Republicans Put Fun in Fundraiser
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Canyon Lake Republican Women raised over $13,000 at their 26th Annual Fish Fry on Sept. 22 at CRRC’s Rec Center on Mabel Jones Dr.
The fundraiser supports outreach efforts like purchasing dictionaries for third-graders at Startzville Elementary School, providing copies of the U.S. Constitution to students, sponsoring the Freedom Walk across Canyon Lake Dam on Sept. 11, and participating in Canyon Lake’s Independence Day and Christmas parades.
But even though Comal County is currently solidly Republican, Carolyn Besselman, third vice president of fundraising, said Canyon Lake Republican Women aren’t taking any chances on the Nov. 6 midterm election. They’re working hard to support Republican candidates for county, state and the U.S. Congress as well as candidates running three positions open on the Texas Third Court of Appeals in Austin.
Activities include blockwalking, making phone calls, and attending conventions.
“The Democrats are throwing out candidates right and left at the county level,” she said. “We’re keying in on every single race that we can. I’ve never been this involved. We need to start at the bottom, with the smallest races, (then) all the way to the top. And that’s what we’re doing. I think our club has really pulled together on this.”
Canyon Lake Republican Women are joined by Bulverde Area Republican Women, New Braunfels Republican Women, and Republican Club of Comal County, Besselman said.
“I’ve never seen as many people invested in the races as Comal County has. Comal County is really, really strong in Texas. I’ve talked to several politicians. Republican women get out and work to keep Republican candidates in office.”
Many of those Republican officeholders and/or candidates attended the fish fry. They include
- Ben Scroggins, Constable Precinct 1
- Bobbie Koepp, Comal County clerk
- Donna Campbell, State Senator Dist. 25
- Donna Eccleston, Comal County commissioner, Precinct 1
- Ken Mercer, State Board of Education District 5
- Kyle Biedermann, State House District 73
- Jennifer Tharp, Comal County district attorney
Politics didn’t get in the way of fun, however.
Besselman said as is tradition, tickets were handed out so attendees could “vote” for their favorite act in the talent show, whose theme was the 1950s. This year, “The Three Twins” won for their act: New Braunfels Area Republican Women’s Anita Valdez, Koepp, and Canyon Lake Republican Women’s Barbara Knight.
Canyon Lake Republican Women meet the third Wednesday of the month at Tye Preston Memorial Library, 16311 S. Access Rd., Canyon Lake.
