Frank Morris Cameron County Republican Party Chairmanship~"Rock Solid" or Up in the Air?

Octogenarian Frank J. Morris, a Harlingen resident, near the actual epicenter of the Cameron County Republican Party, has resigned his chairmanship of the local party, pending a state-level review of challenges to his credentials.

Morris and three other county party officials will look to state party leaders, convening at the dreary Fort Worth Convention Center June 5-7, 2014, to determine their future participation in local party affairs.  

While 10,000 state delegates will converge at Fort Worth, State Party Chair Steve Munisteri made it clear that groups advocating for gay rights will not be allowed to put up booths at the convention, which runs from June 5 to 7. The issue, he explained, is that their position runs counter to the current party platform:  "If you don't like the policy, you have the right to go to the convention as a delegate and try to get the policy changed."

Exclusion from party decision-making meetings seems to be at the core of the challenges submitted by four local party members referencing apparent violations of Rule 14C of the Republican Party Rules:

(c) Unless otherwise provided by the laws of
the state in which the election occurs, in those states
where delegates and alternate delegates are elected
through the convention system or a combination of
convention and primary systems, the precinct,ward,
township, or county meetings shall be open meetings and all citizens who are qualified shall be urged to participate.

Local party members claim they've been excluded from attendance at the local Nomination and Rules Committee meetings, being told rudely to "get out."  It is also alleged that secret party meetings were held February 6, March 13 and March 18 in clear violation of the rules.

A party official who spoke to us on the condition of anonymity responds that the challenges have been orchestrated by a party operative angered by not being selected as a state delegate.  The official describes the challenges as a fuss over a "tiny" rule and states that, despite Frank Morris' resignation for the current term, his hold on the chairmanship is "rock solid," having "85% support" to serve another term.

County Judge Carlos Cascos

The unfortunate timing of this local Republican angst is the looming Carlos Cascos vs. Joe Rivera race for Cameron County Judge in the November general election.