Special thanks to Upshur County's Election Administrator Lory Hill Harle! Check out the following link for Polling and Early Voting locations, sample ballots, training, and much more! See Upshur County Election Administrator Info.

Here is the full list of ballot propositions submitted by the SREC for inclusion on the 2018 Republican General Primary Election ballot:

1. Texas should replace the property tax system with an appropriate consumption tax equivalent. Yes/No
2. No governmental entity should ever construct or fund construction of toll roads without voter approval. Yes/No
3. Republicans in the Texas House should select their Speaker nominee by secret ballot in a binding caucus without Democrat influence. Yes/No
4. Texas should require employers to screen new hires through the free E-Verify system to protect jobs for legal workers. Yes/No
5. Texas families should be empowered to choose from public, private, charter, or homeschool options for their children’s education, using tax credits or exemptions without government constraints or intrusion. Yes/No
6. Texas should protect the privacy and safety of women and children in spaces such as bathrooms, locker rooms, and showers in all Texas schools and government buildings. Yes/No
7. I believe abortion should be abolished in Texas. Yes/No
8. Vote fraud should be a felony in Texas to help ensure fair elections. Yes/No
9. Texas demands that Congress completely repeal Obamacare. Yes/No
10. To slow the growth of property taxes, yearly revenue increases should be capped at 4%, with increases in excess of 4% requiring voter approval. Yes/No
11. Tax dollars should not be used to fund the building of stadiums for professional or semi-professional sports teams. Yes/No

Early Voting

Location: Upshur County Courthouse
100 W. Tyler
Gilmer, TX 75644

Dates and Times

February 20, 2018 - February 23, 2018      8:00 am - 5:00 pm
February 26, 2018 - March 2, 2018      7:00 am - 7:00 pm

Primary:  March 6, 2018

Runoff:  May 22, 2018

Election:  November 6, 2018 

GILMER, TEXAS:  Upshur’s conservative organization, East Texans for Liberty’s monthly meeting will be on Monday, February 12, 2018.  The evening’s program will be a presentation on “Save the Alamo” with Weston Martinez.

Martinez is a fourth generation Texas conservative grassroots leader with a history of service to the Republican Party and proven results. Martinez has served as a conservative grassroots leader in Texas for over twenty years, served on the State Republican Executive Committee, and as a Governor Perry appointee to the Texas Real Estate Commission, where he finished his term under Governor Greg Abbott.

Martinez, a resident of San Antonio, is well versed in the “reimage plan” of the Texas General Land Office (GLO) concerning the Texas Alamo.

Four years ago, the Texas Legislators promoted and passed a plan involving the rebuilding and improvement of Texas' most iconic shrine — the Alamo. The plan would have rebuilt certain historic structures present at the time of the 1836 battle, as well as give visitors a better and more complete understanding of the physical environment existing at the time of the conflict.

Land Commissioner George P. Bush's plan is far and removed from the Legislators focus. Martinez will cover the GLO’s plan to rename the Alamo, focus on world history, diminishing the focus on the 1836 battle for which the Alamo is famously known, and much more!  

February 12^th’s meeting will be held at the Disabled American Veterans Building located at 1924 Hwy 271 North in Gilmer (across from Walmart).  A light complimentary dinner of chili will begin at 6:30 pm and the program will begin at 7:00 pm.  This event is open to the public, free, and kid-friendly.

Republican candidates for elected office will speak also briefly about their campaigns.

“February 12^th’s meeting will include a Straw Poll conducted by East Texans for Liberty,” said East Texans for Liberty’s President, Stacy McMahan.  

Powerhouse Constitutional Attorney, KrisAnne Hall, who resides in Florida with her husband and their adopted son, will join East Texans for Liberty on Monday, March 12, 2018.  KrisAnne Hall is a constitutional attorney, author, and radio host.  March’s program will be held at the Disabled American Veterans Building, across from Walmart, off of Hwy 271 North. 

