A Legal Battle for the Ages: Tarrant County GOP Precinct Chair Position Controversy

The Tarrant County Republican Party finds itself embroiled in a legal saga after an unusual ruling by the Seventh Court of Appeals of Texas in Amarillo on July 30. The ruling states that the party cannot fill a contested precinct chair position until the matter is resolved in court.

The issue began when Chris Rector, a resident, won a primary election to chair Tarrant County Precinct 4230 with an overwhelming 75% of the vote. However, Tarrant County Republican Party Chairman Bo French accused Rector of pretending to be a Republican to undermine the party and merge it with the Tarrant County Democratic Party. As a result, French refused to issue a certificate of election to Rector.

In response, Rector filed a lawsuit in April, alleging that French had concocted a fraudulent claim to deem him ineligible for the position he rightfully won. He sought a judge to declare him eligible and confirm his election as precinct chair, while also requesting a temporary restraining order to prevent the party from appointing someone else in the interim.

One of the challenges in the case was finding a judge to preside over it, as multiple local Republican judges recused themselves. This led to the appointment of visiting judge Sydney Hewlett. During a court hearing in June, both parties' attorneys acknowledged the unprecedented nature of the case, highlighting the absence of prior instances where an elected precinct chair was not seated and resorted to suing.

The position of precinct chair in Texas elections is unique, as these officials are elected during primaries but do not face opposing party opponents in general elections. This fact sparked disputes about the timeliness of Rector's lawsuit, which hinges on the type of election contest.

Attorney Tony McDonald, representing the local Republican Party, filed a motion to dismiss the case under the Texas Citizens Participation Act, which was denied by Hewlett. Subsequently, an appeal was made to the Second Court of Appeals in Fort Worth, where all seven Republican justices recused themselves, leading to the transfer of the appeal to the Amarillo court.

Following the July 30 ruling, the appeals court granted emergency relief, blocking the party from filling the precinct chair position until a final decision is reached. The court emphasized the need to preserve the parties' rights during this process.

French and the Tarrant County Republican Party have argued that seating Rector would violate their freedom of association. McDonald criticized the appeals court decision, stating that it infringed on their First Amendment rights. Maxwell, representing Rector, refrained from commenting on the ruling, as other motions before the court are pending.

What do you think?

• Should the Tarrant County Republican Party be forced to seat Rector as precinct chair?
• Do you believe the appeals court decision was fair?
• Is this legal battle damaging the reputation of the party?