Bexar County GOP chair refuses to certify runoff election totals after losing in landslide
SAN ANTONIO – After a bruising defeat in the runoff election for Bexar County GOP chair, Cynthia Brehm announced on Thursday she will not certify the results. “Therefore, I cannot in good conscious (sic) certify the results of this election.”Republican voters in Bexar County largely rejected Brehm in favor of her opponent, John Austin. Austin received nearly two-thirds of the votes, election data showed. Before the runoff election, Brehm stoked controversy when she shared a Facebook post suggesting George Floyd’s death was staged for political reasons. The Bexar County Elections Department did not respond to requests seeking comment on Brehm’s allegations on Thursday.
Bexar County Republican Chair Cynthia Brehm falls to challenger John Austin
SAN ANTONIO – Editor’s note: Find other results from the Bexar County runoff here. UPDATE, 11 p.m.: John Austin will likely be the next Bexar County Republican Chair. With 95% of precincts reporting, Bexar County election results show Austin with 66% compared to 33% for Cynthia Brehm. Earlier this year, Brehm was pressured to resign by top Texas Republicans, including Gov. You can find additional election results in the drop-down menu below:You can also click here for more election results.
Bexar County GOP Chair says she won’t resign despite calls from top Texas Republicans over George Floyd post
SAN ANTONIO – UPDATE: Bexar County GOP Chair Cynthia Brehm told KSAT Thursday evening that has no plans to resign, adding that she has learned from the situation and is moving forward with representing Republicans in Bexar County. Greg Abbott, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and other prominent Texas Republicans want Cynthia Brehm to resign her post immediately as Bexar County GOP Chair for spreading a George Floyd conspiracy theory. “These comments are disgusting and have no place in the Republican Party or in public discourse,” John Wittman, Gov. Republican Party of Texas Chairman James Dickey echoed what the other GOP leaders said in a statement Thursday afternoon. “Bexar County Republican Party Chairman Cynthia Brehm’s Facebook post from June 1, 2020 reflected a basic disregard for facts.
Gov. Greg Abbott calls for resignation of Bexar County GOP chair after she floats racist George Floyd conspiracy theory
Republican Party of Bexar County Chairman Cynthia Brehm. Greg Abbott is calling for the resignation of the Republican Party chair in one of the state's biggest counties after she floated a conspiracy theory about the death of George Floyd. "Cynthia Brehm should immediately resign her position as Chair of the Bexar County Republican Party." Garcia's tweet prompted U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin, whose district includes Bexar County, to call for Brehm to step down immediately. The Bexar County Republican Party chair has a new conspiracy theory.
Coronavirus update San Antonio, May 23: City leaders say coronavirus is not a hoax, nor a political issue
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff updated the community about the local response to COVID-19 in their daily briefing Saturday night. Here are a few of the highlights:Nirenberg reported 2,418 COVID-19 cases and no new deaths in Bexar County, as of Saturday. City officials also reported 12 new cases from the community, 3 new cases from the Bexar County Jail and 1 case from other congregate settings. After video surfaced online of Bexar County GOP Chairwoman Cynthia Brehm stating that the coronavirus is a hoax or essentially a political issue, city leaders weighed in on the comments. City leaders and health officials hope this response continues.
At Rally, Bexar County Republican Chair Cynthia Brehm Claims Coronavirus Is a Democratic Hoax
click to enlarge Twitter Video Capture / @bubbaprogJust when it appears Bexar County Republican Chairwoman Cynthia Brehm can't crawl any further down a rabbit hole of conspiracy theories, she manages to burrow deeper. The Bexar County GOP chair concludes this rally by stating that the coronavirus is a hoax perpetuated by Democrats, tells people to take off their masks, and then everyone hugs each other. pic.twitter.com/1XOFeswMiO Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) May 22, 2020Conspiracy claims and inflammatory rhetoric have been hallmarks of Brehm's tenure as county GOP chair. She alleged without evidence, for example, that Bexar officials tampered with ballots to assist Mayor Ron Nirenberg. Brehm is now locked in a runoff with John Austin to keep her job.
sacurrent.comUnlikely alliance distrusts local 2020 primary results
SAN ANTONIO – An unlikely alliance between the chair of the Bexar County Republican Party and an indicted former constable has been formed to protest the results of the 2020 primary one week ago. Cynthia Brehm is now in a runoff to reclaim her position as the local GOP chair, and Michelle Barrientes Vela lost her race for Bexar County sheriff. However, Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen said any plans to overturn the election are between Brehm and the state Republican party. I stand behind this election.”Texas March 2020 Primary Election ResultsApparently so do Bexar County commissioners, after listening to Callanen’s explanation of the what occurred. She said once both political parties canvass the results Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, the official results will be released.
Unlikely alliance distrusts local 2020 primary results
Unlikely alliance distrusts local 2020 primary resultsPublished: March 10, 2020, 6:45 pmAn unlikely alliance between the chair of the Bexar County Republican Party and an indicted former constable has been formed to protest the results of the 2020 primary one week ago.
