10924 Grant Road, Suite 133 • Houston, Texas 77070 • www.terrylowry.com On the web at www.TerryLowry.com Archives posted since January 1st 2005 January 2024, Volume 32, Number 4 LINKING TEXAS CONSERVATIVES SINCE 1993 WEEKDAYS 2:00-3:00PM ON KKHT 100.7FM THE WHAT’S UP Radio Program FORT BEND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION EARL Y VOTING DA YS FEBRUAR Y SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 March 1 2 3 4 MARCH 5 6 7 8 9 For Times & Locations Election Day Go To Voting Information Tab HOPE FOR THE FUTURE By: Terry Lowry, Editor Over time, America has changed. Because of change, many have lost respect for our country and its people. May we re-learn respect for our neighbors and practice civility. May we have hope for the future. Look up! God is not through with our country and He is not through using you and me. We may not be able to correct problem- areas all at once. But we can all do something to help right what’s wrong in America. Primary Election Time is upon us. Much information about various candidates can be found inside this issue. Study the candidates seeking your vote. Visit their websites. Pray about your selections. It is legal to carry the tear-out Sample Ballot inside this issue to the voting booth. Another is provided for a family member or friend. Visit our website at www.TerryLowry.com to find your voting location. Be informed. Study. Pray. And GO VOTE.Meet John Devine: Supreme Court Justice For The People By Terry Lowry Editor of the LINK Letter Host of the What’s UP Radio Program Why Seek Re-election? When asked why he decided to seek re-election for the Supreme Court of Texas, John responded: “I am committed to maintaining the trust and confidence the people of Texas have placed in me over the past eleven years. The Texas Supreme Court is critical in upholding the rule of law and protecting the rights of all Texans. I remain steadfast in ensuring the court system is fair and just. It is a tremendous honor to serve the people of Texas and I look forward to continuing to do for another full term.” Judicial Experience Justice John Devine was first elected to the Supreme Court of Texas in November 2012. He previously served for seven years as Judge of the 190th State District Court in Harris County and for nine years as an appointed Special Judge for the Harris County Justice of the Peace Courts. During his tenure in District Courts, he tried nearly 350 jury trials and presided over more than 500 bench trials. In 1998, he was voted “well qualified” by the Houston Bar Association. Justice Devine reduced his court’s case backlog by more than forty percent during his two terms and was awarded the title of “Texas Size Hero” by Focus on the Family magazine. Endorsements Abound Justice Devine has been endorsed by eleven former Texas Supreme Court Justices, including the Honorable Eva Guzman and the Honorable Dale Wainwright. Many State Republican Committee Members have endorsed his campaign, as well as numerous grassroots leaders and elected officials. John Devine is proud to have the support of Conservative Republicans of Texas, Texas Alliance for Life, Texas Eagle Forum, the Texas Home School Association, and Texas Values Action, to name a few. Faith. Family. Determination. Justice John Devine has been married since 1989 to Nubia Piedad Gomez, formerly of Venezuela, and the couple have seven children. Following his graduation from Ball State University in 1980 with a B.S. degree in business administration and marketing, John Devine moved to Houston to work for Shell Oil Co. While working at Shell, he attended law school at the South Texas College of Law, graduating with a juris doctorate in 1986. Editorial Endorsement of John Devine As Editor of The LINK Letter and Host of The What’s UP Radio Program, I have known John and Nubia Devine for decades. In fact, my oldest daughter babysat their children! It is with pride and confidence that I wholeheartedly support and endorse Justice John Devine. John is a proven Conservative who will uphold the law for the citizens of Texas until his last breath. For more information about Justice John Devine’s campaign, visit www.justicedevinetx.com John Devine! T ear this page out and use it in the voting booth. Tear this page out and use it in the voting booth. FT BEND COUNTY Republican Primary Ballot President Ron DeSantis Nikki Haley Ryan L. Binkley David Stuckenberg Donald J. Trump Asa Hutchinson Vivek Ramaswamy United States Senator Holland “Redd” Gibson o ✔ Ted Cruz R E (Rufus) Lopez US Representative District 7 Carolyn B. Bryant o ✔ Kenneth Omoruyi Caroline Kane Tina Blum Cohen US Representative District 22 Troy E. Nehls Railroad Commissioner James “Jim” Matlock Petra Reyes Corey Howell o ✔ Christi Craddick Christie Clark Justice, Supreme Court, Place 2 Jimmy Blacklock Justice, Supreme Court, Place 4 Brian Walker o ✔ John Devine Justice, Supreme Court, Place 6 Jane Bland Presiding Judge, Court Of Criminal Appeals o ✔ David J. Schenck