While Democrats are looking to knock Republicans out at the state level, the GOP is facing serious challenges from Libertarians over who the real party of opposition is in Travis County. The Libertarian Party of Texas is demanding that the Travis Co. Republican Party hand over public records of its March 4 precinct conventions, and its leaders say they have been waiting four months for them.

Under the Texas Election Code, convention chairs must make copies of the original list of all delegates and alternates selected and submit them to the county chair within three days of the convention. While the originals are not public information, the copies are, and that’s what LPT Executive Director Wes Benedict is requesting. But so far, he’s been left waiting. On April 14, LPT Assistant Director Arthur DiBianca e-mailed outgoing TCRP Chair Alan Sager, requesting the copies. Sager e-mailed him that day, saying, “Take it up with the next Chairman.” Since then, DiBianca and Benedict have been calling, e-mailing, and even driving out to the GOP headquarters on Burnet Road to request the records, but to no avail. A similar request was made to the Hays Co. Republicans, and Benedict said they were “responsive and allowed us to make copies.”

On Monday, Benedict set up a meeting with TCRP Chair Rosemary Edwards for Aug. 14. TCRP Executive Director Mistie Davis put the delay down to administrative changes in the hand-over from Sager to Edwards. “There was a changing of the guard, and offices moved,” she said, “so some of the information we don’t have on hand, but we’re more than willing to get it to him.”

Benedict said he hopes to at least clarify where the copies are. He said, “I’ve been getting different answers on [whether] they have the info, or they never got it from Sager, or they’ve got the originals, but they’re not public information.” Benedict plans to use the delegate lists to contact disaffected Repub­licans. “I’d like to send fundraising letters to them and see if I can get them to join the Libertarian Party,” said Benedict. He sees no issue with one party contacting another party’s activists and added, “I get letters and e-mails from John McCain every day.”

This article appears in August 15 • 2008.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.