, Texas.
He is 7th generation Texan and he is a past President of the Texas Heritage
Society.
He is on the board of directors at Washington on the Brazos State Park.
Mr. Searle's great great great grandfather, Martin Parmer was one of the 59
signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico and the Chairman of
the Committee that drafted the Constitution of the Republic of Texas.
Thank you. We look forward to seeing everyone!
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club April 21st
Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents Lori Bartley, Run-off candidate for CD 18
and Texas Independence Day presentation by Tom Zakes
Lori Bartley, Run-off candidate for Congressional District 18, will talk to us
about her race and qualifications to serve.
Our own DT Pachyderm Board member and Secretary, Tom Zakes, will give a
presentation on Texas History and Independence Day.
PLEASE NOTE THE SPAGHETTI WAREHOUSE is open
for our meeting.
We hope to see you for our program as scheduled.
Houston native, Lori Bartley is committed to continuing Texas' proud tradition
of reform-minded leadership in Congress as she runs for the 18th Congressional
District.
Like many from the Bayou City, Lori Bartley grew up under the long shadow of the
working poor. As a direct descendant of Mathew Gaines (R-TX), a former slave
turned Texas State Senator, her family's roots and belief in fighting for
freedom and aspiring to greatness goes back decades.
Shortly after the birth of her fourth child, the small business owner discovered
her children suffered from serious mental illnesses. Having taught in the public
school system and in seeking out the best educational solutions for their
family, Lori came to realize the public education system offered an inexact
cookie-cutter approach. Rather than leave their children's success up to chance,
Lori decided to fight for a free and equal education that would allow her
children to be taught the way they learned. By citing the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act she was able to achieve the very best combination of
services necessary for her children to excel to the best of their ability
through the public school system.
However, far too many families with the same needs face scarce options and lack
the time and finances necessary to wage the same fight. That is why she is a
firm believer in the necessity of School Choice and Entrepreneurship. Lori
believes in advancing every American's right to economic freedom and
opportunity. After all, she knows entrepreneurship is the backbone of the
economic system.
Lori has advocated for educational reform, mental illness, homelessness and
elder care for over 20 years. She is has an extensive background working in
Probation, Education and Counseling. Her personal journey, as well as, her
knowledge and skills will help her to serve CD 18 well.
She is a member of St. James Christian Church and a member of several
organizations, including the National Association for Mental Illness and The
National Alliance to End Homelessness. Lori and her husband are the proud
parents of four wonderful children.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents Republican Party of Texas Chairman, Hon.
Tom Mechler
Tom Mechler was elected Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas (RPT) in March
2015 by the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) to fulfill the unexpired
term of Steve Munisteri. He has been politically involved for thirty years. He
was previously appointed Treasurer of the RPT by his predecessor in September
2010, a position he held for nearly 4-1/2 years. He previously served as a
county Republican Chairman for a combined period of twelve years at three
different locations and served on the SREC representing District 28 from 2002
2006. He also served as the Platform Committee Chairman at the 2012 and 2014
State Conventions.
Governor Perry appointed Tom to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) in
November 2005 where he served for nearly nine years, the last five of which as
the Vice-Chairman where he was 2nd in command of the state agency responsible
for operating 109 prisons, including a $3.3 billion per year budget, 37,000
employees and 22,000 volunteers.
Toms business experience includes serving as President of Manna Services, Inc.
which operates as a small oil & gas production company and is involved in
providing consulting services to independent oil and gas producers in the Texas
Panhandle. Tom has extensive experience in the negotiation and auditing of gas
purchase contracts for the natural gas industry. He previously worked for ARCO
for ten years, seven of which were in Alaska, where he and his family lived in
Wasilla. His past assignments included duties as an offshore production foreman,
facility engineer at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, facility planner, and technical
director.
Tom graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Science degree in Mechanical
Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1980 and received a Masters of Business
Administration (MBA) Finance degree in 1992 from The Wharton School of the
University of Pennsylvania, which is the top finance university in the world. He
is a registered Mechanical Engineer as well as a Volunteer Prison Chaplain. He
and his wife Becky currently reside on a ranch outside of Amarillo and have six
adult children and fifteen grandchildren.
We look forward to seeing everyone!
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club April 14th
Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents Republican Party of Texas Chairman, Hon. Tom
Mechler
Tom Mechler was elected Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas (RPT) in March
2015 by the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) to fulfill the unexpired
term of Steve Munisteri. He has been politically involved for thirty years. He
was previously appointed Treasurer of the RPT by his predecessor in September
2010, a position he held for nearly 4-1/2 years. He previously served as a
county Republican Chairman for a combined period of twelve years at three
different locations and served on the SREC representing District 28 from 2002
2006. He also served as the Platform Committee Chairman at the 2012 and 2014
State Conventions.
Governor Perry appointed Tom to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) in
November 2005 where he served for nearly nine years, the last five of which as
the Vice-Chairman where he was 2nd in command of the state agency responsible
for operating 109 prisons, including a $3.3 billion per year budget, 37,000
employees and 22,000 volunteers.
Toms business experience includes serving as President of Manna Services, Inc.
which operates as a small oil & gas production company and is involved in
providing consulting services to independent oil and gas producers in the Texas
Panhandle. Tom has extensive experience in the negotiation and auditing of gas
purchase contracts for the natural gas industry. He previously worked for ARCO
for ten years, seven of which were in Alaska, where he and his family lived in
Wasilla. His past assignments included duties as an offshore production foreman,
facility engineer at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, facility planner, and technical
director.
Tom graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Science degree in Mechanical
Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1980 and received a Masters of Business
Administration (MBA) Finance degree in 1992 from The Wharton School of the
University of Pennsylvania, which is the top finance university in the world. He
is a registered Mechanical Engineer as well as a Volunteer Prison Chaplain. He
and his wife Becky currently reside on a ranch outside of Amarillo and have six
adult children and fifteen grandchildren.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club April 7th
Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents Dr. Robin Armstrong, Republican National
Committeeman for the State of Texas
Dr. Robin Armstrong serves as Republican National Committeeman for the State of
Texas. He will discuss convention and delegate procedures related to selection
of our partys presidential nominee, and other hot topics related to the
convention process!
We look forward to seeing everyone!
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club March 31st
Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents Alan Vera, Chairman of HCRPs Ballot
Security Committee
Alan Vera serves as Chairman of the Harris County Republican Partys Ballot
Security Committee. He will speak on the topic of voter fraud. Please join us
for this informative meeting and find out what you can do to help as we prepare
for the November general election.
We look forward to seeing everyone!
Downtown Houston Pachyderms March 17 Hon. Mary Lou Keel, Frank Nadolney
Mary Lou Keel graduated from the University of Texas with a bachelor's degree in
English in 1982. She received her JD from the University of Houston in 1985.