Sharon Keller Judge, Court Of Criminal Appeals, Place 7 o ✔ Gina Parker Barbara Parker Hervey Judge, Court Of Criminal Appeals, Place 8 o ✔ Lee Finley Michelle Slaughter State Senator, District 17 Joan Huffman State Representative District 26 Jessica Rose Huang Jacey Jetton o ✔ Matt Morgan County Commissioner Precinct 3 Mike Khan o ✔ Andy Meyers Justice Of The Peace, Precinct 2, Place 2 John Placette Justice Of The Peace, Precinct 4 Patricia Guebara Eric Ramirez County Constable Precinct 1 Chad Norvell County Constable Precinct 2 Robert Hartfield County Constable Precinct 3 Aqeel Virk o ✔ Ali Sheikhani County Constable Precinct 4 Mike Beard Usama Shahid State Representative District 27 Ibifrisolam Max-Alalibo State Representative District 28 o ✔ Gary Gates Dan Mathews State Representative District 76 Lea C.S. Simmons o ✔ Summara Kanwal Dayo David State Representative District 85 Tim Greeson o ✔ Stan Kitzman Justice, 1st Court Of Appeals District Place 2 Jennifer Caughey Justice, 1st Court Of Appeals District Place 6 Andrew Johnson Justice, 1st Court Of Appeals District Place 7 Clint Morgan Justice, 1st Court Of Appeals District Place 8 Kristin M. Guiney Justice, 1st Court Of Appeals District Place 9 Susanna Dokupil Justice, 14th Court Of Appeals District Place 3 Chad Bridges Justice, 14th Court Of Appeals District Place 4 Steve Rogers o ✔ Tonya McLaughlin Justice, 14th Court Of Appeals District Place 5 Maritza Michele Antu Justice, 14th Court Of Appeals District Place 6 Katy Boatman Justice, 14th Court Of Appeals District Place 8 Brad Hart District Judge, 400th Judicial District Edward M. Krenek Sheriff o ✔ Marshall Slot Mo Nehad o ✔ John Minchew County Tax Assessor-Collector Jaison Joseph County Commissioner Precinct 1 Vincent Morales Vote Early and Take Someone With YouPrimary Ballot Propositions approved by the State Republican Party Executive Committee. Vote Yes or No on each. Your vote will determine the priorities for the Republican Party of Texas for the next two years. ! T ear this page out and use it in the voting booth. Tear this page out and use it in the voting booth. Proposition 1 Texas should eliminate all property taxes without increasing Texans’ overall tax burden. YES o NO o Proposition 2 Texas should create a Border Protection Unit, and deploy additional state law enforcement and military forces, to seal the border, to use physical force to prevent illegal entry and trafficking, and to deport illegal aliens to Mexico or to their nations of origin. YES o NO o Proposition 3 The Texas Legislature should require the use of E-Verify by all employers in Texas to protect jobs for legal workers by preventing the hiring of illegal aliens. YES o NO o Proposition 4 The Texas Legislature should end all subsidies and public services, including in-state college tuition and enrollment in public schools, for illegal aliens. YES o NO o Proposition 5 Texas urges the United States Congress not to grant any form of amnesty or a pathway to legalization for illegal aliens. YES o NO o Proposition 6 The Texas Legislature should prohibit the deployment of the Texas National Guard to a foreign conflict unless Congress first formally declares war. YES o NO o Proposition 7 The Texas Legislature should establish authority within the Texas State Comptroller’s office to dminister access to gold and silver through the Texas Bullion Depository for use as legal tender. YES o NO o Proposition 8 The State of Texas should ensure that Texans are free to give or to withhold consent for any vaccine without coercion. YES o NO o Proposition 9 The Republican Party of Texas should restrict voting in the Republican primary to only registered Republicans. YES o NO o Proposition 10 The Texas Constitution should be amended to restore authority to the Texas Attorney General to prosecute election crimes. YES o NO o Proposition 11 Texas parents and guardians should have the right to select schools, whether public or private, for their children, and the funding should follow the student. YES o NO o Proposition 12 The Texas Constitution should be amended to require proof of citizenship before any individual can be registered to vote. YES o NO o Proposition 13 Texas should ban the sale of Texas land to citizens, governments, and entities from China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia. YES o NO o PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT # 3260 the LINK Letter 10924 Grant Road, #133 Houston, TX 77070 www.terrylowry.com FORT BEND COUNTY SPECIAL EDITION FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION Terry Lowry host of the What's UP Radio Program invites you to visit www.TerryLowry.com Early and Election Day Voting Locations And a printable Sample Ballot Can be found at www.TerryLowry.com Click: Voting Information Time To Choose Leaders Republican Primary Election Time Fort Bend County Vote Early just because you can. EARL Y VOTING DA YS FEBRUARY SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 March 