Liberty County elector, on the fence for Trump, may be state's only rogue voter

Sisneros Sisneros Photo: Submitted Photo: Submitted Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Liberty County elector, on the fence for Trump, may be state's only rogue voter 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Art Sisneros will be on the hot seat when Texas electors gather Dec. 19 in Dallas.

Sisneros, 40, an industrial welding supplies salesman from Dayton, was chosen as the elector to represent Congressional District 36, which includes Liberty, Newton, Jasper, Tyler, Polk, Orange, Hardin and Chambers counties, at a time when the field of Republican candidates was much broader.

"Ted Cruz was still in it then. John Kasich, too. There were other options besides (President-elect Donald) Trump. I never expected he would be the candidate for the Republican Party," Sisneros said.

Sisneros said his religious faith makes him reluctant to pledge support for Trump. But that puts Sisneros in something of a bind.

Once named an elector, Sisneros signed a nonbinding affidavit pledging support for the Republican nominee, but this also came before some of the revelations about Trump at the end of the election cycle.

Sisneros, a devout Christian, believes Trump doesn't match up to the biblical qualifications of a presidential candidate for the United States, although he hasn't decided how he will vote.

"I don't think Trump is a Christian and I don't think anyone takes his claims that he is a Christian seriously," Sisneros said. "My personal feelings are irrelevant; however, I do think it's important that I meet the qualifications that God has placed on me as a voter."

Sisneros' ambivalence toward Trump has caused a backlash among Republicans in Liberty County. Many of those outraged at Sisneros took to social media to ask him to reconsider his vote, which could very well be cast for Thomas Hoefling, a third-party write-in candidate and for whom Sisneros voted in the general election.

"... Liberty County Republicans, you chose Art in good faith that he would represent you, not himself. If he does not use his electoral vote for Trump as this county voted, then he should never be allowed to represent the county again," Gayle Coleman, wife of former Liberty County Republican Party Chairman Ken Coleman, wrote on her Facebook page.

Ryan Daniel, who became the county's party chairman in June, said in a written statement that he still expects Sisneros to vote for the candidate who won the congressional district - Trump.

"However, vilifying one another over differences of opinion is inexcusable and has no place in our county party," Daniel said.

In early fall on a blog post titled "Biblical Voting in the Age of Trump," Sisneros explained his decision to hold true to his faith, even if it meant going against the Republican Party.

"It seems clear to me that God both calls me to vote and directs me to only vote for men who fear Him and are just according to God's law. He doesn't expect or allow me to add to his qualifications and seek for perfection. He also doesn't hold me accountable for all the sins that these qualified men commit once in office. He does, however, give me clear commands for who is qualified and expects me to be obedient with my calling as a voter. Therefore, I cannot, in good conscience, vote for Donald Trump for president," he wrote.

Since announcing his reluctance to vote for Trump, Sisneros said he has been inundated with phone calls, text messages, social media posts and emails.

"I think I have heard from every angry Trump supporter. I've also heard from Hillary (Clinton) supporters and Bernie (Sanders) supporters. Most of those just want me to not vote for Trump," he said.

In the weeks leading up to the Dec. 19 assembly, Sisneros will be weighing his options.

"I haven't decided what I will do. Part of the reason is there are moral implications of who I vote for and there are also moral obligations from signing the pledge," he said. "If people have confidence in me, then they know where I stand."

State Republican Party officials were called for comment but they declined, in part because Sisneros' one vote will not change the outcome of the election.

"This is purely principle," Sisneros explained, " and I have to vote for what I can live with."