State Chairman James Dickey? It's now very possible (UPDATE: He's in)

Dickey, Ramsey, Figueroa

UPDATE (5/23/17): James Dickey has thrown his hat into the ring. Mark Ramsey issued a letter he will not seek election. Rick Figueroa sets up campaign page.

Republican Party of Texas (RPT) Chairman Tom Mechler has announced his decision to step down from his office.

Travis GOP Chairman James Dickey, SREC member Mark Ramsey, and former candidate for RNC National Committeeman Rick Figueroa are names presumed to be in the running. Below is some background, followed by the text of Mechler's resignation letter.

The buzz surrounding Mechler's future started Thursday with a livestream of Raging Elephants Radio, citing anonymous sources who claimed Mechler was stepping down. Raging Elephants is not exactly warm and fuzzy with Mechler ever since being denied a media pass at the 2016 RPT convention (amid other criticisms), and basked in the news.

Pedernales Co-op election could jolt entire electric market

Ohm sweet home.

What happens on the PEC board of directors doesn't just stay in your billing envelope. It has a ripple effect that extends well past the Pedernales River basin.

The Pedernales Electric Co-op (PEC) is the largest member-owned utility co-op in the nation. Even if your electric service provider is not PEC, it stands to reason that your company is paying close attention to them. With several consecutive rate decreases in a row and some innovative approaches to helping consumers watch their electric consumption, we're liking what we see from PEC's customer member-centered approach.

The candidates are as follows. Voting takes place from May 18 to June 17, 2017 (PEC co-op members only -- ballots to be delivered by mail and members may also vote in an upcoming annual meeting as well as online).

What's on your ballot? Travis GOP explains what's at stake May 6

The Travis GOP reminded its supporters this morning that today is the last day for early voting in the May Local Elections, with election day on Saturday, May 6. Below is their communique, explaining why this election is important, and including a handy chart outlying which jurisdictions are voting.

According to a recent analysis, Central Texas voters spread across several jurisdictions will be voting on around a billion dollars' worth of local bond debt proposals.

While this figure includes a few jurisdictions outside Travis County, and not everyone in Travis County can vote even in the contests within the county lines, it's apparent that we're going to have to pay VERY CLOSE ATTENTION to this election. If we fail to do so, the usual people who vote in these elections will make the decision -- union organizers and education bureaucrats, as two examples.

We have a chance to shift the balance. Read carefully ...

The following jurisdictions have elections: Bee Cave, Cedar Park, Lakeway, Pflugerville ISD, Round Rock, Round Rock ISD, West Lake Hills, Travis County Emergency Services Districts 9 and 14, and the yet-to-be-created MUDs 23, 24, and ESD 15. If you live in any of these jurisdictions, please cast your vote today or on Saturday.

Add ethics complaint to RRISD bond opposition

We already know that the Round Rock ISD tops the list of over a billion dollars' worth of bond proposals in Central Texas. But financial extravagance isn't the only reason opponents are shouting "Vote No!"

See below for a grassroots-written press release concerning a press conference scheduled for noon on the last day of early voting (emphasis ours).

Press Release - Opposition to Round Rock ISD Bonds
1-May-2017 -- Austin, TX: 

Grassroots individuals and groups will hold a rally/press conference against the Unaffordable, Wasteful and Dishonest Round Rock ISD $572 million Bonds on the last day of early voting. There may be a new Ethics Complaint unveiled against an illegal campaign mail piece from the professional, corporately funded pro-Bond S-PAC, and there are new revelations about WHO IS FUNDING the slick pro-Bond campaign. 

What: Press Conference and Rally against Round Rock ISD Bond, Introduced by Pat McGuinness, Round Rock Parents/Taxpayers
When: Tuesday, May 2nd, 2017) at 12:00 PM (noon)
Where: 1111 N Interstate Hwy 35, Round Rock, TX 78664 ( Round Rock Leader News Offices)
Why: New grassroots opposition to Bond, new Ethics complaint against illegal pro-Bond activity funded by out of town corporations hoping to profit off wasteful Bonds.