1 2 3 4 MARCH 5 6 7 8 9 For Times & Locations Election Day Go To Voting Information TabInside this issue The Primary Election Day is Tuesday, March 5th, with Early Voting from February 20th thru March 1st. Please review the candidate information inside this LINK Letter. Turn the pages, read up, search for yourself. The LINK Letter endorsements are on the front and back. Tear off your copy, consider our endorsements, mark it the way you prefer and take it with you into the voting booth. IFC MEET JOHN DEVINE: SUPREME COURT JUSTICE FOR THE PEOPLE By Terry Lowry Editor of the LINK Letter 2SCHOOL CHOICE IS A PARENT’S CHOICE – NOT THE GOVERNMENT’S Guest Editorial By: Texas State Senator Mayes Middleton 4MAKING A DIFFERENCE: IN AMERICA A NOBODY CAN BECOME A CONGRESSMAN By Terry Lowry Editor of the LINK Letter 6KEEPING TEXAS PROSPEROUS AND SAFE By Terry Lowry Editor of the LINK Letter 8ELECTION FRAUD & A RINO MAJORITY ON THE TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS By Terry Lowry Editor of the LINK Letter 12 JUSTICE FOR ALL Guest Editorial By: Tonya McLaughlin 14 WHY ARE YOUR PROPERTY TAXES SO HIGH? BECAUSE JACEY JETTON SOLD YOU OUT! By:Matt Morgan Candidate for Texas House District 26, Fort Bend County 16 ELECTION INTEGRITY REQUIRES FIDELITY TO THE CONSTITUTION By State Representative Briscoe Cain 18 MEET JOHN MINCHEW: CANDIDATE FOR FORT BEND COUNTY SHERIFF By Terry Lowry Editor of the LINK Letter 20 MAKING FORT BEND A PLACE TO LIVE, WORSHIP, PLAY, AND WORK! By Andy Meyers, Fort Bend County Commissioner, Pct. 3 22 MEET ALI SHEIKHANI: CANDIDATE FOR CONSTABLE PRECINCT 3 By Terry Lowry Editor of the LINK Letter 1 January 2024 www.TerryLowry.com www.TerryLowry.com January 2024 2 School Choice Is A Parent’s Choice – Not The Government’s GUEST EDITORIAL Texas State Senator Mayes Middleton Our rights as parents come from God, not the govern- ment. Unfortunately, Texas is one of only 18 states where the law positions government to have the final say on a child’s education. Thankfully, Governor Greg Abbott is calling legislators back to Austin for as long as it takes to change that. While Texas boasts some of the best teachers and traditional public schools in the nation, we must also trust parents. Empowering parents to direct their children’s education, with money following the child to the school of their choice, is the best solution. Hypocrisy Abounds The concept of public dollars being used by taxpayers at private businesses is nothing new. There are numerous examples of public funds going to private businesses, including food stamps to grocery stores, Pell grants to private universities, and Medicaid to doctors. We trust individuals to choose their grocery store, their private university, and their doctor. Why would we take a different approach with K-12 education? In Texas, we must trust parents to make decisions about their child’s education. School Choice Is Not A New Concept School choice has been battle-tested by 32 other states. Texas has the opportunity to learn from their successes and challenges and offer a program that best serves Texas students and parents. Education savings accounts (ESAs) are the most ideal form of school choice. Under ESA’s, participants can use the money for private school tuition, tutoring, specialized programs, and many other valuable tools. This program design will place parents fully in control of their child’s education. Public Schools Will Not Lose Funding During the Regular Session, the Legislature made a historic investment in public education with the largest increase in public education funding in Texas history. This fall, we will continue to invest in the education of future Texans with an additional multi-billion-dollar funding package that, in part, includes teacher pay raises. The sizeable investment will be coupled with a robust school choice policy. Altogether, the policies will provide the opportunity to make a radical difference for Texas teachers and students. Texans Prefer School Choice Independent polls conducted this year reveal a strong majority of Texans across all demographics are supportive of school choice programs, especially among rural voters. In fact, many of the union and taxpayer-funded lobbyists who are school choice opponents send their own children to private schools. Parents matter As a parent to four children, I feel a great responsibility to help spur the change our state’s education system so desperately needs. We must pass a school choice bill that allows parents to decide which education option works best for their children according to their values. For more information about Mayes Middleton’s campaign, visit www.mayesmiddleton.com Senator Middleton represents Senate District 11, serving portions of Brazoria, Galveston and Harris counties. Before his election to the Texas Senate in 2022, Senator Middleton served House District 23 in the Texas House of Representatives from 2019-2022. Mayes Middleton 3 January 2024 www.TerryLowry.comNext >