From 1985 to 1986 she worked as a briefing attorney at the First Court of
Appeals in Houston.
In 1986 she began work for the Harris County District Attorney's Office as a
trial prosecutor and then as an appellate prosecutor, representing the state in
the intermediate appellate courts and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
She was elected in 1994 to the 232nd District Court, a felony trial court in
Harris County. Since then she has been re-elected five times.
She has been board certified in criminal law since 1990.
In 2009 she was appointed the wiretap judge for the Second Administrative
Judicial Region of Texas.
Judge Keel has been a speaker at conferences and seminars for judges, lawyers,
police officers and licensed court interpreters.
Judge Keel is proficient in Spanish and is a volunteer interpreter for the
website translatingcuba.com. This website helps give voice to the dissident and
independent writers in Cuba who suffer repression uner the communist
dictatorship.
Judge Keel has also served as an interpreter for the Houston Volunteer Lawyer
Project.
In the past she served on the Houston Bar Association Bench-Bar Pro Bono Awards
Committee and the boards of the Houston Read Commission and the Texas Center for
Adoloscent Rehabilitation and Education. She has served as a volunteer judge for
the Family Law Evening Court project.
Judge Keel met her husband, Jim Hippard, Jr., in law school, and they have three
children. The oldest, Greer, is working towards his nursing degree. The second,
Connor, is a junior at Texas Tech majoring in business management. Their
youngest, Colleen, is a high school senior. The family also has a dog, Tip, 13
years old.
Judge Keel grew up in Austin with her five brothers and a cousin.
She enjoys reading, cooking and skiing.
Frank Nadolney is a realtor and developer in the North Shore/Channelview area.
His dad, Peaches Nadolney played for the University of Notre Dame under
legendary coach Knute Rockne and in the early days of the National Football
League. He has also served as president of the HRBC and the C Club. As a special
treat for St Patricks Day, he will share with us about the Notre Dame Fighting
Irish.
We look forward to seeing everyone and don't forget to wear green!
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club March 10th
Downtown Houston Pachyderm presents Harris County Clerk, Hon. Stan Stanart, with
a March 1st Primary Election Wrap-up!
About the Honorable Stan Stanart:
After graduation from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Science in
Electronic Engineering Technology, Stan worked sixteen years in the aerospace
industry. He focused his extensive computer hardware and software knowledge on
technology in avionic testing, missile defense, real-time simulation and system
testing for the international space station.
In 1994 he joined Compaq Computer Corporation where he was a developer and
advanced system architect and held numerous managerial positions utilizing his
technical expertise in computer product design and development.
In 2007 Stan joined the Harris County Tax Office as Manager of Hardware
Information Technology. He was instrumental in advancing the technological
abilities of that office improving services for the citizens of Harris County.
Stan was elected County Clerk of the third largest county in the country in
November 2010 and has made many improvements to the office.
Stan continues to improve the offices technology to better serve the public. He
has far too many software certifications and accreditations to mention here
along with solid budgeting, negotiating, and problem solving experience. Since
1996, Stan has volunteered many hours to our local civic and political process
and was re-elected in November 2014.
We look forward to seeing everyone!
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club March 3rd
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm for our Open-Mike meeting to share
Election Day stories, and, hear from Valoree Swanson about her race in HD 150
We look forward to seeing everyone!
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club February 25th
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm for our final lunch before Election Day
as we host the following contested primary candidates: Hon. Mike Sullivan and
Hon. Mary Lou Keel, Justice Michael Massengale.
Hon. Mike Sullivan is currently serving as Harris County Tax Assessor Collector,
and is running for re-election. He previously served on the Humble ISD School
Board and Houston City Council.
Judge Mary Lou Keel is serving as Judge of the 232nd Criminal District Court and
is running for the Court of Criminal Appeals.
We look forward to seeing everyone for the final meeting before the March 1st
Republican primary!
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club February 18th
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm for lunch as we host the following
contested primary candidates: Ron Hale, Kevin Jewell and Harold Norris
Ron Hale is running for Texas Railroad Commissioner
Kevin Jewell is running for Justice on the 14th Court of Appeals, Place 2
Harold Norris is running for Harris County Justice of the Peace, Pct.1, Place 1
primary candidates: Eric Dick, Danell Fields, Kay Smith, Rolf Nelson,
Hon. Rick Ramos, Hon. Paul Simpson
Eric Dick is running for Harris County School Trustee
Danell Fields is running for Harris County School Trustee
Kay Smith is running for State Representative District 130
Rolf Nelson is running for Constable, Harris County Precinct 4
Hon. Rick Ramos is running for HCRP Chairman
Hon. Paul Simpson is the incumbent HCRP Chairman seeking re-election
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club February 4th
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm for lunch as we host the following
contested primary candidates: Bashist Sharma, Nile Copeland, Carl Pittman, Chris
Carmona, Jim Leitner, Mary McFaden, Antonio Benavides, and Xavier Alfaro
Bashist Sharma is running for Judge of the 178th District Court,
Nile Copeland is running for Judge of the 178th District Court
Xavier Alfaro is running for Judge of the 178th District Court
Carl Pittman is running for Harris County Sheriff
Chris Carmona is running for Harris County Attorney
Jim Leitner is running for Harris County Attorney
Mary McFaden is running for Judge of the 339th District Court
Antonio Benavides is running for Judge of the 339th District Court
We look forward to seeing everyone as we continue getting ready for the March
1st Republican primary!
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm for lunch as we host Bill Boyce,
Co-Author of the book, Miss Fortunes Last Mission, and a Justice on the 14th
Court of Appeals
Bill Boyce lives in Houston, Texas, where he practiced law for 18 years before
becoming a justice on the state court of appeals. He graduated from Northwestern
Universitys Medill School of Journalism, and from Northwestern University
School of Law. Before attending law school, he worked for newspapers in Illinois
and Oregon. He is married to Maria Wyckoff Boyce and is the proud father of
daughters Emily and Julia.
Mr. Boyces summary of the book:
Twenty-five years after his death, I wanted to know the things my father would
not discuss about his time as a 19-year-old waist gunner in a B-24 bomber. I
found the man who could tell me. He was Ray Noury, who flew with my father over
Europe in late 1943; saved my fathers life; and, after my wounded father was
shipped home, became the lone survivor of a doomed crew that was shot down in
February 1944. When I met Ray in 2013, only five months before his own death at
age 90, he told me the story of a B-24 nicknamed Miss Fortune. Ray talked about
Miss Fortunes crew members, their families, and a village that continues to
honor the crews sacrifice seven decades later. Rays revelations took me across
the country and over the Atlantic; through stacks of letters and pictures; and
back to the confusion I felt as a child wondering why my father still was so
wounded so many years after the surgeons repaired his shattered leg. Ray
introduced me to his friend John Torrison, whose years of research honored
Johns uncle and the other crew members who flew on Miss Fortunes last mission.