“Considering KrisAnne Hall will present two seminars on March 12^th, the program will begin at 6:30 pm. This is earlier than our regular public meeting.  So, mark your calendars for March’s meeting with powerhouse Constitutional Attorney KrisAnne Hall for 6:30 pm.  A light complimentary dinner will begin at 6:00 pm,” said McMahan.

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East Texans for Liberty services Upshur & Senate District 1

Earlier this year, BL.Uprepared and East Texans for Liberty joined efforts to raise funds to outfit the men and women in Upshur County law enforcement with Active Shooter Vests.  

Through gracious donations by area businesses the Upshur County Sheriff's Department, Ore City Police Department, and Upshur County Constables have all received their vests.  An Active Shooter Vest was obtained for the East Mountain Police Department, however, upon shipment of the vests, the East Mountain Police officer resigned. 

Last Friday, before Upshur County Commissioners Court convened, East Texans for Liberty learned Big Sandy Police Department had not outfitted their officers with Active Shooter Vests, as the Gilmer Police Department. 

"We are very appreciative to Brandy Lee, the Upshur County Auditor, and Big Sandy Police Sgt. Ryan Kuhn for their assistance in clarifying the misunderstanding concerning Big Sandy's Police Department," said ET4L President Stacy McMahan. 

Today, BL.Uprepared and East Texans for Liberty received approval from Big Sandy's Chief of Police Tim Scott and Big Sandy Mayor Sonny Parsons. 

"ET4L will begin raising funds for six (6) needed Active Shooter Vests for the Big Sandy Police Department," McMahan said.

Robert Perry, owner of BL.Uprepared, 

and

Stacy McMahan, Executive Director & President of East Texans for Liberty,

delivered Active Shooter Vests to the

Ore City Police Department

on June 16, 2017.

The vests were purchased through

donations by the great citizens of Upshur County!

The final 4 Active Shooter Vests will be delivered to the Upshur County Constables, 

during Commissioners Court, on June 30, 2017. 

Local Primary Races for 2018

Please join me in congratulating one of my dearest friends, a great patriot and President of our group, East Texans for Liberty (ET4L), Stacy McMahan, in being named the Republican Party of Texas Senate District 1 Volunteer of the Year!!

Stacy puts in countless hours promoting conservative principles and helping candidates and elected officials on local, state and national levels who share those same ideals. She's good at holding them accountable too!

We are so proud of her, and so fortunate to have her energy and knowledge as the driving force of our group! No one deserves this great recognition more!

Stacy will be recognized, along with other Senate District Volunteers throughout Texas, at the Governor's Mansion on Friday, September 22, 2017.  

Stacy McMahan BIO: 

Stacy McMahan is a lifelong Republican.  Because of professional and family obligations, Stacy watched from the sidelines for many years.  In 2009, that changed and she jumped into the public policy world with a full court press.

Early on, Stacy used her writing and research skills to vet and report on local and statewide issues.  Many followers came to know “StaceinTexas” as a no-nonsense, conservative Republican on her ‘blog’, and a trusted source of information for the grassroots.

As opportunities to work for Republican candidates arose, Stacy embraced them.  Working as part of Ted Cruz’s “Kitchen Cabinet”, and the East Texas liaison for Governor Perry in 2012, along with volunteering on campaigns for Ken Paxton, Matt Rinaldi, Matt Schaefer, and Bob Hall from 2010 to present.

In 2012, Stacy was named Director of the GOTV for the Gregg County Republican Party.  She was honored to be nominated, by the Republican Women of Gregg County, for the Texas Federation of Republican Women Tribute to Women Award in 2014.  She is a member of Republican Women of Gregg County, and an associate member of Republican Women of Northeast Texas and Upshur County Republican Women.  She is a member of the Republican Party of Gregg County and associated with the Republican Party of Upshur County.  She is also President of East Texans for Liberty, a conservative grassroots coalition in Upshur County.

Stacy is a retired paralegal who enjoys raising Nubian goats, with her husband, in Upshur.  They have 3 children.

