A Houston judge says the state GOP has to put a convention boss in place before it starts its convention business.
State District Judge Tom Sullivan says the state GOP has to follow the state law that says it should elect someone to run its convention before it seats delegates.
A group of Republicans led by Wharton County GOP Chair Debra Medina sued Wednesday afternoon (after trying to negotiate with state party leaders and then telegraphing their punch) and got their answer, for now, before sundown. They contend the standard operating procedure works against political minorities, stripping them of any real chance of getting their way on platforms, procedures and what have you; there's a lot of detail about that on their website at www.FairConvention.org. Here's how their lawyer, former Harris County Chair Gary Polland, put it in the suit:
The harm that will result if the temporary restraining order is not issued is irreparable because failure to elect a permanent chair at the convention's first general session delays the hearing of the credentials committee report on all delegates challenges which delays resolution of same and thus prevents a true convention majority being had on all subsequent votes. In addition, failure to resolve credential issues with a permanent chair means a challenged delegation is unable to participate in the senatorial district caucuses set for June 12, 2008 which elects permanent committees, state Republican executive committee members and nominees for state party chairman and vice chairman.
Whew.
Polland said in an interview that the GOP ought to let as many people into the convention as possible without a battle, especially in a political climate like this one: "If we lose 10 or 15 percent of our base vote, Obama wins Texas." He says he talked to the party for a month before filing suit and couldn't reach a resolution on how the convention would operate.
The judge issued a temporary injunction in their favor and will hold another hearing on Monday. The Republican Party of Texas convention starts in Houston on Thursday of next week.