Ray and John answered the questions that went unasked while my father was alive.
It turns out that knowing one man required me to know eleven others. They flew
with and in place of my father as 1943 turned into 1944. Decades after their
last mission, the members of Miss Fortunes crew remained with my father. They
still live today in the memories of people on two continents.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club January 14th
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm for lunch as we host the following
contested Republican primary candidates: James Lloyd, Maria Espinoza, and George
Moore
James Lloyd and Maria Espinoza are running for Congress from the 7th District.
George Moore is running for the Harris County Department of Education.
We look forward to seeing everyone as we get ready for the March 1st Republican
primary!
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm for our first meeting of 2016 as we host
the following contested Republican primary candidates: Don Sumners for Harris
County Tax Assessor, Phil Gommels for Judge of 178th Criminal District Court,
Daniel Vela for Harris County Constable Precinct 2, Xavier Alfaro for Judge of
178th Criminal District Court, and, Ted Heap for Harris County Constable
Precinct 5.
Downtown Houston Pachyderms December 3, Christmas party - please bring a new,
unwrapped toy for the Toys for Tots program, installation of officers, last
meeting of 2015
Collecting Toys for Tots once again, our club is partnering with the US
Marines to brighten the Christmas season for those less fortunate among us. We
are asking that you bring a new, unwrapped toy to our Christmas party on
December 3 at Spaghetti Warehouse. If you are unable to join us that day, you
can drop your donation off at the restaurant before then.
Senator Paul Bettencourt will install our officers for 2016.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club November 12th
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm as we present City of Houston Runoff
Candidates Bill Frazer, Chris Brown, Amanda Edwards, Dr. Jack Christie and Jim
Bigham, and, Elect 2016 Board Members
The City of Houston Run-off Election will be December 12th and Downtown Houston
Pachyderm will feature the following City of Houston municipal Run-off
Candidates this Thursday:
Bill Frazer and Chris Brown, Candidates for Controller
Amanda Edwards, Candidate for City Council at Large #4
Hon. Jack Christie, Councilman and Candidate for City Council at Large #5
Jim Bigham, Candidate for City Council District J
We will also conduct the election of our Board Members for terms starting 2016
Downtown
Houston Pachyderm Club November 5th
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm as we present State Senator Paul
Bettencourt
Texas State Senator for SD 7, Hon. Paul Bettencourt, will present an election
day wrap up!
Paul Bettencourt is Chief Executive Officer of Bettencourt Tax Advisors, LLC., a
Radio and TV personality, former Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector from 1998
to 2008, and the current Texas Senator from District 7. At the Tax Office, he
introduced Smart Government and developed a customer service-driven
organization. His team created the first major online Property Tax Payment
System and the first county tax office website with online Automotive
Registration in Texas. (His motto was Get on-line, not in-line.) His
leadership in office and the community earned Paul the Taxpayer Advocate of the
Year award from Americans for Prosperity, the Hero of Faith award from the
Houston Area Pastors Council, and the Pioneer award from the Harris County
Republican Party.
Paul has also held the offices of the Texas Republican Party Treasurer, the
Harris County Republican Party Vice Chair and Treasurer, a National Republican
Party Alternate from Texas in 2000, a National Delegate in 2004 and 2008, and
Presidential Elector in the 2012 Presidential Election from Congressional
District 7.
After a decade of public service, Paul started his own business in 2009. With a
focus on customer service, technology, and best business practices, Bettencourt
Tax Advisors, LLC assists in reducing property tax bills for its clients and has
successfully expanded to over 30 employees.
Paul ran for the Texas Senate in District 7 and won with 71.8% of the vote. As
the newly elected Senator of SD 7, he was honored to be appointed to the Senate
Finance Committee by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who also appointed Paul to
the Senate Committees on Intergovernmental Relations (Vice Chair), Education,
and Higher Education. At the conclusion of the Legislative Session, Senator
Bettencourt was recognized by Capitol Inside as "Most Valuable Freshman" and by
Governor Abbott as an architect of tax relief.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club October 29th
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm as we present City of Houston municipal
candidates, Carl Jarvis, Chris Oliver, Willie Davis, Hon. MJ Khan, Hon. Jew Don
Boney
This is the last Thursday before election day and Downtown Houston Pachyderm
will feature the following City of Houston municipal Candidates: City Council
District C candidate Carl Jarvis, City Council At-large Position 1 candidate
Chris Oliver, City Council At-large Position 2 candidate Willie Davis, City
Controller candidate Hon. MJ Khan, City Controller candidate Hon. Jew Don Boney
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club October 22nd
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm as we present City of Houston municipal
candidates, John Larue, Iesheia Wilson, David Robinson, Hon. Dwight Jefferson,
and Victoria Lane
Downtown Houston Pachyderm will continue featuring City of Houston municipal
Candidates over the next two Thursdays until Election Day on November 3rd. This
week our speakers will be Houston Mayoral candidate Victoria Lane, City
Controller candidate Hon. Dwight Jefferson, City Council District A candidate
Iesheia Wilson, City Council At-large Position 2 incumbent and candidate Hon.
David Robinson, and, City Council At-large Position 3 candidate John Larue.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club October 15th
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm as we present City of Houston municipal
candidates, Marty McVey, Michael McDonald, Sandie Mullins Moger, Bill Frazer,
and Eric Dick
Downtown Houston Pachyderm will continue featuring City of Houston municipal
Candidates over the next three Thursdays until Election Day on November 3rd.
This week our speakers will be Houston Mayoral candidate Marty McVey, City
Council District C candidate Michael McDonald, City Council District G candidate
Sandie Mullins Moger, City Controller candidate Bill Frazer, and, City Council
At-large Position 2 candidate Eric Dick.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club October 8th
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm as we present City of Houston municipal
candidates, Hon. Chris Bell, Laurie Robinson, and Moe Rivera!
Downtown Houston Pachyderm will continue featuring City of Houston municipal
Candidates over the next four Thursdays until Election Day on November 3rd. This
week our speakers will be Houston Mayoral candidate Hon. Chris Bell, City
Council At-large Position 4 candidate Laurie Robinson, and, City Council
At-large Position 2 candidate Moe Rivera.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club October 1st
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm as we present City of Houston municipal
candidates, Amanda Edwards, Hon. Jack Christie, Hon. Andrew Burks, and, Radio
Personality Doc Greene of Raging Elephants Radio!
