We are influential
We are a vehicle for women to be an influential, effective, and positive voice for promoting and preserving conservative family-oriented Republican values in the local, county, state, national politics, and legislation.
We are age and culturally inclusive
We have an active and vital membership focused on identifying, developing, and electing conservative Republican candidates through education, political action, and community outreach.
We are dedicated to promoting voter participation
We support conservative Republican candidates through voter education and registration activities.
Hays County Republican Women
Executive Board
Sandi Ellen, President
Sandi Ellen, a member of HCRW since 2016, is currently serving her 2nd term as President of the Hays County Republican Women. She is a lifelong conservative Republican whose first vote for president was cast for George H. W. Bush. Sandi is a strong pro-life, conservative, Christian voice in Hays County. She has worked directly on two county campaigns for her husband, Hays County Constable John Ellen, as well as strongly supporting numerous other state and county level campaigns. Sandi has proudly served as a delegate to three State conventions and looks forward to her fourth. Sandi is a small business owner who has enjoyed a 30-year career in design, sales, and marketing. Focused on strong family values, she enjoys traveling with her husband and spending time with their three children and six grandchildren.
Kelli Whigham, Vice President
Kelli Whigham is a proud native Texan, born in San Antonio and raised in Midland, Texas. She is a graduate of Midland Lee High School and attended Midland College where she received an Associate Degree in Applied Science. She continued her education at Texas State University where she received a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences.
A member of HCRW since 2016, Kelli has served as Legislative Chair, and Campaign Activities Chair and is currently serving her 2nd term as Fundraising Chair. Kelli is also a member of the Wimberley Area Republicans and is active in many other local activities. She is an active member of the San Marcos Kiwanis Club, holding the position of President three times and serving as the chair of many committees. She is a past member and Treasurer of the Bluebonnet Lions Club, former member of the Main Street Advisory Board in San Marcos and served on the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce Special Events Committee for many years. Kelli has worked for MVBA Law Firm for 28 years. She is married to Steven and has one daughter, Lauren. In Kelli’s spare time, she and her husband attend sporting events at Texas State University as Bobcat Club members and season ticket holders for all sports.
Secretary
Secretary is TBD.
Becky Hites, Treasurer
Becky E Hites is a small business owner providing strategic direction to the steel industry. A lifelong Christian conservative, she was first introduced to political activism while attending Dr. Jerry Fallwell’s Liberty Baptist College (now Liberty University) in the 1980s. Working on Wall Street and eventually in NYC didn’t accommodate opportunities to be involved in grassroots campaigns but that changed in 2020 when she put her business on hold to run for Congress in GA’s District 13 against an 8-term incumbent in a district ranked by the Cook Partisan Voter Index (2018) as D+20. Despite COVID, running in the most gerrymandered district in the USA and being a complete political newbie, she won 69% of the Republican primary vote and 89% of the precincts across 6 counties. She won 100% of the districts in the county where she lived. In late 2022, Becky moved with her elderly mother to Hays County to be closer to her brother and is very excited to be joining the HCRW leadership team. She holds an MBA in business with a minor in finance from Georgia State University, and is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the National Society United States Daughters of the War of 1812, the National Society Daughters of the Union 1861-1865 and the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War.
Olivia Alexander, Events Chair
Olivia Alexander is going into her Junior year at Texas State University.
As a Freshman, Olivia served as President of the Texas State College Republicans, and was elected to the student body Senate, where she was appointed to be Senate Leader. Olivia served as an intern for US Senator Ted Cruz for one year.
As a Sophomore, Olivia was a Legislative Aide for the 88th Texas Legislative Session for Senator Bryan Hughes, where she covered Higher Education and the Nominations Committee. She also wrote her first bill, SB 2313, which was Authored by Senator Hughes and Representative Steve Toth. Olivia was recently appointed Student Body Chief of Staff.
In Olivia's spare time, she enjoys traveling, reading, snow skiing, but mostly spending time with her family and friends. After graduation, she plans to attend law school where she will specialize in policy law.
Carly French is currently a junior at Texas State University. During her freshman year, Carly was approached to join the Texas State College Republicans, and after the first meeting, she was sold. She joined the executive board her sophomore year as the Outreach Coordinator and is currently serving as the Vice President. Carly is also active in the student body senate where she was appointed as Senate Leader for this year’s term.
During the summer, Carly took on an internship with the Texas Department of Agriculture in the International Marketing Program. Carly has had the opportunity to meet with many different organizations to learn the most she can about international trade and how it can impact Texas’ economy. Carly’s internship was extended into this next school year, and she is very excited to see where the opportunity takes her
In her spare time, Carly enjoys listening to music, spending time with her family and friends, being outside, fishing, and hunting. After graduation, Carly hopes to find work within the Texas Department of Agriculture or USDA to continue serving the industry that is the backbone of America.
Carly French, Communications Chair
Mary Clarkson, Caring for America
Mary Clarkson serves as Caring for America chair. Mary has been a resident of Hays County for over 25 years. She's been very active in the Republican party throughout the years serving as precinct chair and election judge for 20 years. She has been a delegate at 4 state conventions. She spearheads our Border Patrol initiative for Hays County collecting countless supplies for our Border Patrol Agents. For her tireless work for the Republican party, Mary was awarded the Mary Joe Roddie award in 2020.
Lucy Trainor, Legislative Chair
Lucy Trainor is currently the Regional Director for Election Integrity for the Republican Party of Texas. During the 2022 election cycle, she helped recruit and train poll watchers and election workers ahead of both the primary and general election. For the 88th Session of the Texas Legislature, Lucy is leading the Party’s election integrity legislative efforts. Previously, Lucy worked in the Texas House of Representatives for three regular and four special sessions. She ended her time working in the Legislature as the Chief of Staff to the chairman of the House Committee on Regulated Industries. During her legislative tenure, she worked on a broad spectrum of issues including electric utility deregulation, redistricting, and juvenile justice and family issues. Lucy chose to homeschool her children for over a decade after leaving the Capitol.
Lucy is a 1993 graduate of Spring High School and a 1997 graduate of Texas A&M University. She holds a bachelors degree in Speech Communications and Political Science. She interned at Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs and in 1997, she participated in the Family Research Council Witherspoon Fellowship in Washington, D.C.. While working at the fellowship, she was awarded membership in the Witherspoon Order of Saint George. In 2004, Lucy received her law degree from The University of Texas.
Lucy is a native Texan and resides in Driftwood, TX with her husband, Trey, and their six children.
Fundraising Chair
Fundraising Chair is TBD.
