Munisteri calls out League of Women Voters in Austin

Republican Chairman Munisteri to GOP Candidates: Seek Neutral Debate Sponsor
Cites League of Women Voters Ties to Democratic Party and Candidates
August 31, 2010
For Immediate Release
AUSTIN — Republican Party of Texas Chairman Steve Munisteri urged his party's nominees for State Board of
Education in Districts 5 and 10 to not accept invitations to debate from the Austin Chapter of the League of
Women Voters (LWV), citing their organization’s leadership ties to the Democratic Party, to Democrat candidates
in these races, and for financially supporting the Democratic Party and its candidates.
“In Austin, the League of Women Voters should really be called the ‘League of Women Democrats,’” Munisteri
said. “Their elected officers and debate committee members have voted in multiple Democrat primaries and have
donated thousands of dollars to Democratic Party committees and their candidates, including to the two Democrat
candidates in these contests.”
“How can the Austin Chapter of the LWV claim to be non-partisan when there are no Republicans among their
elected officers or on their debate committee?” Munisteri stated, “There are over 475,000 women living in Travis
County and yet they cannot find a single Republican woman to be involved with their organization or with this
process?”
“I’ve been involved in Texas politics for over 30 years and I’ve seen the political process stacked at times, but this
is ridiculous. What makes this so disingenuous is that it’s being done under the banner of a supposedly nonpartisan
group. But there’s nothing non-partisan about the people organizing this proposed debate,” he said.
“For these reasons, I am urging Ken Mercer, State Board of Education Member, District 5 and Dr. Marsha Farney,
Republican nominee for State Board of Education, District 10, to seek an alternative debate sponsor whose
political credentials will assure voters that the debate and the debate sponsor are fair, impartial and nonpartisan,”
Munisteri stated.
“I respect the LWV’s right to participate in the political process, but their liberal views and the ties of their
leadership to the Democratic Party and Democrat candidates make them unsuitable and unqualified to serve as a
neutral, non-partisan debate sponsor,” Munisteri said.

Attached is a summary of the vote history of the elected officers and debate committee of the Austin Chapter of
the League of Women Voters as well as other noted activity and ties to the Democrat Party and to Democrat
candidates:

Name LWV Position 2010 2008 2006 2004 Note:
PrimaryPrimaryPrimaryPrimary
Frances
McIntyrePresident D D D D

Carolyn Baker Community Relations D D none D
Array 8/31/10 4:00 PM
http://clicks.electionemail.com/preview/?c=3672&g=538&p=fb9ecc85843805f09f281a4ebdc59ff8 Page 2 of 2

Jo Reichler Organization D D D none

Anne Shelby
Clark Secretary D D none none

Carol Olewin Treasurer D D none D

Lisa Harris
SBOE Candidate Forum
Co-Chair D D D D
Donated $415 to Travis
County Democrat Party
since 2006

Anne Roussos
SBOE Candidate Forum
Co-Chair D D D D

Anita Privett LWV Debate Committee D none D D
Donated $120 to Travis
County Democrat Party in
2007

Nan Clayton LWV Debate Committee D D D D
1998 Democrat Nominee for
Travis County
Commissioner.

Jaci Collins LWV Debate Committee D D D D

Nancy Neavel LWV Debate Committee D D D D
Donated over $6,000 to
Democrat Party &
candidates since 2000.

Janet Hamilton
SBOE Educational
Forum Co-Chair D none D D
Donated over $8,000 to
Democrat candidates and
the DNC.

Susan
Morrison
SBOE Educational
Forum Co-Chair D D D D
donated $100 to both
Democrat SBOE candidates
on 6/30/10.

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Press Contact: Bryan Preston, (512) 879-4062, bpreston@texasgop.org