Republicans and Democrats recently met in county conventions to approve policy resolutions and to pick delegates to participate in state conventions in June.

Lampasas County Republican Party Chairman Skipper Wallace and Lampasas County Democratic Party Chairman Bruce Frizzell both characterized their respective parties’ county conventions as optimistic.

In the November general election, Wallace expects Republicans to increase the party’s majority in the Texas Legislature. Republicans need to emphasize controlling spending, Wallace said, as he said the legislature is projected to face a budget deficit of $8 billion to $11 billion.

“It’s going to take a very strong conservative attitude to pull this off,” the county GOP chairman said. “I think we need some strong fiscal conservatives to watch out for the interests of the taxpayers.”

The Texas Democratic Party plans to focus significant energy on the gubernatorial race, which pits former Houston mayor Bill White against incumbent Republican Rick Perry. Democrats consider White a strong candidate and are rallying around him, Frizzell said.

“Working to increase transparency in government and decreasing state spending will be big goals for us,” Frizzell said of issues on which he expects particular focus from the state Democratic Party.

At state conventions, debates on county resolutions help parties set their policy priorities. Participants also vote on state party rules and executive committee members.

Lampasas County Republicans selected 10 delegates and 10 alternates to the state party convention, which is set June 11-12 in Dallas.

Delegates are Sandra Lockett, Jeff and Diana McDonald, Dennis and Glenda Scroggins, Earleen Skero, Ray and Olivia Upp, and Skipper and Marcia Wallace.

As alternates, county GOP members picked David Allen, Darrell Butler, Max Coats, John and Wendy Daugherty, Joe and Debbie Petronis, Leticia Staley, Justine Theer and Gerald Weber.

Five delegates will represent Lampasas County at the state Democratic Party convention June 25-26 in Corpus Christi. Delegates are Morgan Connery, Dale Funk — who also serves as delegation chair- man — Daniel Melder, Casey Norman and Perry Winn.

Stephen and TJ Mabrey, Leah Snell, Warren Spivey and Warren Spivey Jr. will serve as alternates.