AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick announced the formation of the “Lieutenant Governor Grassroots Advisory Board,” comprised of grassroots conservative leaders and activists from all over Texas.
Monday’s announcement follows one Patrick made earlier this month that he was forming several advisory boards of business leaders and policy experts to advise him on Economic and Workforce Development, Economic Forecasting, Energy/Oil and Gas, Tax Policy, Transportation, and Water. As Breitbart Texas reported, Patrick had described how, during his campaign, he met with “literally hundreds of successful businessmen and women from every kind of business one can imagine” and he asked a number of them, if he won the election, if would they volunteer their time to lend their expertise on policy issues.
Patrick’s strategy with the Grassroots Advisory Board seems similar, selecting grassroots leaders from all over the state to help keep him informed of their views on different policy issues. The press release announcing the new group mentioned how, in 2011, when he was a state senator, Patrick had formed a Tea Party Caucus, as well as an advisory committee that met regularly with the Caucus to discuss public policy. Patrick described the Grassroots Advisory Board as “continuing his practice of coordinating with grassroots leaders.”
Patrick named JoAnn Fleming, the Executive Director of Grassroots America, to chair the Board. “I am honored to be selected to serve on the Lt. Governor’s Grassroots Advisory Board,” said Fleming in a statement obtained by Breitbart Texas. “Governor Patrick has a reputation for valuing folks outside the capitol complex who ask tough questions and bring common sense solutions to the table. Our primary focus will be on border security, education reform, and tax relief legislation — serious issues important to a strong Texas.”
In addition to Fleming, the initial members of the Grassroots Advisory Board are as follows:
- Julie Turner, The Woodlands
- Bill Hussey, Llano
- Ken Emanuelson, Dallas
- Chuck Molyneaux, Allen
- Larry Youngblood, Hilltop Lakes
- Connie Curry, Lubbock
- Michael Openshaw, Plano
- Dean Wright, Austin
- Robin Lennon, Kingwood
- Debbie Georgatos, Dallas
- Sharon Hall, New Braunfels
- Derek Baker. McKinney
- Steve Baysinger, San Antonio
- Jim Lennon, Kingwood
- Ted Hart, Frisco
- Julie McCarty, Grapevine
- Tom Fabry, Frisco
- Katrina Pierson, Garland
- Toni Fabry, Frisco
Follow Sarah Rumpf on Twitter @rumpfshaker.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.