The Bandera County Republican Party was left without a chair April 10 after Mark Miller’s resignation, prompting confusion and heated debate during a meeting that also featured a 100-day update from Sheriff Josh Teitge.
Secretary Denise Gober conducted the meeting in the absence of Party Chair Mark Miller, who was hospitalized for surgery. Precinct Chairs Melanie Stringfellow and Ginger Sopchak were also absent.
The meeting opened with a presentation from Sheriff Josh Teitge, who offered an update on his first 100 days in office.
Teitge outlined new strategies designed to extend the reach of the Sheriff’s Department. He said the patrol staff, which includes 16 deputies, responded to 3,441 calls between Jan. 1 and March 31. Dispatchers handled 1,931 calls during the same period. Of 77 criminal investigations, 22 cases were closed and 55 remain open.
Teitge introduced a new position within the department—a recruiting and training officer tasked with hiring new deputies and ensuring compliance with state training requirements.
He also highlighted the jail division, which operates around the clock in four shifts. The jail has a capacity of 94 inmates.
Teitge said he plans to hold a town hall meeting to share department accomplishments with the public.
He emphasized the progress made by the drug interdiction team and praised the department’s partnerships with agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
He noted his in-depth review of the Sheriff’s Department policy manual and said an update is forthcoming. An up-to-date policy is crucial when applying for competitive grants, he said.
Teitge also shared that four School Resource Officers are now stationed across each campus in the county—something he considers a point of pride.
Looking ahead, he said his goals include preparing a new budget for county commissioners, implementing a new computer- aided dispatch system, ensuring all deputies meet training-hour requirements by the end of August, restructuring department personnel, and increasing staffing.
“Citizens are our priority,” Teitge said, adding that formal agreements between agencies are essential to replace informal handshake deals.
During the business portion of the meeting, the party’s Executive Committee acknowledged the resignation of Party Chair Mark Miller, effective midnight April 10. While Gober led the majority of the meeting, audience members frequently interrupted to raise concerns about alleged procedural errors.
Gober tabled the approval of minutes from the first-quarter meeting in January and turned the gavel over to Precinct 407 Chair John Schuetze.
Discussion grew contentious as committee members debated the approval of a small monthly maintenance fee for the party’s website. That item was ultimately tabled as well.
Schuetze reminded committee members that required training must be completed by the end of the quarter. Election Administrator Andrea Jankowski is scheduled to provide that training June 6. Jankowski also encouraged members to become volunteer deputy registrars.
Precinct Chair Shirley Grohman asked about the status of the party’s financial audit. Members agreed the audit report had not yet been completed.
Schuetze said he would call a special meeting to select a new party chair. That meeting is scheduled for April 30 at 5 p.m. at the BEC Community Room.
There was also discussion about updating the signatories on the party’s checking account.
As the meeting adjourned, audience members lingered outside, continuing to discuss the friction between GOP leadership and the Executive Committee.
With frequent interruptions and side discussions, it was often unclear what, if any, official decisions were made.
The group’s updated bylaws had not yet been submitted to the state Republican office, compounding the confusion following Miller’s resignation.
The next quarterly meeting of the Bandera County Republican Party is scheduled for July
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