Parties elect state delegates, pass resolutions
By DAVID LOWE Staff Writer

Republicans and Democrats met Saturday in their respective county conventions to pass resolutions and approve delegates to advance to state conventions in June.

Participants in the Lampasas County Democratic Party convention met at the Senior Center in what outgoing county chairman Keith King called a successful and "stirring two hours."

Robin Gradel and county chairman-elect Daniel Melder will chair the Democrats' delegation to the state convention, to be June 5- 7 in Austin.

Delegates include Ellington D. Lockett, Glenda Dale Funk, Steven Smith and Perry Winn. Alternates are Bruce Frizzell, Bernice Bradshaw, Andrea Bowsher, Jasmine Bruns and Charles O'Bryan.

Democrats approved 57 resolutions to send to the state convention for consideration.

About 60 Republicans attended their party's county convention in the district courtroom, county chairman Skipper Wallace said. Presidential candidate John McCain has secured enough delegates for the national party's nomination, so county delegates focused their attention primarily on resolutions.

"I think most of it is just concern with the way things are going in the country and how we can improve it," Wallace said.

Republicans voted to reaffirm the 2006 Texas Republican Platform and approved 11 additional resolutions to send to the state convention.

The Texas Republican Party will hold its state convention June 12-14 in Houston.

Lampasas County delegates will be Skipper Wallace, Marcia Wallace, Ray Upp, Olivia Upp, Keith Fontaine, Betty Fontaine, Jim Lowe and Gail Lowe.

Alternates are Dennis Scroggins, Thaddaeus Scroggins, Ruth Sasse, Janice Kliza, Shawn Lockett, Marcella Lockett, Mayela Banks and Ildiko Curtis.

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Early voting in the Democratic race for railroad commissioner, which pits Lampasan Dale Henry against Mark Thompson of Hamilton, continues through today.

Early ballots may be cast at the county voter registrar's office at 412 S. Live Oak from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Only 21 votes had been cast as of press time Thursday.

Only those who voted in the Democratic primary may cast a ballot in the runoff.