Wilco Primary Update: "Republicans" Who Work For Democrats

In a relatively conservative area like Williamson County, sometimes potential candidates feel that they can only win if they run on the Republican ticket.  However, filing as a Republican is not the same thing as actually embracing a conservative philosophy.  Therefore when we are evaluating our GOP Primary candidates, it is important to look beyond the standard campaign lingo.  Unfortunately, among the declared candidates for the Williamson County GOP Primary, there are a few problems.

For the contest to replace retiring County Treasurer Vivian Wood, there are two candidates:  Michell Cantwell of Leander and Jerri Jones of Georgetown.  Cantwell has served on the Leander City Council since 2003, and has been an active member of several local Republican and Conservative Groups.  There is little question of her commitment to conservative principles.

Jerri Jones is retired from the Marine Corps (Lt. Col.) and lives in Georgetown.  Although a member of the Georgetown Area Republican Women, Jones has been less than committed to her fellow Republicans.  In the 2012 election cycle, Jones seemed a little bitter about the Primary results and publicly supported Democrat Ken Crain for District Attorney, and, according to campaign finance reports even made a $100 donation to Crain.

While voter participation in general elections runs at about 60%, less than 30% vote in Primary elections, and many local elections see less than 10% turnout.  The percentage of those who actually make a campaign contribution is probably less than 1%.  This is a passionate supporter indeed.

Now there have been times that I have been disappointed in the results of a Primary race, and I have quietly refused to vote for a particularly nasty Republican.  However, I cannot imagine publicly and financially supporting any Democrat candidate, unless he/she were pro-life, pro-family, pro-Second Amendment, and fiscally conservative, which means, basically, never.
 
That Jerri Jones would go so far as to support a Democrat in this way is very troubling.  I’m sure she is a lovely person, but the political implications are too much.  Jones actively worked to elect a Democrat to a powerful county-wide office.  Either she believed in Ken Crain’s liberal Democrat message or she was feeling very spiteful and vindictive over the results of the primary.  Either way, it doesn’t bode well for her prospects as a Republican leader in Williamson County.