We are influential
Founded in 2012, we are a vehicle for women to be an influential, effective, and a 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 M. Ellen, President
Sandi Ellen, a member of HCRW since 2015, 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 seven grandchildren.
Need to get in touch with Sandi? Send her an email.
Kelli Whigham, First 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.
Need to get in touch with Kelli? Send her an email.
Abby Gibson, Vice President - Programs
Abby Gibson has been a member of HCRW since 2021, and has lived in Hays County since 2014. She is an active member of Liberty Leadership Council Austin chapter, also since 2021.
Abby grew up in North Dakota, studied in Minnesota, and relocated to Texas in 2008. She has a background in business operations, sales, and events. She currently works for veterinary health company, Pkb Inc.
A Christian conservative, Abby feels called to serve her community. She has served on numerous nonprofit boards, regularly volunteers for local churches, schools, veteran outreach programs, and Doberman rescue groups.
In her spare time, Abby likes to travel, hike, and study history. She is proudly raising two America-loving children, and has a spoiled Doberman.
Need to get in touch with Abby? Send her an email.
TBD - Vice President - Events
Carly French, Vice President - Public Relations
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 of Public Relations. 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.
Need to get in touch with Carly? Send her an email.
Cris Peterson, Vice President - Membership
Cris Peterson has been a member of HCRW since 2017 and currently serves as Campaign Activities Chair and Chair of the Membership Committee. After a long career in advertising and marketing, she and her husband Tom made the move east to Texas and settled in Wimberley.
After more than 30 years as an Art Director and Graphic Designer, Cris has recently published her first children’s book entitled, “What If You Fly?” which was inspired by her unstoppable new grandson. Cris and Tom also continue their work here with Pepper Project, the company they founded in 2010, at their booth at Wimberley Market Days.
She looks forward to getting to know the membership and helping create a strong and active club.
Need to get in touch with Cris? Send her an email.
Vicki Alvord has been an active member of National Federation of Republican Women for four decades in Texas, California, New Hampshire, and Virginia. She has served as a club officer in each state and at the state level in Virginia as Treasurer and Second Vice President of VFRW. She was an initial member of the NFRW Women in Business committee.
Vicki has worked on Republican campaigns across the country. A highlight was working on the George W. Bush campaign in 1999-2000 in both New Hampshire and Virginia. She organized seventeen events with the Bushes (George, Laura, and Barbara) in New Hampshire. After President Bush was elected, Vicki volunteered at the White House working on presidential correspondence for over a year.
Vicki has served her city of Woodcreek as a City Council member and as a member of the Texas Film Advisory Council. She currently serves as Chairman of Scheib Mental Health and Chairman of the Endowment Committee at her church.
Vicki enjoys movies, following ten years in the film industry, reading, and spending time with her husband Chris and her ever-growing family.
Vicki Alvord, Treasurer
Judi “Sissi” Baskin, Secretary
With a career spanning over 30 years in the legal field, Judi Baskin has spent two decades as a senior paralegal and executive administrator to the Vice President of a Fortune 100 corporation. Her expertise in corporate law, governance, and executive operations positioned her as a trusted and invaluable asset in high-level business environments.
In addition to her corporate career, Judi followed her passion for hospitality and event planning by creating Vintage Oaks Farm, a premier wedding and event venue in Driftwood, Texas. With a vision for timeless elegance and unforgettable experiences, she and her husband Bill have transformed the venue into a beloved destination for couples and families celebrating life’s most cherished moments.
Beyond her professional achievements, Judi finds her greatest joy in family. She has been married for 40 years and is the proud mother of two adult children. Her life’s work—whether in the boardroom or at the heart of a celebration—reflects her dedication to excellence, service, and creating lasting memories.
Becky E. Hites, Legislative Chair
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.
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.
Need to get in touch with Mary? Send her an email.
TBD - Vice President - Political Activities
Anna White is a lifelong Republican, casting her first vote for Richard Nixon when the voting age was 21. She has been a Texan since college and active in the political arena since the 1970's in Harris County. She is a retired Family Nurse Practitioner, married for 57 years to a devoted Republican with twin daughters and three grandchildren. Since moving to Wimberley in 2000 she and husband Loyal have been active in Hays County GOP activities. Anna, is a former precinct chair and member of HCRW since 2018 when semi-retirement allowed day time volunteering.
Anna White - Parliamentarian