Bexar GOP Chair, Former Constable Question Election Integrity
Cynthia Brehm, who heads Bexar Countys Republican Party, criticized the Bexar County Elections Departments handling of the March primary election and demanded that the election be redone at a county commissioners meeting Tuesday. Not a recount, Brehm said. She dismissed the idea that her call for an investigation of the election results came from her missing the runoff in the sheriffs race. Thats not sour grapes, thats the community saying theres a problem.Now, both county parties must canvass or verify the accuracy of election results in their respective primaries. We must maintain election integrity.Callanen said she was unsure what would happen if the Republican Party of Bexar County did not send canvassed results to the state party.
therivardreport.comParty Chair Races Result in Runoffs as Incumbents Hold Slim Leads
Facing three opponents in her bid for a second term, Democratic Party Chair Monica Alcntara drew 30.9 percent of the vote, followed by Grace Rose Gonzales with 27.3 percent. Republican Party Chair Cynthia Brehm drew 33.5 percent of the vote in a four-candidate field and will face John Austin, who got 31.4 percent, in a May 26 runoff. Bexar County Republican Chair candidate John Austin greets friends and supporters at his watch party. The former Democratic Party chair held the position for six years before losing in 2018 to Alcntara on the heels of a failed mayoral campaign the previous spring. So we knew it was in his plans.Going forward into a runoff, Alcntara said she looks forward to pulling everyone back together.
therivardreport.comChallengers Line Up to Unseat Party Chairs as Infighting Persists
The Bexar County Democratic Party has effectively splintered into two groups, according to office manager Linda Alaniz. We cant stop them from holding meetings, but its unfortunate theyve chosen the name the Bexar County Democratic Party. All they do in the meetings is fight, argue, and talk bad about one another. Jacinto Chinto Martinez, candidate Republican party chairThe Republican Party of Bexar County also faces internal stressors. Republican Party chair candidate Jacinto Chinto Martinez said meetings during his time as a member of the party frequently devolved into quibbling. Party chair candidate John Austin said the local party has become decreasingly effective under its current leadership.
therivardreport.comBexar County Republican Chair Cynthia Brehm and Another Woman Exchange Assault Allegations
Facebook / Bexar County Republican PartyBexar County Republican Party Chairwoman Cynthia Brehm called the police to report she'd been assaulted last month at the party's headquarters. However, the other woman told SAPD's investigating officer that Brehm had committed the assault, grabbing her by the wrist and yelling obscenities, according to the police report.Brehm told thethat she has grasped Rojas, but only in self defense. Rojas was unavailable for comment at press time Thursday.Details of the December 16 dustup were first reported by local station KENS5. She said Rojas heckled her during the meeting but added that the former operations manager's complaints were unintelligible. She added that at least one witness saw the confrontation and that she would never damage her own career by assaulting someone.
sacurrent.comBexar County Poised to Hold Joint Primary Election in March
Bexar County will have a joint primary election next March, Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen confirmed Friday. At the last county commissioners meeting, Bexar County Republican chair Cynthia Brehm refused to sign a resolution that would have given the elections department authority to run both the Democratic and Republican primary elections on election day. Those requests have been tabled for now and will be discussed in contract negotiations over how to handle the primary election, Callanen said. Bexar County Democratic Party chair Monica Alcantara signed the joint primary election agreement earlier in December. Without a joint primary election resolution, the Republican party would have had to find their own voting equipment and hire their own election officials, Callanen said.
therivardreport.comSeparate Bexar County primaries possible
SAN ANTONIO – Bexar County Democrats and Republicans could be headed to different polling sites and vastly different voting experiences in the March primary. Bexar County Republican Party Chairwoman Cynthia Brehm refused to sign a joint resolution at Tuesday’s Commissioner Court meeting that would agree to participating in a joint primary administered by the Bexar County Elections Department. Democratic voters, however, would vote in a primary run by the Bexar County Elections Department. Separate primaries were last held in Bexar County in 2002, and Callanen said there was a lot of disarray, especially for the Republicans, who she said did not have sufficient staffing at polling sites. Brehm did not respond to a request for comment through the Bexar County Republican Party.
Nelson Wolff Warns Republican Party Chair Her Plan for Separate Primaries Risks Repeat of 2002 'Disaster'
Facebook / Bexar County Republican PartyBexar County Republican Party Chairwoman Cynthia Brehm this week refused to sign a resolution to hold joint 2020 primaries. The Republican chair who was unavailable for comment at press time has yet to explain her unwillingness to sign. Wolff, when contacted by the Current, said he's unsure why Brehm seems intent on forcing a separate primary. For anyone who doesn't remember, the outcome included lawsuits, voters showing up to closed polling places and the ultimate intervention of a district judge. "I think she was in some kind of disagreement with Jacque, and that might have resulted in hard feelings," Wolff said.
sacurrent.comBexar County GOP Chair Balks at Signing Deal for Joint Primary in March
Approving the joint resolution has typically been considered a formality for county commissioners. We need to work this out.Brehm declined to say why she refused to sign onto the joint resolution. Jacque [Callanen, Bexar County elections administrator] knows precisely what my requests are and she denied those requests, Brehm told the Rivard Report. In September, the Secretary of States office approved Bexar County to use the vote center model. With commissioners approval, the Bexar County Elections Department will apply to the Secretary of States office to be designated a successful vote center county.
therivardreport.comCouple claims auto shop made them remove Trump sticker; shop says sticker was illegally placed
You do not have to take off that sticker," Brehm said. Martinez said he urged the couple to remove the sticker because of where it was placed, not because it was political in nature. When I found out that the Trump sticker was not blocking anything, I knew it was an issue and a teaching moment for others," Brehm said. There was no reason to remove the sticker, but he chose to comply and remove it just to get the vehicle inspected," Brehm said. This is why he had them remove the Trump sticker," Brehm said.
San Antonio Couple Claims Local Auto Shop Told Them to Remove Trump Sticker Before Inspection
They allege that the employee told them he wasn't able to do the inspection until it was removed. "The video, which ends with the couple and Brehm all saying "Trump 2020," has grabbed the attention of local conservatives. Instead, he said she removed the sticker and told her husband she had another one to replace it.Still, the Rodriguezes claim the sticker wasn't covering the brake light . They provided a picture of the sticker taken after the inspection to show where the sticker was placed. "There was no reason to remove the sticker, but [the Rodriguezes] chose to comply and remove it just to get the vehicle inspected," Brehm said.
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