By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-906853.mp3
Dallas, TX – The Texas Republican Convention gavels into session today at the Dallas Convention Center. KERA's BJ Austin says 15 thousand delegates, alternates and guests make it one of the largest such political conventions in the country.
Delegates will meet and greet, hear from elected officials, approve the party's platform, and elect a state chairman.
Tarrant County GOP Chair Stephanie Klick says it's going to be exciting because there are a lot of first-time delegates.
Klick: A lot of folks from the Tea Party movement are taking it to the next step and are participating in the party process by becoming delegates.
And Klick says that's a good thing.
Klick: I believe that it's a political transfusion that's putting new blood into the party that will invigorate it and make us stronger.
SMU political scientist Cal Jillson says that's what Republican Party leaders are trying to orchestrate.
Jillson: They're trying to encompass the Tea Party within the Republican Party without turning the party over to them. And I think they've been pretty successful in doing that so far.
Jillson says a unified Republican Party will emerge from the platform and policy votes, behind an undisputed leader.
Jillson: Rick Perry has control of the Republican Party not only as its leading office holder, but also of this convention.
Gubernatorial primary rival, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison will make one appearance with the Governor, according to a party source. Senator John Cornyn will address the convention. Jillson says but for an appearance before the platform committee, primary rival Debra Medina will not have a leadership or speaking role at the convention.
Dallas County Republican Party Chair Jonathan Neerman says unity is the goal.
Neerman: We want to make sure that the party, the delegates, the candidates are all unified under one flag and one ticket going forward to November.
The party plank on immigration appears most likely to cause division. Delegates are expected to debate a demand for an Arizona-type law that would allow local police to check legal status of people stopped for other violations.
Governor Perry has said the Arizona model is not good for Texas. His first convention appearance is a breakfast for Hispanic delegates.
Dianne Edmondson, Denton County Republican Party Chair, says debate could become energized. But she says one thing is for certain: the Texas Republican Party Platform that emerges from this convention will be conservative through and through.
Edmondson: What we hope is that we will keep our platform the most conservative in the nation, which I'm sure we will do.
In addition to state politicians, keynote speakers include Congresswoman Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, and Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour