Candidates decline to attend Tea Party forum
Several candidates are taking a stand against the Montgomery County Tea Party and will not attend the organizations forum scheduled for Monday.
Senate District 4 candidates Gordy Bunch and Brandon Creighton, along with House District 16 candidate Will Metcalf, will not participate in the forum.
The forum is scheduled for 6-9 p.m. Monday at The Woodlands Bible Church, located at 2407 Timberloch Place in The Woodlands.
Bunch, a board member for The Woodlands Township, said he elected not to attend after the MCTP announced its early endorsement of opponent Steve Toth, who is the District 15 state representative, without vetting all the candidates.
There was no vetting process, Bunch said. They endorsed Steve out of the gate and they asked me to participate (in an interview) post-endorsing Steve, which I did.
However, Bunch said Tea Party members did not honor his request regarding the vetting process.
One of my conditions I had was that they would not promote the vetting process as part of his endorsement, Bunch said. And they have. They sent out (information) acknowledging they endorsed Steve and their extensive vetting process and I know they didnt have it.
Bunch also questioned the organization holding the forum on what he called non-neutral ground. The forum will be hosted at The Woodlands Bible Church.
It is hosted by Mark Keoughs church, who is a staunch supporter of Steve Toth, Bunch said. When I think forum, I think neutral ground.
Keough was endorsed by the Tea Party and won the March 4 GOP primary election to replace Toth as District 15 state representative.
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Candidates decline to attend Tea Party forum