Bondsmen Letting Their Voices Be Heard- Delegates at State Conventions

Delegates attending conventions dates back all the way to the founding of our country.  George Washington was elected to preside over the Constitutional Convention held in 1787.  The use of delegates has continued throughout the history of the United States.  In Texas, the Republican and Democrat parties select delegates to attend county and state conventions.  

Bondsmen have been serving as delegates to State conventions for years; that’s right! Democrats and Republicans.  Bondsmen like you have gotten involved and fought “Bail Reform” within the political parties.  

Every two years both political parties host state conventions to debate and decide the party business and direction for the next two years.  This typically consists of electing party officers, electing delegates to their national convention, adopting a state party platform or published list of beliefs, and adopting a list of legislative priorities, that they wish to see the governor and legislature take action on in the next legislative session.

You may ask, what does this have to do with PBT and me as a bondsman?  Well, we all know and have heard of the work that PBT and the legislative team have done during and in between legislative sessions, and the successes that they have had.  What you may not know is that PBT is fighting the fight against “Bail Reform” on multiple fronts, one of which is the political party process.  For the past three to four years PBT has been working tirelessly with grassroots groups to get bondsmen engaged in the political party process from the precinct level all the way to the state level.  Much like the success we have seen on the legislative front, PBT has had some notable successes on this front as well.

The process began with bondsmen who were already pretty politically involved.  Next, PBT and the Grassroots group reached out to bondsmen statewide and asked them to attend their election night precinct conventions for the political party they most aligned themselves with.  They were asked to offer up resolutions that PBT approved for each party to be passed that night in hopes of each resolution making it to the county convention and eventually to the respective party’s state convention for inclusion in it’s party platform or as a legislative priority.  Additionally, members were asked to possibly serve as a delegate to represent their precinct at the county convention and even try to be nominated as a delegate or alternate delegate to represent their county at the state convention.

When PBT made the statewide call to action many bondsmen answered the call and served willingly.  Two years ago at the Republican State Convention not only were bondsmen represented in the delegate and alternate ranks, PBT also set up a booth at the convention and had bondsmen like you working it.  Fellow bondsmen took shifts working the booth talking to delegates about our bail industry, discussed the ills of “Bail Reform” and encouraged delegates to vote in favor of the resolutions that we had success in forwarding to that state convention.  Just to give you a little perspective, the Republican Party of Texas State Convention is touted to be the largest political convention in the world.  Yes, even larger than the National Republican Convention.  There are between 5000-10,000 delegates and alternates in attendance.  For fellow bondsmen like Matt Clark from Williamson County and Chris and Jolynn Konnecke from Potter County, who answered the call and served for their first time, it was an experience like no other.  Through their experiences, they were able to meet and really get to know almost every one of their elected officials.  Because of their involvement they now have a voice and a level of respect in their community like never before.  For political hacks, like Clay Nicklas and Glenn and Zena Meeker from Guadalupe County, it was wonderful getting to experience the convention process with fellow bondsmen fighting for a common cause.

While our members worked hard as delegates to get our resolutions passed, we came up a little short at this convention.  As it has been said, sometimes the best offense is a good defense.  Well, the biggest success accomplished had at the convention was a good defense.  Opposing forces had also been at work producing resolutions in favor of “Bail Reform.”  The opposing side even had supporters sitting on the resolution committee, which should have made it much easier to get the pro “Bail Reform” resolutions passed.  The testimony provided to the committee by fellow bondsmen and other concerned voices succeeded in keeping these anti-bail resolutions out of the platform draft.  This however was not the end of the fight.  There is a provision that allows amendments to be offered from a delegate from the floor before it is passed by the body.  The opposing side was ready and able to offer an amendment from the floor, to include the anti-bail resolutions as a part of the platform resolutions.  What the other side did not realize is how much work your fellow bondsmen had done working the PBT booth talking to delegates and explaining what “Bail Reform” really was.  When it came time to vote from the floor aye or naye for the pro “Bail Reform” resolution, you would have thought the bondsmen manning our booth had talked to every delegate there.  The pro “Bail Reform” resolution failed by voice vote to a resounding NO, from what sounded like about 6000-7000 delegates.

By now you may be wondering why there has only been a discussion of the state convention held by the Republican party.  In part, that was PBT’s test run on involvement in the party process.  The success there inspired PBT to re-double its efforts and do it all again this year.  Like two years ago, the call to action was put out again and like two years ago, fellow bondsmen answered the call.  This time we have had success in getting resolutions forwarded to both the Democrat and Republican State Conventions and likewise have had fellow bondsmen nominated as delegates or alternate delegates to both state conventions.  

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic both conventions were scheduled for May and June, respectively.  Like so many other things, COVID-19 really messed things up.  In doing so, the Democratic Party of Texas decided to go to a completely virtual convention.  While we are not completely sure, we think fellow bondsmen Blanca Aregullin-Gandy from Grimes County made history by serving as a delegate to the first ever virtual Democratic State Convention which was held June 1-6.  PBT had planned on having a booth and having fellow bondsmen work the booth and talk to delegates, like we did at the Republican Convention two years ago.  This however was not possible due to the pandemic, so success in our endeavors at the Democratic State Convention was limited.  The Republican Party of Texas addressed the COVID-19 shutdown by postponing its convention until July 16-18, in Houston, but they have maintained an in person approach.  PBT and fellow bondsmen delegates are currently gearing up for this convention.  Our booth space is reserved, resolutions have been forwarded and fellow bondsmen will be there serving as delegates and alternates once again, representing their counties and you their fellow bondsmen.

The lessons that PBT has learned over the course of these endeavors is that each of us has the ability to make a difference in the bail reform debate.  You have knowledge and relationships that can help to educate our elected officials.  

Be inspired to get involved and to be more engaged in the political process, because this is how we improve our county, state and country to be a better place to live and work.  Whether or not we are fighting against Bail Reform or fighting for our right to stay in business, involvement in the process is the way you or the bail  industry has a voice to get things done.  Join us in this process.