Downtown Houston Pachyderm will feature City of Houston municipal Candidates
over the next five Thursdays until Election Day. This week our speakers will be
City Council At-large Position 4 candidate Amanda Edwards, City Council At-large
Position 5 Incumbent and candidate Hon. Jack Christie, and, City Council
At-large Position 2 candidate Hon. Andrew Burks. We will open the meeting with a
few words about the municipal elections from Radio Personality Doc Greene of
Raging Elephants Radio.
A big Pachyderm THANK YOU to all who attended and supported our Greater Harris
County area Pachyderm Club awards luncheon and 20th Anniversary Celebration with
Governor Abbott on September 3rd. It was a great success due to all your
efforts!
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club September 24th
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm as we present City of Houston municipal
candidates, Chris Brown, Joe McElligott and Mike Knox
Downtown Houston Pachyderm will feature City of Houston municipal Candidates
over the next six Thursdays until Election Day. This week our speakers will be
City Controller candidate Chris Brown, City Council At-large Position 3
candidate Joe McElligott, and, City Council At-large Position 1 candidate Mike
Knox
The club will hold elections for open positions of the board in November. We
plan to announce board nominees at this meeting.September 17th
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm as we present Hon. Mike Sullivan, Harris
County Tax Assessor-Collector
About Mike Sullivan:
A native Houstonian, with a long history of community involvement, Mike Sullivan
was sworn in as Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector on January 1, 2013, and is
serving a four-year term. His focus is on improving customer service, embracing
technology, and advocating for the taxpayer. Mike Sullivan served on the
Executive Committee of the Region H Water Planning Group from 1997 2005. He
then ran for the Humble ISD school board, where he served from 2004 2007.
Sullivan was elected to Houston City Council in 2008. Serving District E, he
represented the communities of Kingwood and Clear Lake, as well as the Houston
Ship Channel, Ellington Airport, and NASA/Johnson Space Center. Sullivan was
known as the most conservative member of Houston City Council. Elected to a
third and final term, he was the only member of council to run unopposed in
2011. Sullivan believes strongly in community involvement. He presently serves
as a board member of Hospital Corporation of America-Gulf Coast Division, and
Camp Allen. He also serves on the Lone Star College System Chancellors Advisory
Council and is a member of the Kingwood Musical Arts Society Advisory Board.
Additionally, Sullivan is an Ex-Officio Director of the Bay Area Houston
Economic Partnership, a leading economic development organization. Governor Rick
Perry appointed Sullivan to serve on his nine-member Task Force on Unfunded
Mandates in 2011. Mike has been married to his wonderful wife Kim, for 32 years.
Together, they own and operate Mike Sullivan Realty, a full-service real estate
brokerage firm. They also have an amazing daughter, Paige, who recently
graduated from Baylor University. Sullivan received an Associate of Arts degree
from Lone Star College-Kingwood in Spring 2012. In 2014, at age 56, he graduated
from UH-Downtown, with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. Sullivans
mission is to create the best customer service experience possible.
September 10 Hon. Adrian Garcia
Adrian Garcia was born in Houston, TX, growing up in the Near Northside.
Adrian was most recently Sheriff of Harris County, the largest county in Texas
and third largest in the United States.
As an executive, Adrian managed a workforce of approximately 5,000 people and a
budget of almost $500 million.
Previously, Adrian represented District H on Houston City Council and prior to
that, spent 23 years as an officer with the Houston Police Department.
About Judge Law:
Before Bill and Hillary, there was George and Lurleen, Juan and Evita. The Library of Congress just selected Janice Laws AMERICAN EVITA: LURLEEN WALLACE for inclusion in its collection. Four of Janices six books are included in the LOC collections. It is the first full biography of Americas third woman governor. Although she was the wife of avowed segregationist George, she struck an independent course as governor and was eulogized by Dr. Ralph David Abernathy, a top lieutenant of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., when she died in office in 1968. More information may be found at www.judgejanicelaw.com .
When Alabamas fiery Governor George Wallace ran his wife Lurleen for Alabama governor and she won big time he was in for an unwelcomed surprise! Every other chapter is about Evita Peron. Judge Law was impressed by their similar backgrounds born in poverty, received little formal education, married driven men, achieved their own prominence and both died at an early age of uterine cancer. Judge Law just did an interview with WTSU radio, the National Public Radio affiliate for the southeastern region. She has met with Alabama Lt. Governor Kay Ivey and with Alabama Governor Robert Beasleys Chief of Staff Seth Hammett.
She is the author of 6 books, one of which was a 2007 nonfiction finalist for the Texas Book Award, a presenter on CSPAN Book TV and a featured author at prestigious book festivals

About Karen Watson:
Founder and President of GOPBuzz.com, an internet portal for Republicancentric events nationwide, Karen Watson has written and just completed her second book How the Democrats Stole the Black Vote and How the Republicans Can Win it Back. Her first book, Being Black and Republican in the Age of Obama remains a huge success and has gone a long way in restoring the brand of the party of Lincoln. While a high school student in 1984, Watson attended her first Republican National Convention to nominate Reagan/Bush and has remained active in the Republican Party. A keynote speaker at various Tea-Party and Republican clubs, Watson communicates her message that "conservative values are the right values for all Americans, regardless of race or gender". Watson is a native Texan and lives in Dallas. Watson has been interviewed on numerous radio and television shows and has spoken at over 150 events. Watson majored in English with a Speech minor and a language concentration in Russian, at the University of Texas in Austin. When Watson was a Vice-President at Bank of America, she became the #1 mortgage loan officer in units and volume nationwide for four consecutive years. Watson has recently been added as a columnist with Politichicks.
Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club August 13th
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm as we present State Representative, Dwayne Bohac, District 138
About Representative Bohac:
During his time in the Texas Legislature, Dwayne Bohac has focused on improving local quality of life, keeping taxes low, cracking down on illegal immigration, and improving public education. At the local level, Bohac has worked to improve local flood control measures through the use of retention ponds, given municipalities greater authority to enforce apartment standards, increased local police patrols, passed tougher laws against graffiti, and secured funds for local traffic mobility and esplanade beautification projects.
At the state level, Bohac has led efforts to cap property tax appraisals at 5% or less, increased funding for border security, co-authored the states Voter ID law, helped pass stronger pro-life and pro-family legislation, and worked with local teachers and school board members to improve public education and provide fair teacher pay. In 2012, he received nation recognition for authoring the Merry Christmas Bill which allows teachers and students to celebrate Christmas and Hanukah in public schools without fear of litigation. Bohac currently serves on the House Ways & Means and Public Education committees. Before being elected to the Legislature, Dwayne was active in the local community having founded Save Our Neighborhoods/Northwest Coalition, served on the White Oaks Bayou Association, and been a part of the Spring Branch Revitalization Association. A lifelong resident of Texas House District 138, Bohac was born in Northwest Houston and now lives in the Spring Branch area and attends Second Baptist Church. He graduated from Scarborough High School and earned Bachelors Degrees in Political Science and Marketing from Texas A&M University.
