Written by Amanda Coers – Attendance for the biennial organization meeting of the Brown County Republican Party Executive Committee was considerably swelled with local voters wanting to hear whether or not the committee would be publicly supporting the Republican Party Primary victor Paul Lilly for the Brown County Judge seat in the November election. 

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The executive committee consists of 16 county precinct chairs and is headed by Robert Porter, the chairman of the Brown County Republican Party. After official business was completed, the committee then heard from both Republican nominee Paul Lilly and a few of his supporters as well as the write-in candidate for the county judge seat, Steve Fryar. 

On March 6, 2018, voters chose challenger Paul Lilly over incumbent Ray West as the Republican candidate for Brown County Judge. There is no Democratic challenger, however Lilly will be facing Steve Fryar as a write-in candidate. Fryar identifies as a Republican and the bid for the judge seat so late after the primary has caused discord in the local Republican Party. 

Paul Lilly was first to speak to the committee.

“About two weeks ago I met with Robert to ask him what we were going to do to help the Republican Party and the Republican platform since I had a write-in opponent, and what the party was going to do to help me win,” Lilly said. “And that is when Robert, with all due respect, informed me that he, the party, was going to remain neutral, and were not going to endorse me even though I had won the Republican Primary. By doing that he put y’all in a very awkward situation and I apologize for that,” Lilly spoke to the committee members present. 

“The candidates pay a large filing fee to run on a primary ticket and there is an expectation that if they win that primary they’re going to have the support of that party. And that was my expectation and that’s being denied to me. So why would anyone run in our primary in the future if that’s going to be the precedent that is set?” Lilly continued. He then asked to appeal the decision to remain neutral.  

Bob Contreras, retired from the military and a career in education, spoke next on Lilly’s behalf. 

“It’s inconceivable to me that the Brown County Republican Chair would fail to fully support Dr. Lilly in the November election,” Contreras said. “Failure to do so would call into question whether the Brown County Republican leadership serves the elite or the people. I want to continue to believe it supports the people.” 

Bob Beadel also spoke in favor of the committee voting to support Paul Lilly.

“I’ve never heard of this happening. Steve Fryar is a good friend of mine but according to the rules, he cannot run as a Republican or have that on any of his literature,” Beadel said. “So I just want to make that clear. Paul Lilly was legitimately elected. Paul Lilly is our candidate. And Paul Lilly deserves everybody’s vote.” 

George Huesman, retired from a 30-year career with the United States Army, held his uniform in his hands as he spoke to the committee. 

“I’ll never forget sitting in Iraq in 2004 when Iraqi guys said ‘we really want some politicians like American, honest,’ … I don’t see that here. That’s what upsets me more than anything,” he said. “I’m a student of history, and no where have I seen this kind of stuff. It’s just aggravating and I don’t understand it.” 

Rebecca Mendoza with the Pecan Valley Republican Women’s group was last to speak as a supporter.

“I agree with all of the men that spoke here, we do have procedures and policies in place for a reason and I believe that we owe it to the Republican voters to stand by that and to respect the voters. The voters did elect Mr. Lilly as the Republican candidate.”

Before hearing comments from Steve Fryar, Robert Porter offered comments regarding his previous conversation with Paul Lilly, explaining he did not wish to make a decision on behalf of the executive committee. 

“I felt that it was best for each of the precinct chairs to hear the expressions of various points of view so that you could hear them in your own ears, rather than me making a single-minded decision as the county chair,” Porter said.

Steve Fryar thanked the committee for their service and the opportunity to speak on the matter.

“The legislature and our congress have given the opportunity for either an Independent candidate or a write-in candidate to file in the summer. That’s been around for years. It is not something that is unheard of,” Fryar said, noting Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska won as a write-in candidate. 

“You do have the right to either endorse or not endorse. I spoke with Chad Wilbanks last night, Chad is the former Chairman for the Republican Party in Texas. Chad told me there’s no rule or bylaw for the Republican Party of Texas that states a Republican County board has to endorse one candidate or the other.” 

“The last thing I want to do is try to split up anything. My goal is to bring the county back together and to bring the courthouse back together. If there’s somebody doing something wrong up there, have them dismissed. And if there’s somebody not doing something wrong and they’re doing their job great, then we need to keep them.”

With no other commentary the committee then heard a motion to remain neutral and refrain from endorsing any candidate. That motion died for lack of a second to the motion. Committee member Rick Phelps then made a motion to endorse Paul Lilly as the Republican candidate and received a second from Harold Hogan. The committee voted by secret ballot, which yielded a win for Lilly with 8-2 in favor of endorsing his candidacy. 

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