Special Thanks to the Active Shooter Vest Donors

for Upshur Law Enforcement

Jarom Teftteller, Attorney at Law
Phillips 66 West
Spencer Veterinary Services
John Dean CPA
TDR Contractors
Lloyds Body Shop
Strike Free Bail Bonds
Aldridge Cleaners
Turner Brothers Mortuary
First National Bank
All Star Insurance
Webb Works
Custom Commodities
Matthew Patton, Attorney at Law
AllenMed Inc
Gilmer Computer Tech
Goosehead Insurance
Stanley Ford
Gilmer National Bank
Computer ER
Dr. Cherie Nazzal Animal Med & Surg Hosp
Hill Electric
Larry Henson
Peggy Garmon, Attorney at Law
Williams Furniture
HillTx Insurance Group
Computer Tech of East Tx
Stewart Insurance
DMC Properties
State Farm Insurance
Dwight Brannon, Attorney at Law
Gilmer Lumber Co
Commissioner Frank Berka
Commissioner Mike Spencer
CeCelia Squires
2 Anonymous donors

*Life

• SB 415 Perry & HB 844- prohibiting dismemberment
• HB 948 Tinderholt – abolish abortion

*Protecting Religious Liberty

• SB 24 Huffman- sermons
• SB 6 Kolkhorst – “Bathroom bill” or “Privacy bill”
• SB 651 Perry – can’t limit the ability to get license based on religious belief

*Securing the Grid

• SB 83 Hall & HB 407 Tinderholt– protect the grid
• HB 788 Parker – security advisory committee and $25 Million to be appropriated to from the general revenue fund to the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

*Election Integrity

• HB 1271 Lang – uniform election dates
• HB 1061 Rinaldi & HB 1072 Lang – closed primaries
• SB 363 Perry & HB 151 Simmons – require preservation of ballot images and paper backups to electronic voting; make elections uniform

*Property Tax Reform

• SB 2 Bettencourt – reform and relief, voter approval to raise taxes for over 4%
• HB 1050 Swanson – abolish property tax

*Educational Freedom/Parental Choice

• HB 1335 Simmons – Educational Savings Accounts for Special needs
• SB 542 Bettencourt & HB 1184 Bohac – tax breaks for employers who provide scholarships and empower parents with more options for the education of their children
• HJR Keough 62 & SJR 33 Huffines – Constitutional Amendment to protect private and home schools from state and local regulation

*Transportation Reform

• HB 1050 Swanson – abolish it

Border Security

• HB 1222 Rinaldi – business license suspension
• HB 393 Stickland, HB 753 Keough & HB 767 Fallon – In-state Tuition
• HB 889 Geren & HB 1308 Holland – sanctuary cities

*American Laws for American Courts

• HB 45 Flynn/Leach/Burkett & HB 498 Fallon – clarify that a state court can not apply foreign law that would violate fundamental, constitutional rights

*Asset Forfeiture

• SB 380 Burton

*Eminent Domain

• SB 555 Kolkhorst – land grab & water

Intrastate Commerce Improvement

• SB 92 Hall – ensure uniformity by local municipalities in line with state law on discrimination

Transparency at all levels of government

• SB 137 Taylor – lobbying activities by state employees
• HB 444 Fallon – creating a criminal offense to lobby by former members of the Texas Legislature

Constitutional Carry

• HB 375 Stickland

E-verify

• SB 23 Schwertner – state contractors must utilize e-verify

* = ET4L supports and is watching closely

Lt. Governor Dan Patrick's Press Conference rolling out "School Choice."  Watch by clicking here.

S.B. 3 - An act relating to the establishment of an education savings account program and a tax credit scholarship and educational expense assistance program. Also known as "School Choice."  Read the text here

After a large number of requests, ET4L has scheduled Aaron Ceder, with Texans for Education Opportunity, to come and speak on Monday, April 24, 2017. Mr. Ceder has assured us that he will be able to address any and all questions pertaining to this bill.  See the details on this meeting here.

Below is a breakdown submitted by Texans for Education Opportunity.  A copy will be available at our next meeting on February 13, 2017. 

For informational purposes only.