Today I am proud to announce my candidacy for Policy Director for the Texas Young Republican Federation at this year’s state convention in Austin this August. For the last several years, I’ve been an active member of the Young Republicans as founder and president of the North East Tarrant YRs, as a precinct chair in the Tarrant County GOP, and as a block walker and volunteer for many of our elected officials in the state legislature.
We are living in an intensely political time where response and tone are more important than ever in advancing our Republican values. We have many amazing opportunities before us that can be used to help get our message out to many groups and areas that would normally be closed off to us simply because of the name, “Republican.” By banning ridesharing companies such as Uber/Lyft in Austin, those who wish to restrict free markets have created an opportunity for us with the younger voting population in a normally hostile environment. This is the time to strike on these issues in these areas and proactively grow our voter base.
As a member of the 2016 RPT Platform Committee, I worked to build coalitions to help reflect our TYRF platform. I worked with like-minded members of the platform committee to cut 14 pages from our state platform and remove divisive wording, redundant planks and argue the necessity for a strong brief platform, without compromising on the conservative, free market principles that unite our party. This experience has allowed me to be intimately acquainted with not only our TYRF platform, but the current RPT platform as well.
As Policy Director, I will work consistently to promote our legislative priorities and make our concerns known to our elected officials during this upcoming legislative session. I already have a strong relationship with a large number of elected officials, and will utilize those relationships with leadership to advance our YR positions.
I will work to be out front and proactive in representing Young Republicans when issues arise that affect our interests.
I firmly believe that one of the most important things a Policy Director needs to understand is that it is rarely what is said, but the tone and method in which it’s conveyed that can win or lose hearts, support and votes. I believe I am uniquely qualified in this aspect and will convey our message in a way that will gain respect in the field of public opinion and grow not only the Young Republican base, but respect for our organization.
I am not interested in running merely to run, nor do titles intrigue me. I care deeply about policy, I care about our organization and our image, and I’ve proven my ability to be an effective advocate for TYRF during my time on the RPT Platform Committee, and that is why I am asking for your support and your vote in Austin this August as Policy Director.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Gaspard
Chair, Northeast Tarrant County Young Republicans
I am honored to have the support of these amazing leaders listed below, and I would be humbled to count you among them:
Young Republicans:
-Chris Bingham, Collin YR Chair, TYRF Marketing Director
-Richard Morgan, TYRF Chair-emeritus
-Sarah Nguyen, TYRF Communications, Northeast Tarrant YR Public Relations Dir.
-Casey Bingham, Current TYRF Policy Director
-H. Scott Apley, Galveston YR Chair, East TX Regional Director TYRF (2016 RPT Platform Committee)
-Ashley McDaniel, Southeast Texas YR Chair
-Nathan Bassetto, Tarrant YR Chair
-Mark Brown, Former Chair TYRF
-Mark Brown, Former Chair TYRF
Elected Officials:
-Rep. Giovanni Capriglione
-Rep. Matt Krause
-Sen. Kelly Hancock
- Bill Waybourn, Tarrant County Sheriff-elect
- Tim O’hare, TCGOP Chairman
- Morgan Graham, Cameron County Chair -(2016 RPT Platform Committee)
-David Halvorson, SREC – SD12 Committeeman