Honors and Awards
Taxpayers Best Friend Award, Texas House Republican Caucus
Honor Roll Award, Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Best of the House Award, Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas (CLEAT)
Downtown Houston Pachyderms August 6 Municipal Candidates Jonathan Hansen, Hon. Dwight Jefferson
About Jonathan Hansen
I grew up in a small town an hour outside of Houston, and I still remember the sense of awe and excitement I got when I was young and my family would drive into the city for any number of reasons: shopping at the Galleria; viewing spectacular exhibits at the city's premiere museums; enjoying the Tony Award-winning performances at The Alley Theatre or a concert; or to see the Rockets or Astros play for national championships.
While I still hold sincere affections for that small town in which I grew up, even as a young child I felt Houston calling me. Today, when I get on a plane to return to Houston after traveling, I feel it call me still. A sense of warmth grows inside me knowing that I'm about to return home to the city I love most of all.
When people who don't know what a great city Houston is ask me why I love our city so much, the first thing I tell them is that Houstonians are what makes Houston such an amazing city. It's a city blessed with an immensely diverse, talented, creative, intelligent, and friendly population. Then I tell them about the Tex-Mex.
Long ago, I left that small town in which I grew up to attend the University of Texas at Austin where I graduated with a BBA in finance. Subsequently, after moving to Houston, I ended up commuting to and working for my family's rural three-newspaper publishing business until it was successfully sold to a larger publishing company.
At its heart the newspaper industry in which I grew up - at its best - strives to educate the public about the world around them. Working in the newspaper industry taught me something about myself that surprised me: more than anything else, I'm motivated by what I can do to empower and free others to shape a better world for the present and for the future.
So, it seemed natural after following my father's footsteps into the journalism business for me to, once the newspapers were sold, then follow my mother's footsteps into the education profession to pursue my passion to eradicate ignorance in one domain in particular that most greatly impacts and seems to most mystify the public - economics.
It has been my great pleasure to teach economics for the past five years to some very bright and talented students that give me great hope for the future, and to also coach competitive swimming at the summer league, high school, and USA Swimming club levels.
I know that when I get up in the morning, what I do all day matters in ways that I may never be able to fully appreciate.
Swimming is a great lifelong sport that I both coach and still participate in as a U.S. Masters swimmer. I try to teach my athletes what I have learned from the sport, which is that hard work, dedication, and continuous self improvement count the most. We are all born with certain innate strengths and weaknesses. It's how we are able to develop our strengths to capitalize on them while also strengthening our weaknesses that matters - regardless of the talent we are born with, the adversities we face, or at what stage of life we find ourselves.
I think there are many applications of those insights to the future growth and development of the city of Houston as we become confident in our identity as an emerging major force in the American urban landscape. We must stop apologizing for what we will never have - such as Mediterranean climate or breathtaking natural wonders.
In fact, Houston proves that the human wonders of entrepreneurial initiative and industriousness - relatively free of the burdens of government heavy-handedness compared to other large American cities - are more powerful and important than natural wonders. So, instead of attempting to emulate other cities around the United States that are in decline while Houston has ascended, we should recognize and emphasize what has made our city prosperous.
Still, we should use that initiative and industriousness to improve upon our weaknesses - such as the lacking of and abundance of aesthetic natural assets - by accentuating those we do have in unique ways to maximize Houstonians' enjoyment of our great city and so we can show the world our best Houston.
As I hope you can see, I'm not running for Houston City Council because I'm seeking to become a public servant. I am a public servant. I'm simply seeking to make an impact beyond 150 students a semester and instead do my small part to help unlock and unleash the potential of the 2.2 million people of the city of Houston.
I'm running for Houston City Council At-Large Position 4 because I firmly believe that together we can build a greater Houston.
Judge Jefferson is Of Counsel with Coats Rose and a retired State District Judge (215th District Court of Harris County, Texas). He has over 25 years of litigation experience, beginning as an in-house counsel for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. He has been a certified mediator since 1997, and an American Arbitration Association approved arbitrator since 2006. The Judge currently holds an AV Peer Review rating from Martindale-Hubbell. This is the his second tenure with Coats Rose, having been a litigation associate and Director from 1988, until his appointment to the bench by then Governor George W. Bush in 1995.
Downtown Houston Pachyderms July 30 Municipal Candidates Marty McVey for Mayor, Trebor Gordon for City Council at Large
Marty McVey offers new leadership for Houston through his vision, and his experience as the only business candidate. He is a 41-year-old accomplished entrepreneur with more than 15 years of international business development, leadership in creating new businesses through direct financial investments, as well as recognized social justice expertise.
In 2011, he was honored to be appointed by President Barack Obama to travel over the world as a Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Board for International Food and Agricultural Development (BIFAD). USAID plays a critical role in US efforts in stabilizing regions and building responsive local
governance; the agency addresses many of the same problems as military interventions, but uses a different set of tools.
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McVey has been proud to be a part of the efforts to ease the transition between conflict and long-term development by investing in agriculture, health systems and democratic institutions. USAID extends help from the American people to achieve results for the poorest and most vulnerable around the world. That assistance does not represent Democratic values or Republican values, but American values. It has also afforded the opportunity to travel and build relationships all over the world.
Responsibilities with the agency include providing guidance to the federal government regarding investments in training, research, and technology transfer to developing countries. As part of these responsibilities, Mr. McVey served as Chairman for the Haitian Reconstruction Task Force, as well as Chairman of the BIFAD Budget Committee.
McVey founded a private equity firm that spurred the creation of award-winning businesses in the Real Estate, Clean Energy Services and Healthcare sectors. Mr. McVey is also a licensed Real Estate Broker in Texas.
A much requested public speaker, McVey has been guest lecturer at the Borlaug Institute at Texas A&M University, Trulaske College of Business at the University of Missouri, the Moody College of Business at the University of Louisiana, the Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M University, the Center on Conflict and Development at Texas A&M University, the Center for International Studies at the University of St. Thomas, the Center for International and Comparative Studies at the University of Houston and the Jake Jabs College of Business & Entrepreneurship at Montana State University.
Mr. McVey earned a Bachelor and Master of Business Administration, with concentration in Management, from American University. He received his Global Master of Business Administration from Georgetown University as well as a Master Universitario en Administracin Empresas from Esade University in Madrid, Spain. Additionally Mr. McVey completed Harvard Business School's Developing Future Leaders' Program.
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McVey's civic engagements are far-reaching. He has been a major supporter of charitable organizations that include Halo House Foundation, Human Rights Watch and the World Affairs Council. Mr. McVey is a lifetime member of the NAACP, a National Advisory Board Member of the Tahirih Justice Center, and a committee member of the Bush-Clinton Ike Coastal Recovery Fund. He is also actively involved in promoting the economic development and sustainability of the City of Houston, and served as an executive committee member and former Chair of the Political Engagement Committee of the Greater Houston Partnership.
