MICHAEL WILLIAMS WINS TEXAS PRIMARY!
WILL MAKE HISTORY WITH A NOVEMBER VICTORY

On March 14th, Michael Williams won the primary election for Chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates oil & gas production, and mining. In December of 1998, Williams was appointed to the Commission to fill the vacancy left after Carole Keeton-Rylander’s departure to become Texas Comptroller. In the Super Tuesday primary election, Williams garnered 79.88% of the vote. With a win in November, Williams will become the first African American in Texas to be elected to a non-judicial statewide office. “I congratulate Michael Williams on his recent victory. He is a proven leader, public servant, and is committed to fighting for the principles of faith, family, hope, opportunity, and prosperity,” said BAMPAC Executive Director Alvin Williams. “He is truly a rising star, and represents the new voice in American politics that BAMPAC hopes to provide.”

BAMPAC BOARD MEMBER PUBLICY CHASTISED
INSULTED BY PARTY OFFICIAL AND FORMER SUPPORTER

According to the published reports in the Indianapolis Star Newspaper, at a recent event held in Indianapolis, BAMPAC Board Member, Jackie Cissell, was publicly insulted by Sheriff Jack Cottey for her decision to seek the leadership post in the Marion County Republican Party. At the dinner, in the presence of Ms. Cissell’s family and other guests, Cottey, a supporter of Cissell’s opponent John Keeler, lashed out at Cissell saying, “You should have asked somebody before you did this….Once we kick your buddy’s {expletive deleted} you’re going down. You’re finished in this county. You are history!” Cotters’ comments have since caused inter-party conflict amongst long time Party supporters. In response to the reports, BAMPAC Executive Director Alvin Williams said, “Ms. Cissell, as a BAMPAC Board Member, has made invaluable contributions to the growth of this organization. In addition, she is constantly working to make the GOP in her state more inclusive and responsive to the concerns of people of color. Regardless of the politics involved and the heated nature of the race, she does not deserve this sort of disrespect. We plan to send a letter to key GOP officials in Indianapolis in hopes that this occurrence did not escape national notice.”

BAMPAC CANDIDATES HIGHLIGHTED BY CNSNEWS.COM
CANDIDATES SEEK INCREASED POLITICAL OPPORTUNITIES

In part one of a four part series on African American GOP candidates running for Congress this year, Conservative News Service (CNSNews.com) highlighted BAMPAC, and nine African American congressional candidates including Dylan Glenn (GA-2), and Jennifer Carroll (FL-3). According to CNSNews, many of the nine congressional candidates attributed their exodus from the Democratic Party to the Party’s “offers of false hope with hand-outs and social programs that simply exacerbate the social ills they were meant to solve. In many instances,” some candidates maintain, ”the Republican Party offers a contemporary form of emancipation.” In November, Minnesota, Colorado, Los Angeles, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina will have African Americans running for Congress on the GOP ticket. In many cases, it will be African American Democrats facing African American Republican challengers. Stay tuned!

LT. GOVERNOR JOE ROGERS FEATURED IN EBONY MAGAZINE
GAINING INCREASED NATIONAL EXPOSURE

Colorado Lieutenant Governor Joe Rogers is shaking up politics in his state and gaining increasing national exposure. Recently, Rogers and his family were profiled in the March issue of Ebony Magazine, one of America’s largest, and most popular national publications. Rogers was highlighted as one of America’s “preeminent political trailblazers.” At 35, he holds the second-highest office in the state of Colorado, and is one of the youngest and highest ranking Black elected officials in the nation. The oratorical skills that catapulted him to prominence in Colorado, as well as his expressions of support for overlooked and underserved communities, have made him a rising star in the Republican Party, and helped him win Republican converts in Colorado’s staunchly Democratic communities. In Rogers’ relatively young, two election-political career, he has proven to be a top vote-getter, while challenging the perception of the Republican Party as an exclusive club of White suburbanites.

FARRELL MAKES HISTORY IN TEXAS!
MAKES HISTORY IN PENNSYLVANIA

Terrence Farrell recently made history when he was elected Recorder of Deeds for Chester County, PA. With his victory, Farrell became the first African-American to be elected to a county office. After surviving brutal intra-party fighting last year leading up to the Party’s Convention, Farrell gained the Republican Party’s nomination and won the general election by 60%. As Recorder of Deeds, Farrell maintains records of every document associated with real estate transactions and fees incurred, which is a significant generator of revenue for the county. BAMPAC applauds Farrell for his victory, and the voters of Chester County for exhibiting a commitment to Party diversity.