TARRANT COUNTY, Texas — Mayor Mattie Parker and State Rep. Charlie Geren are publicly supporting Tarrant County Commissioner Manny Ramirez after he was targeted in political ads by his own party's chair.
Thursday, Sept. 12 in a special called meeting, Ramirez and Commissioner Gary Fickes joined with Democrats to approve a list of 51 early voting sites. Their vote left County Judge Tim O'Hare as the lone voice opposing early voting sites placed on college campuses.
After the vote, Tarrant County Republican Party Chair Bo French publicly voiced their disapproval of Ramirez and Fickes and, according to Ramirez, sent three text message ads to voters attacking Ramirez ahead of the November election.
On Saturday, Ramirez sent a letter to French and Tarrant County Republican precinct chairs defending his record and his decision to approve polling sites on college campuses.
"Never did I imagine that I would face political attacks from the Tarrant GOP simply for standing by my principals and doing what I believe is right," Ramirez wrote.
French publicly responded with a resolution passed by the Tarrant County Republican Party stating "by siding with Democrats on measures that weaken the Republican position, Commissioner Ramirez has signaled a disregard for the interests of the party and its constituents."
Ramirez was quickly supported by State Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth), who faced a primary challenger from the right in March.
"Republicans know how to earn the vote," Geren wrote in a social media post Saturday, thanking Ramirez.
Today, Mayor Mattie Parker also came out in support of Ramirez, writing on the social media platform X that Ramirez "should be commended not vilified for doing his job and protecting our fundamental right to vote."
"Democracy is meant to be an arena for ideas," Parker wrote. "When we resort to winning at the expense of voter turnout, we’ve all lost."
The Tarrant County Commissioners Court met again Tuesday to pass the county's annual budget. Early voting will begin in Tarrant County Monday, Oct. 21.
