I can’t emphasize this enough. This is the gateway to having input into decisions as opposed to being dragged along kicking and screaming when other people make decisions.

There are vacant precincts by the thousands all over the country. If yours is vacant, it is practically yours for the taking. Contact your local Republican party and find out what it takes to become a precinct chair.

Here in Texas, precinct chair is an elected position. Between elections, county parties are responsible for filling vacancies. Many counties have setups that allow them to act as gatekeepers, blocking people with unpopular views from becoming precinct chairs. Many Ron Paul supporters were blocked by various “vacancy committees” from filling the empty seats. BUT…

There was nothing the local party could do to prevent them from running in the election and winning the seat. A lot of “rejected” candidates where I live are now precinct chairs, and not only is the local party better off for it, but Rand’s campaign stands to benefit from all the fresh faces.

Precinct chair can also be a steppingstone to positions of greater responsibility within the party. In 2012, I was a Ron Paul precinct chairman who asked my Senate District convention organizer if I could be on a committee. He asked which one I wanted on, and I said Nominations (the committee that selects which delegates represent the Senate District convention at the State convention. He said that would be fine, and that he’d make the appointments later. Not only did I not get on Nominations, I didn’t get on any committee.

In 2014, I ran for state representative and was defeated in the primary. I didn’t sling mud at the traditional (some would say establishment) candidate who beat me. When it came time for the convention, we had a different Senate District convention organizer, and he asked me to serve on the Credentials committee (the one that determines whether a person is eligible to attend the Senate District convention or not).

It is now 2015, and I’m the front runner to organize our Senate District convention in 2016, which means I would get to appoint the members of all the committees.

Start as a precinct chairman. Work hard, be honest, show your integrity. Compromise on strategy but not on principle. Deal with the blowhards and the egotists along the way, but don’t make enemies unless you really have to. Persistence pays!