As a professional, Trebor Gordon is a servant who plays a vital role in society. Trebor is committed to the highest degrees of integrity, committed to deliver the best administration possible. Trebor is committed to fair and transparent governance, to delivering high quality services, to a stewardship of government funds that will maximize cost-effectiveness and for accountability. Trebor Gordon is committed to the improvement of the policy-making and service delivery abilities of the Houston.
Trebor Gordon is committed to reflecting on his roles and responsibilities. Trebor is committed to test and measure his values, his ethics, and his actions as he serves the people of Houston.
MEET TREBOR
NEW LEADERSHIP DELIVERING RESULTS FOR OUR COMMUNITY
Chaplain - Harris County Republican Party
Committee Member - Engagement Committee
Committee Member - Rules Committee
Secretary - MLK Association of Texas
Houston, soon to be the 3rd largest city in the nation, has the ability to be the greatest gathering of people and cultures in the country--a city that enhances the quality of life of its people...with your vote for me this vision will become reality.
About Deborah King Sacrey:
Deborah is a geologist/geophysicist with 39 years of oil and gas exploration experience in the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast and Mid-Continent areas of the US. She received her degree in Geology from the University of Oklahoma in 1976 and immediately started working for Gulf Oil in their Oklahoma City offices.
She started her own company, Auburn Energy, in 1990 and built her first geophysical workstation using Kingdom software in 1995. She helped SMT/IHS for 20 years in developing and testing the Kingdom Software. She specializes in 2D and 3D interpretation for clients in the US and internationally. For the past three years she has been part of a team to study and bring the power of multi-attribute neural analysis of seismic data to the geoscience public, guided by Dr. Tom Smith, founder of SMT.
Deborah has been very active in the geological community. She is past national President of SIPES (Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists), past President of the Division of Professional Affairs of AAPG (American Association of Petroleum Geologists), Past Treasurer of AAPG and is now President of the Houston Geological Society. She is also a DPA Certified Petroleum Geologist #4014 and DPA Certified Petroleum Geophysicist #2. She belongs to AAPG, SEG, PESA (Australia), SIPES, Houston Geological Society, The South Texas Geological Society and the Oklahoma City Geological Society (OCGS).

Jim Murphy serves in the Texas House, representing District 133 in West Houston. Representative Murphy serves on the Committees for Small Business and Economic Development, and Higher Education and was the Chairman of the subcommittee on Manufacturing.
The Houston Executive Council named Jim Murphy its Elected Official of the Year for 2007 as a result of his work during the 80th Legislative Session. He was also recognized by Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas for his work on Criminal Justice issues. Murphy represents Texas on the US Energy Council, and the NCSL Committee on State and Local Revenue. Prior to his service in the Legislature, Jim was twice elected to the HCC Board of Trustees and served from 1997 to 2006.
Jim is President of District Management Services, a consulting firm assisting economic development organizations. For the past 20 years, Murphy has served as one of the driving forces of Westchase District - the 4.2 square mile business district in west Houston.
Jim has served on numerous boards in our community including the Houston West Chamber of Commerce, West Houston Medical Center, and the Houston Association of Commercial Real Estate Professionals. Jim is an active member of the Greater Houston Partnership, the Houston Association of Realtors, and the Urban Land Institute.
Murphys community service includes work with the Jaycees -- where he served as local President and as State President. He was named one of the Five Outstanding Young Texans in 1995. Jim has coached youth sports and served on the pastoral council of St. Cyrils Catholic Church. He was also a founder and Vice Chair of the Alief Education Foundation and was appointed to the John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership Institutes Advisory Council by the UT Regents.
Murphy grew up in west Houston and graduated from Strake Jesuit and UT Austin. He and his wife, Dr. Kathleen Murphy, have two sons, Robert and Pace. They are active members of St. John Vianney Catholic Church.
Charles Bacarisse is the Vice President for Development at Houston Baptist University, where he is responsible for major gift fundraising.
Bacarisse brings an understanding of the public sector and an extensive background in government service and communications to a role specifically focused on building relationships and sharing the HBU vision with stakeholders at the local, state, and national level.
Bacarisse came to HBU following four consecutive terms as Harris County District Clerk. In that role, he transformed the fourth-largest county agency by focusing on innovation, efficiency, ethics, and results. He was a three-time winner of a County Best Practices award for innovation and leadership in county government from the Texas Association of Counties Leadership Council. He also oversaw one of the largest records conversion projects in the nation, turning more than 380 million pages of court records into digital images, and raised millions in private and foundation dollars for a historic court documents preservation project.
He was introduced to the challenges and rewards of public service while working in the White House as the Associate Director of President Reagans Office of Media Relations and the Assistant Director of the Office of Public Liaison for President George H.W. Bush. He entered local public service as an Administrative Assistant to Harris County Judge Jon Lindsay, working on economic development and criminal justice issues.
Bacarisse serves the community by Chairing the State of Texass Department of Information Resources Board, the states IT agency. He previously served on the Advisory Board, Sam Houston Council, Boy Scouts of America, Neighborhood Centers, Inc. and other non-profit boards.
Bacarisse holds a bachelor of arts in political science and a bachelor of fine arts in communications from Southern Methodist University. He and his wife, Jana Fay, have two children and are active in their church.
Please join Downtown Houston Pachyderm as we present a discussion on Tort Reform featuring Sherry Sylvester with Texans for Lawsuit Reform, and, attorney Michael W. Lee with an opposing view
About Sherry Sylvester:
Sherry Sylvester is an award winning communications specialist whose career includes national political reporting, political campaign management and public policy advocacy. Sherry was the Political Writer at the San Antonio Express-News where she covered the 2000 presidential campaign, the Florida Recount and the last national census. She currently coordinates media relations for Texans for Lawsuit Reform.
In 2005, her alma mater, The Graduate School of Political Management, at George Washington University in Washington D. C., named her Alumnae of the Year, for her professional and civic accomplishments.
Sherry has a Bachelors Degree in Language Arts from Oklahoma State University in addition her Masters in Political Management. She and her husband, Stephen, live in San Antonio.
About Michael W. Lee:
Michael W. Lee was born August 24, 1953 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Michael graduated Westbury High School in Houston, attended the University of Houston and obtained a degree in History. Michael then graduated the University of Houston Law Center in 1991 magna cum laude and was selected to be on the University of Houston Law Review.
He began the practice of law at Weil, Gotshal and Manges, a Wall Street based firm with a Houston office. Michael was a founding member of the law firm of Hamrick, Lee and Bailey. From 1997 until 2014 I operated my own law office.
