About ART
"When A.R.T. started, being a Republican in Texas was pretty lonely work."
- John Armstrong
ART traces its roots back to 1974 and an election that was clearly a turning point in modern Texas politics. Four months after the election, one hundred dedicated Republicans gathered in a motel near DFW airport to begin laying the groundwork for a remarkable comeback and a string of Republican gains and victories.
ART’s goals today remain focused on building the party from the grass roots up.
George Seay joins Hector De Leon as Co-Chairs of the ART Board of Directors. Mr. Seay, a successful Dallas businessman who has been instrumental in introducing new people to national and state Republican efforts, helped his grandfather Bill Clements run for Governor of Texas. Hector De Leon is a pioneer of Texas Republican politics and has Chaired ART since 2005. Mr. De Leon is a name partner of De Leon & Washburn in Austin.
“While ART is extremely pleased with the formidable group of Texas leaders on the Board today, we are only getting started,” Mr. Seay said. “The future for Texas Republicans is bright, and ART will play a large role in shaping that future.” Mr. DeLeon added, “ART’s singular focus in 2010 is winning competitive Texas House races. We’ve got great candidates and we’re on the right side of the issues. We have a plan to win competitive races. I like our chances in 2010 and in the years beyond in Texas politics.”
Executive Director Pat Robbins has helped lead ART since its inception, helping Republicans win an 88-62 majority in the Texas House in 2003. It was the first time the GOP led the chamber in more than 130 years.
Board of Directors:
| Arcilia Acosta, Dallas | |
| Roy Bailey, Dallas | |
| Will Beecherl, Dallas | |
| Hon. Henry Bonilla, San Antonio/Washington DC | |
| Dick Bowers, Corpus Christi | |
| Robert Brown, El Paso | |
| George P. Bush, Austin | |
| David Cabrales, Dallas | |
| Scott Caven, Houston | |
| Harlan Crow, Dallas | |
| Todd Furniss, Dallas | |
| Hector De Leon, Austin | |
| Hon. Ed Emmett, Houston | |
| Bill Giesenschlag, Burleson County | |
| Frank Guerra, San Antonio | |
| David A. Hartman, Austin | |
| Dr. Charles Heaton, Tyler | |
| Tom Hicks, Dallas | |
| Ned Holmes, Houston | |
| Gaylord Hughey, Tyler | |
| Woody Hunt, El Paso | |
| Mark Hurley, Dallas | |
| Dee Kelly, Jr., Fort Worth | |
| Cyndi Krier, San Antonio | |
| Hal Lambert, Dallas | |
| Victor Leal, Amarillo | |
| Lowry Mays, San Antonio | |
| Harriet Miers, Dallas | |
| Red McCombs, San Antonio | |
| Kit Moncrief, Fort Worth | |
| Ardon Moore, Fort Worth | |
| Morgan O'Connor, Victoria | |
| Brenda Pejovich, Dallas | |
| John Nau, Houston | |
| Roxann Neumann, Houston | |
| Rolando Pablos, San Antonio | |
| Bill Quackenbush, Amarillo | |
| Pat Robbins, Austin | |
| Brooke Rollins, Fort Worth | |
| Bob Rowling, Dallas | |
| Lisa Luby Ryan, Dallas | |
| Mike Scott, Corpus Christi | |
| George Seay, Dallas | |
| Nicholas Serafy, Brownsville | |
| John Steen, San Antonio | |
| Scott Turner, Addison | |
| Ray Washburne, Dallas | |
| Dr. Walter Wilkerson, Jr., Conroe | |
| (Listing includes Nominees to the board) |
Emeritus Members of the Board:
| James A. Leonard, Lakeway |
| Verne Philips, Austin |