Introductory news story: The Dallas Express, Janurary 4, 2024, Local County’s GOP Releases Notice on Rep The representative in question is Justin Holland. This one paragraph speaks volumes.
“We respect Rep. Holland (R-Rockwall) for the good votes he has made on our behalf over the years; however, he has grown increasingly unresponsive to voters and the Republican Party, especially over the last two legislative sessions. In doing so, he has insulted and belittled local Republican voters and your Rockwall County Republican Party,” read the notice.
What is the legal definition of a representative?
A legal representative is one who represents or stands in the place of another under authority recognized by law, especially with respect to the other’s property or interests: as
a : PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE
b : an agent having legal status especially : one acting under a power of attorney
There is a fundamental difference between a democracy and a republic. In a democracy, the majority vote of the whole body of the people directly controls the government.
In a republican government, the people elect representatives to represent their interests, holding elected representatives accountable for their actions.
Political Parties
Worldviews of the people who elect representatives naturally culminate as political parties. The three divisions of partisanship (from left to right) are the Democratic Party, the Independent (not aligned with either of the two organized political parties), and the Republican Party.
The two major political parties express a common worldview through a published platform. Read the platform of the Democratic Party here. Read the platform of the Republican Party here.
Democratic Party voters expect their elected representatives to follow the Democratic Party’s platform. Blue is the chosen color.
Republican Party voters expect their elected representatives to follow the Republican Party’s platform. Red is the chosen color.
What do independent representatives, that is to say, non-partisan representatives, follow? They follow their ‘feelings,’ I suppose.
Democratic Party voters expect their representatives to follow that party’s platform. Likewise, Republican Party voters expect their representatives to follow the party’s platform.
Partisan elected representatives who betray their respective platforms take on the color of purple. Purple Democrats are nicknamed DINOs, Democrats in name only. Purple Republicans are nicknamed RINOs, Republicans in name only.
The Purpose of the Partisan Platforms
Each party’s platform represents the majority worldview of the partisan voters.
The legal definition of a representative who does not follow his or her party’s platform is a misrepresentation, someone who represents in an unsatisfactory manner.
There are two ways for elected legislators to continue in office. They can follow the money of political action committees (PACs) or the people’s will within their respective districts.
In our Senate District 2 (SD2), Senator Bob Hall follows the will of the majority of the voters in his district.
In our House District 33 (HD33), Justin Holland follows the money of his out-of-district contributors. 96% of Justin Holland’s fundraising comes from outside of his district, as reported by Cary Cheshire in 2016. Justin Holland continues to represent out-of-district donors in his campaigns.
Justin’s local supporters are generally members of his ‘fraternity,’ members of his social clubs who are not aware of the statewide issues, particularly critical issues addressed by the Republican Party.
His main supporters do not live within House District 33. His top contributors are classified as entities, meaning Political Action Committees (PACs).
A recent post in The Dallas Express brings to light an alleged (we have to say ‘alleged,’ you know) corrupt real estate deal. For details, read TX Rep Allegedly Set Up Corrupt Real Estate Deal.
Holland publicly expressed his disdain for the Republican Party of Texas and the Rockwall County Republican Party in a tweet on June 16, 2023.
Following a lengthy deliberative process of several months, the Rockwall County Republican Party Executive Committee transmitted a letter of rebuke to Justin Holland. The letter was also published online. An image of the letter can be read below.
RINOs and neocons do not represent the interests of the people within their districts. They represent the interests of people outside their districts.
I voted for Dennis London for House District 33. Why? I know him. I know Dennis respects the Republican Party and our party platform. Over the 88th Legislative session, while our elected representative ignored us, Dennis testified before committee hearings on our behalf. He frequently attended meetings of the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) to be well-informed on the issues and the priorities of the Texas Republican Party. He has gone around the state presenting his “Don’t California My Texas” presentation. In short, Dennis London acted as our de facto representative. He has proven himself.
As you can tell by the volume of political mailers filling your mailbox, there is a lot of dirt being thrown around. The Rock 30 Podcast interview of Dennis London, posted February 25, 2024, started off with a noteworthy remark, “Here’s the issue we have with you is we can’t find any dirt on you.“
Knowledge is Power. Ignorance is a Choice.
John White
Rockwall, Texas
John N. White 