The Bandera Democratic Club met on Saturday morning at the Silver Sage Community Center Cafeteria to hear from Nancy Dyer, a member of the Hill Country League of Women Voters.
Dyer, who is also a member of the Democratic Club, spoke about the history of the League.
The Hill Country League is 45 years old this year. It was started in May 1979 to serve six surrounding counties, including Bandera County. A non-partisan group, the League provides “voter’s guides” and educational materials about voting.
The Texas League of Women Voters was created in 1919. It began a year before the 19th amendment was passed in 1920.
The League also fought for women’s right to serve on juries. Women could not serve on juries in Texas until 1954. The Texas League began at St. Anthony’s Hall in San Antonio.
The League of Women Voters helped 20 million women carry out their civic duty as new voters. It concerned itself with getting all citizens access to the vote.
The League also championed voter registration as well as fought against racial and ethnic gerrymandering.
According to Dyer, the League believes the government exists to serve the people. It also promotes social and economic justice.
The League’s main purpose is voter education and to that end it provides information about the candidates in an election and voter registration.
The Hill Country League provides citizenship classes and helps new citizens learn English through an English as a Second Language Program.
The League promotes a path to citizenship for all immigrants and supports the Dream Act, a law that provides a path for the children of immigrants to get citizenship. The Hill Country League has 36 students in the ESL class and 15 students in their naturalization class.
The League’s activities are funded through grants from the national League and through dues. They get no money from the state or federal government, according to Dyer.
Dyer encouraged Democratic Club members to sign up to become League members. Currently, Bandera County only has three members in the Hill Country League organization. The League is open to both men and women.
In old business, President Essie Stewart brought up a discussion about the purpose of funds collected by the club.
There was intense discussion about the use of club money to make donations to the campaigns of Colin Allred (vs. Ted Cruz), Dr. Kristen Hooks (vs. Chip Roy) and Joe Herrera (TX House District 53).
Lynn Oliver read a statement from member Trudy Mabry, who made the unfinished motion at the April meeting suggesting donations to the candidates.
Mabry noted in her statement that the club can give up to $5,000 before being considered a political action committee (PAC). Lynn Oliver, for Trudy Mabry, made a motion to give donations to Allred, Hooks, and Herrera.
Several members spoke for and against the donations. One suggested that the donations were premature and should take place later in the summer. In this discussion, no member could recall what amount of donations were made prior to this election.
Several members spoke to hold onto the funds in case the club wanted to pay rent for headquarters, candidate forum, parade participation, or open house.
Democratic Chair Lynn Oliver suggested that the club come to a compromise about this issue.
Jodi Sinclair made a motion that the donation amounts be amended.
The discussion ended with a motion to amend the amounts donated to the candidates. The donations were divided into two portions, half to be given now and half to be given later which passed by voice vote.
Lynn Oliver spoke about the Texas Democratic Convention. She offered copies of the convention schedule to inform Bandera County delegates of what was going on at the convention on June 6-8 in El Paso. She noted that the House needed to retain 23 seats to maintain the House majority.
Oliver stated that she had been in an online forum given by Dr. Kristin Hooks, who is running against Chip Roy.
“She is an impressive candidate, and I would suggest you research her and think about that,” said Oliver.
She reminded the members that President Biden won by only 45,000 votes in three states, and “that is a tight margin. We need to remind everybody to get out and vote. We have 175 days until the election.”
Project 2025 was discussed, and member Jodi Sinclair noted that one of the project’s goals was to “kill everybody on death row in the United States of America.”
President Essie Stewart presented an idea from Kathleen Keller who is associated with the Gillespie County Democratic Party to send out personalized cards like a greeting card which encourages Bandera County citizens to vote.
“My goal is to try to reach women,” stated Stewart. The membership heartily endorsed the effort.
Stewart also asked that a small, portable PA system be purchased for $119 to be used in the meetings. Lynn Oliver moved that the club purchase the PA system. The motion passed. The system comes with two microphones.
The next meeting of the Bandera Democratic Club will be on June 8 at the Silver Sage Community Center.