Michael became board certified in Civil Trial Law in 1998, and has tried cases in both Federal and State District Courts. His practice specialized in representing individuals and small businesses against insurance companies and large institutions.
About Sandie Mullins Moger [candidate for District G]:
Sandie Mullins Moger has maintained a sharp focus on commitment to the community for over 20 years. Her background uniquely complements the role of Houston City Council Member for District G. Sandie has raised her family in District G, run a business from District G and been a community leader in District G. Sandie has a deep understanding of the relationship between a community and its leaders, and the needs of those who work to live and thrive in this district.
Currently, Sandie serves as Trustee, Houston Community College District VI. Elected in 2010, Sandie has represented West Houston as an advocate of efficient use of tax dollars and increasing the graduation of students into the Houston workforce or onto four-year colleges. Sandie has been a conservative voice for taxpayers and a strong voice for students to maximize their HCC experience.
Sandie is a civic leader. She is an Honorary member of the Executive Council in West Houston. She co-founded and served as President for Super Neighborhood 17. Her tenure with the Houston West Chamber of Commerce includes serving as Co-Chair of the Business and Education Committee and a member of the Economic Development, West Houston Public Safety, Governmental Affairs and Teacher of the Year Committees. The Chamber recognized her work, naming Sandie the Committee Volunteer of the Year. Sandie served a three-year term on the West Houston Medical Center Board of Directors, an HCA Hospital, and was also a member of the West Houston Region P-16 Education Council. Sandie has active memberships in many political organizations and served as an Election Judge.
Community service has played a central role in Sandies life, beginning with her undergraduate degree in Community Health Education from Texas A&M University. She served the largest healthcare provider in San Antonio at Baptist Memorial Hospital, where her duties encompassed marketing the expansion of the hospital system. She was a Lecturer on the nationally broadcast audio conference Community Health Education Issues.
March of Dimes Walk America, American Red Cross, Humana and Texas Childrens Hospitals, Collaborative for Children, West Houston Leadership Institute (graduate of the Class of 2003) and Grace Presbyterian Church are several of the non-profit endeavors to which Sandie has dedicated time. She is a Life Guild Member of the American Heart Association and has spent time volunteering at Texas Childrens Hospital in the pedicardiology clinic. Sandie is a member of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Wine Committee and she and her husband, Charlie, are Champion Buyers on the Swine Committee, which adds to the scholarships for hard working Texas students.
A former medical business owner, Sandie is now a member of the executive team of MogerMedia Advertising Agency, which produces HomeShow Radio with Tom Tynan. Sandie received her MBA from St. Marys University and was elected President of the Graduate Business Student Association. She received her B.S. at the Texas A&M University.
For all of Sandies extensive commitment to her community, it is her family that is her priority. Sandie is married to Charlie Moger and together they have six children. The family attends Grace Presbyterian Church and St. John Vianney Catholic Church.
About Matt Murphy [Candidate for At Large Position 4]:
My name is Matt Murphy, and I am military man, family man, businessman, and community activist for over 20 years. I need your support while I am running for Houston City Council [At Large Position 4].
As a 4th generation Houstonian, this great city is the only place my wife and I have called home as a family, and we plan to stay here forever. My wife (Rachel) and I have lived in the Riverside Terrence after we renovated and preserved one of the beautiful homes that compose the neighborhood nearly 8 years ago. In 2009, we were blessed by the birth of our only child (Shawn).
The city of Houston is in the process of reinventing itself in the 21st century. We are becoming a melting pot of races, ages, sexual orientations, and religious beliefs. Although this is a move in the right direction, this has also led to more and more tensions between neighbors because of differences. It will continue to do so without proper representation and leadership.
Through past experience and the study of expert research we can conclude that if you know your neighbors name, then you are obligated to look after them regardless if you agree on every social issue. As neighbors, we all have common ground, our community, and neighbors that know each other are catalyst for positive change that breaks down the barriers of tension and fear. With that philosophy in mind, I am also announcing the immediate launch of the Know Your Neighbor initiative in conjunction with my announcement to run for Houston City Council to help start the dialogue of how we need to come together to make Houston a better place.
The Know Your Neighbor initiative will guarantee victory for Houston because it brings neighbors together and will carry on far beyond any aspirations of a political candidate. With your support and assistance, Houston can be the leader and blueprint for building community.
This initiative deserves a leader that has vision for our community, and I am the right candidate to help propel this vision into reality. You have my word and commitment that I will walk hand-in-hand with all of you as neighbors during this initiative. I dedicate my time during this campaign to listen to your concerns and earn your respect, so you can help write the platform that you, as neighbors, demand for any political candidate that represents your voice moving forward. Once elected, I will humbly accept the responsibility to be your positive voice that continues this initiative as your city council representative. Im looking forward to getting to know all of you better through this journey.
Please go to our page and like us on Facebook! Weve reached our goal of 500 likes, but please continue to encourage your friends to like us so we can work towards 600!

About Sheriff Hickman:
Sheriff Ron Hickman was recently appointed to the office of Sheriff of Harris County on May 12, 2015. Just previously, he demonstrated his commitment to leadership by graduating from the FBI National Academy Session # 256 in March 2014 at age 62. On March 15th 2013 in a ceremony held in Sugarland Texas for the National Constables and Marshals Association, the board recognized Sheriff Hickman with their most prestigious award. He was recognized for his leadership qualities, innovation, and commitment to public service and has been again awarded the "National Constable of the Year" for his second time. He had previously won the National Constable of the Year award in 2007 and had also been recognized as Texas Constable of the Year in 2006 by the Justices of the Peace and Constables Association of Texas and in 2005 was recognized with their T. A. Vines Award. Constable Hickman has been a leader in law enforcement technology and in deeply involved in providing these advancements for police officers across the county. He has been a pioneer in implementing laptops in patrol vehicles and is now developing applications for officers to use iPads and tablets as well. These additions increase the efficiency of officers in the field while leveraging the technology provides cost recovery and time savings to improve budgetary effectiveness.
Starting as a cadet with the Houston Police Department in June of 1971, Ron Hickman served in a variety of assignments and obtained a broad range of experience in law enforcement. He took on specialized training and worked in Underwater Search and Recovery and became a Bomb Squad Technician. Later as he was assigned to the Planning and Research Division of the Department he began his exposure to building computer programs and computer technology.
Beginning with the Precinct 4 Constable's Office in 1983, he was quickly promoted to Sergeant over the Communications Office. The absence of computerization initiated a challenge that drove the search for serious improvements in automation for both the Constable's Office and the remainder of law enforcement in Harris County. Since that time, Constable Hickman has been an integral part of the leadership for technical advances in law enforcement and is constantly looking for new opportunities to enhance crime fighting technologies.
