Page 4 - TFRW PNL 10 Outstanding 2017 Special Edition

Inspire. Unite. Achieve.
Kris Coons

Bexar County Republican Women

Passion, purpose, and bringing political promise wherever she resides is what Kris Coons of
Bexar County Republican Women is all about. Her political life began over thirty-two years
ago, outside of her home state; this was the beginning of what would become a family affair
in Republican politics. She learned about phone banks, block walks, stuffing envelopes, and GOTV while working to
successfully elect her mother to a state representative seat and her father to city council.

Since those days, Kris toggles between two states, Texas and Louisiana, working gubernatorial, congressional,
senatorial, and local elections. She’s been a member of NFRW for over twenty-five years and served TFRW on
various board positions. Her extraordinary energy and enthusiasm to always be ready to serve propelled her as the
number one candidate for the office she occupies, the Republican Party of Bexar County Volunteer Coordinator.
She’s been President of her local Republican Women’s club and a member of their Executive Board since joining
in 2010. She was most recently honored as the 2016 SREC Senatorial District 25 Volunteer of the Year. Kris is the
mother of a four year old son, the wife of a very understanding husband, and the daughter of a very proud mother
and former state representative of Louisiana.

Lissa Smith

Conner Harrington Republican Women

TFRW Makes It Happen! The principles of the Republican Party—you must be a part of
the process for it to work effectively—working at grassroots level, influencing legislation,
encouraging Republican Women to run for office, providing training to become effective
campaigners and office holders. Lissa Smith of Conner Harrington Republican Women personifies this.

She is a 25-year member of Texas Federation of Republican Women, serving in almost every office of her club,
including President; raising money each year; former TFRW District Director; nominated by her club twice as Tribute
to Women Honoree; and Delegate or Alternate to ten TFRW Conventions and three NFRW Conventions.

Lissa has attended TFRW and Republican Party Campaign Management Schools, campaigned diligently in local
elections; in time, becoming a Volunteer Coordinator, a campaign manager, or advisor in campaigns; a member of
the Mighty Texas Strike Force, and traveled to other states helping get Republicans elected.

Working in many capacities for her county party—Lincoln Day Dinners since 2005, serving on Nominations,
Credentials, Resolutions, and Audit Committees, Election Judge, Poll Watcher, working at county party
headquarters, receiving their highest award for her dedication and outstanding service. Her community service
includes executive board positions from the Symphony and Junior League, to the County Transportation Board and
Child Protective Services Board.

She ran for and was elected to office. There are many “Firsts” in her career: the first Hispanic Woman elected to the
City Council; the longest serving Mayor Pro Tem and the first Hispanic Woman to serve in that capacity; appointed
to serve on the 16-county North Central Texas Council of Governments (representing over 7 million people), she
became the first Hispanic Woman President, and one of only five women in their 51-year history to serve in that
capacity; the first woman Co-Chair of Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition; and the first woman to serve on the City
Council Legislative Committee.

PRESIDENT’S E-NEWSLETTER | 2018 4 TEXAS FEDERATION OF REPUBLICAN WOMEN