Wildlife refuge resolution passes local party caucuses
Resolution supports Neches River Wildlife Refuge, opposes Fastrill Reservoir
BY LELAND ACKER

The prominence of the Democratic Presidential Primary Tuesday overshadowed another item which came up for a vote at several precinct caucuses.

A resolution in support of the Neches River National Wildlife Refuge was passed at several precinct Democratic caucuses and Republican conventions across East Texas, said Dr. Michael Banks, cochair of the Friends of the Neches River.

"I hope it will be considered at the county conventions and hopefully the state convention," Dr. Banks said.

Dr. Banks said he offered the resolution to both the Democratic and Republican parties in Anderson, Cherokee, Angelina and Nacogdoches counties.

It passed with unanimous votes in several caucuses.

The goal of passing the resolution at the precinct, county and state conventions is to raise awareness of the plight of the Neches River National Wildlife Refuge and send a message to the state legislature, Dr. Banks said.

"When SB 3 passed last year, it had 19 unique reservoir sites in it," he said. "That's law. The Fastrill and Marvin Nichols reservoirs were added in at the last minute. It was really a trumped up deal."

The area the Fastrill Reservoir will cover includes the wildlife refuge.

"How does the public change that law (SB 3)?" Dr. Banks asked. "This is one way citizens can say, 'I don't agree with this law.'

"If the resolution in support of the wildlife refuge makes it to the state convention in the Republican party, it tells the legislature to take another look at that legislation.

"This is a way the public can put feedback into the legislative system."

Dr. Banks said the resolution passed at both Republican and Democratic precinct meetings.

"It shows a bipartisan movement," he said. "The Friends of the Neches River know no party affiliation."

In Cherokee County, the resolution passed at the Precinct 15 Republican convention and the Precinct 13, 14 and 15 Democratic caucuses. In Angelina County, the resolution was passed at the Precinct 14B Republican convention and the Precinct 17 Democratic caucus.

It also passed at the Precinct 42 Democratic caucus in Nacogdoches County.