Chairman Jared Woodfill and the Harris County Republican Party put action behind their words yesterday and opened an extension office in the heart of the Hispanic East Side. Or East End as we call it in the hood. They combined the grand opening of the office with their annual bicycle program, which rewards students of J.R. Harris Elementary School for academic achievement. It was a big party, complete with pizza, soft drinks, blaring music, elected officials, wannabe elected officials, and best of all, eager students and parents picking up their hard earned reward.

The Office

The extension office is located at 619 Broadway St, click for a map. It is just south of the turn into Brady's Landing, for those of you familiar with that restaurant. Used to be a Shanghai Red's there but alas, time moved on. To get into the office from the south, you'll be coming up from the Broadway St. underpass and will need to make a u-turn at Cypress, go back a block on the Broadway access road, make another u-turn and it will take you right up to the building. If you are coming from the north, just remember to take the access road, not the underpass. There is plenty of parking available, both in the front and the back.

Chairman Woodfill and Executive Director Jeff Yates made a very good and smart decision and will not have paid staff manning the building. The office will be completely staffed by volunteers, which is as it should be. If we can't get enough volunteers to run the office, we shouldn't have it there in the first place. As it stands now, the party will be responsible for the rent and utilities, which all together will be around $1,500 a month. So we need to do two things. First, if you want to volunteer your time, contact the HCRP by clicking here. They will be setting up a site specific contact page soon but that will work for now. Second, consider donating to the cause, you know, putting your money where your mouth is. I don't know what kind of fundraising program they are considering but if they could sign up 100 of us to give $15 a month, that would do it.

Chairman Woodfill's vision is for the building to become a community resource center. As such, he already has classes scheduled for adult English and citizenship classes. But that is only a starting point. The main thing is that Harris County Republicans are invading, so to speak, enemy territory. I think Jared is correct when he states that we have allowed others to define us, it is time for us to show people who we really are.

The Office Opening

Lots and lots of attendees from the party. Obviously, Chairman Woodfill was there, along with HCRP's Executive Director Yates and Deputy Director Marc Cowart. Others I saw were Harris County Treasurer Orlando Sanchez, almost candidate for Attorney General Ted Cruz, Ed Hubbard, Paul Simpson, CD-29 candidate Roy Morales, family court candidates Sheri Y. Dean (with her camera!) and James Lombardino, Lisa Sowle with the Houston chapter of the LNRC, Dorothy Olmos, former family court candidate Rick Ramos, Texas HD-148 candidate Fernando Herrera, District Clerk candidate Chris Daniel, RHCA founder Bernadette McElroy, county education trustee Mike Wolfe, county criminal court candidate Don Smyth (and Lydia), and I'm sure I missed a few. Lots of people, lots of fun.

The Bicycle Awards

The big event was the bicycle giveaway program. But giveaway is the wrong word. These bicycles were earned by the students and the joy in their eyes was incredible. I can't say enough about this program, and how it is the right thing to do, and the right way to do it. What better way to teach a child that hard work pays off?

Incredibly, a local Democrat blogger not only trashes the program but actually tried to get it eliminated by complaining to HISD brass. He claimed that everyone should get a bicycle because if only those that passed the tests received one, the kids that didn't pass the tests would "feel bad". Good grief. What a sad, miserable, pathetic life he must lead, to want to deny children rewards from their hard work.

When HISD brass came out and investigated the claim, Principle Steven Harding had to explain that no one is embarrassed, that he doesn't stand in front of the student body and say, look, Maria passed the test and gets a bike, but little Jose failed and doesn't. The HISD brass not only let the program continue but congratulated the school for its improved academic performance. In fact, Principle Harding told me that this year would be their best ever and he was going to improve on it again next year. Unfortunately, performance improvements like those at J. R. Harris do not go unnoticed and someone will try to move him into an administrative role. Hopefully, he is building a strong foundation for the progress to continue.

A Great Day for the Harris County Republican Party

All in all, it was a great day for Harris County Republicans. I told Houston Chronicle reporter Joe Holley that there was no way he could write anything negative about this one and he agreed. And he didn't.

Well done, Jared. Well done.