The race for Chair of the Harris County Republican Party could determine the future of Republicans in Texas. A dozen forums are scheduled to help voters make the right choice. The candidates will hit the ground running, with two forums scheduled for tomorrow and then 10 more stretching through February 16th. Unfortunately, none are scheduled on the Northeast side of the county - perhaps the Kingwood Tea Party Society could step into this breech and schedule one.

Here are the dates - click on the date for more information and a map to the location (many thanks to candidate Ed Hubbard for his help in compiling this list):

• January 12, 7:00am--Northwest Houston Pachyderm Club
• January 12, 11:30 am--Greater Houston Pachyderm Club
• January 18th, at 11am--Ronald Reagan Republican Women
• January 18th, evening--San Jacinto RW
• January 19th, evening--Clear Lake Republican Club
• January 20th, noon--Houston Professional RW
• January 21st, 6:30pm--Daughthers of Liberty RW
• January 25th, 11:30am--Magic Circle RW
• January 26th, evening--Young Republicans
• January 27th, 9:30am--Village RW
• February 4th--evening --Tomball Pachyderm Club
• February 16th, 6:30pm--Tejas RW

You may also click here to see the full calendar.

And here are the candidates, in ballot order:

Ed Hubbard - Priority Issues

Don Large - Priority Issues

Jared Woodfill, incumbent - Priority Issues

Paul Simpson - Priority Issues

I hope that these events are standing room only so that voters can make the right decision. If you do not think that the Harris County Republican Party's Chair race is critical, then you haven't talked to the professionals on Gov. Rick Perry's or Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's staff. If the party continues to shrink in Harris County, Texas will turn blue even faster than is predicted. If Harris County can reverse its downward trend and bring in new voters, particularly among Hispanics, Texas may not turn blue at all.

The key determinant will be whether or not voters demand a change in the leadership of the HCRP. Mr. Woodfill has been in the position for eight years, long enough that his track record cannot be overlooked. It will be up to the other candidates to bring his deficiencies as a leader to the attention of the voters. As in any election, the incumbent has an enormous advantage. In Mr. Woodfill's case, that advantage extends not only to campaign finances, but to using the resources of the county party for his re-election. Please read these posts: Misuse of HCRP Resources and Smoke and Mirrors and search this site for more information. Then click on the picture, name, or priority issues links of the candidate above and research them.

After that, attend a forum or two and make an informed choice. Republicans are not going to win back Harris County simply because people are dismayed at President Barack Obama and Congress. We need a winning message, a message that not only points out the flaws in the opposition but tells voters in plain and simple terms what our party is going to do for the country.

(click here for a report on the first chair forum held by the Memorial West Republican Women's Club)