Attending the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute at Sam Houston State was a pivotal experience, as was attendance at the FBIs Law Enforcement Executive Development Series. Constable Hickman serves as Chair of the Local Executive Board for the FBIs Greater Houston Regional Computer Forensics Lab and is a member of the FBIs National Advisory Committee for the regional computer forensics lab program out of its National Program Office.
With a strong emphasis on the use of technology and progressive policing practices, Constable Hickman continues the practice of two way communication with community leaders and members of local neighborhoods. He also believes strongly in increasing professionalism through training and advancing educational opportunities for police officers. Ron graduated cum laude from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor's Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in 2005 and encourages his command staff and supervisors to constantly seek more leadership training.
Ron was elected as Constable of Precinct 4 in November of 2000 and took Office January 1st, 2001. His goal is striving to meet the communitys needs while exceeding their expectations. He is most proud of being accessible to the community and actively involved in numerous community organizations. His wife Connie Hickman, also a part of the justice community, is a Justice of the Peace in another county and both have been active in the Justices of the Peace and Constables Association of Texas for many years. Recently being appointed as Sheriff of Texas largest Sheriffs Office he is eagerly undertaking his new challenges.

About Bill King:
Bill King has spent his life building businesses, speaking out on Houstons biggest issues
and working on Houstons toughest challenges.
A lifelong resident of the Houston area, Bill grew up the son of a union pipe fitter and
worked his way through the University of Houston. He earned both his bachelor's
degree and, by studying at night, his law degree at U of H becoming the first in his
Bill has enjoyed a varied business and legal career. He started in 1979 in the savings and
loan industry a venture that succumbed to the severe economic downturn of the late
1980s. Picking himself up, Bill joined Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson a firm that
collects delinquent taxes and was eventually named managing partner. While there, he
helped lead Houstons efforts to convert foreclosed properties into affordable housing,
and he initiated the first procedures to prevent Harris County seniors who fall behind on
their taxes from facing foreclosure.
Mr. King also practiced law at Bracewell & Giuliani,
and he served as president of Southwest Airport Services, a fixed-base operator located
at Ellington Air Force Base, from 1999 until February of this year.
In terms of public policy and public service, Bill served two terms as Mayor of Kemah,
Texas, and he subsequently helped re-draw hurricane and disaster response plans for
the Gulf Coast region. For his leadership, he was awarded the Outstanding Service
Award from the National Hurricane Conference in 2007. Bill also wrote a public policy
column for the Houston Chronicle from 2010 to 2014.
Always active in our community, Mr. King was one of three co-founders of the Houston
Fire Fighters Foundation to supply needed equipment and support to Houstons first
responders. In 2012, Bill co-chaired the HISD bond campaign to rebuild its dilapidated
high schools throughout the city. The measure won nearly 70 percent voter approval.
From his service on the board of Interfaith Ministries to the Memorial Hermann
Foundation and so many other causes, Bill King has demonstrated a life-long, personal
commitment to the welfare of all Houstonians. Now, hes ready to bring that proven
leadership and business experience to City Hall as our next Mayor.
Bill King wants to bring Houston together to get back to basics: fix the streets, catch the
crooks, and balance the budget. He would be honored to earn your support.
You can find more information at www.BillKingforHouston.com and follow the
campaign on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube or Google.
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Paul Simpson, Harris County Republican Party Chairman
About Paul Simpson:
Paul is a pro-life conservative with a lifelong passion for conservative political activism. State Chairman of the Louisiana Teenage Republicans at age sixteen, Paul later spent a college summer recruiting and mobilizing young people for conservative Republican congressional campaigns in Iowa and Michigan. His activities in the Harris County Republican Party over thirty years have included campaigning, recruiting, mobilizing, organizing, poll watching, election judging, conventioneering, fundraising, and serving as precinct chair, legal counsel, treasurer, and now chairman of the County Party. After graduating from Rice University with degrees in history and engineering, Paul worked in the oil industry designing & overseeing drilling & producing wells, supervising engineering teams, and managing onshore & offshore construction projects. While working full-time, he put himself through evening law school at the University of Houston, graduating with honors. A licensed engineer and patent lawyer, Pauls has been a partner with the law firm of McGinnis Lochridge since 2001, with a practice centered on oil and gas matters. Paul is a lector at the 4,000-family St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church, where he was formerly president of the Pastoral Council and Committee Chair of the Boy Scout Troop. He also served as president of St. Catherines Montessori School, overseeing a multi-million-dollar capital campaign, and served for four years on the board of Incarnate Word Academy in downtown Houston. Paul and his wife Kathy, married almost 30 years, have a son and daughter, who are both Houston natives, graduates of Franciscan University, and proud Republicans!

Terry McKenzie and Troy Madrigal
Our speakers this week, Terry McKenzie and Troy Madrigal, are the President and Vice-President of Mitigation Solutions USA [MSUSA]
About Mitigation--
In 1972, the United States government created the Clean Water Act to ensure the protection of the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of U.S. waters. Therefore, impacting aquatic resources, including wetlands and streams, often requires a Section 404 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. To receive a permit, developers must demonstrate avoidance and minimization of damages to aquatic resources to the extent
practicable beyond which compensatory mitigation to restore, establish, enhance, or preserve those aquatic resources is required. MSUSA helps businesses fulfill mitigation requirements, keeping their projects moving forward. MSUSA understands the environmental mitigation process from concept and development through the sale and transfer of environmental credits. In addition to extensive knowledge of ecological and environmental regulations, our longstanding relationship with Advanced Ecologys environmental scientists gives us access to ecological knowledge and experience to assist with your solution. MSUSAs successful delivery of ecologically sound mitigation projects has resulted in invaluable professional credibility among the state and federal agencies responsible for mitigation plan review and approval. Specifically, MSUSA has a positive track record working with the Corps of Engineers in Galveston to insure that developments within Montgomery County meet mitigation requirements. Past mitigation needs in Montgomery County have included linear projects like Grand Parkway, oil & gas development, and public infrastructure projects.
MSUSA represents 22 wetland, stream and endangered species mitigation projects in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Alaska. There are a total of 15 in Texas with ongoing initiatives focused on expansion along the Texas Gulf Coast. They will also touch on endangered species mitigation since that is a growing emphasis in Texas.
Posted by Dale Gibble
About Frank Smith:
Frank is a native Houstonian and a Bush Republican. He has a B.S. from Caltech and a P.E. from the State of Texas. His business career, long ago, was in electronic instrumentation. He has served as President/Chairman of the Rice Design Alliance, the Texas Nature Conservancy, the Bayou Preservation Association, and the Armand Bayou Nature Center, and is a Life Member of the Memorial Park Conservancy.
Come hear from this local treasure who has served our community for decades!
Kameron Searle