Meet Melinda

“Tom and I have worked together for several years, and I am honored to run for vice-chairman as part of his leadership team.  Together, Tom and I have the experience, the relationships, and the support to make the Party stronger than it has been in years.”

 

In 2003, Governor Perry appointed Melinda Fredricks to the Texas Medical Board (TMB), which is responsible for licensing and disciplining Texas physicians. As chairman of the TMB Legislative Committee, she testified before legislative committees and met with numerous legislators and government leaders, and represented

TMB at the 2005 and 2006 annual National Federation of State Medical Boards conventions. 

 

In November 2008, Melinda was appointed commissioner of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) by Governor Perry. The TABC is responsible for the inspection, supervision, and regulation of every phase of the alcoholic industry in Texas. 

She works as a political organizer, is a former middle school math teacher, former stay at home mom. Her previous experience includes working as a researcher for a national political consulting firm, and partnership in a small public relations firm. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from the University of North Texas. 

 

Over the years, Melinda has volunteered for numerous campaigns, including serving as a regional chairman for Susan Combs for Comptroller, steering committee member for Governor Perry’s and Ag Commissioner Todd

Staples’ campaigns, as a Montgomery County co-chair for Senator Cornyn’s, Lt. Governor Dewhurst’s and Attorney General Abbott’s campaigns. 

 

From 2000-2008, Melinda served on the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC), and was appointed by Chairman Tina Benkiser to chair the SREC Ballot Security Subcommittee. She has been a delegate to precinct, senate district, and state conventions since 1994, first from Denton county and later from Montgomery County. She chaired the Senate District 4 Caucus at the 2004, 2006, and 2008 State Conventions. 

As a delegate to the 2008 Republican National Convention, Melinda represented Texas on the National Convention Rules Committee. In 2004, she represented CD 8 as an alternate delegate to the National Convention in New York City. 

Melinda chairs SAFE-Texas (Secure and Fair Elections in Texas), which consists of Texas Republican grass roots leaders that provide support to our legislators on the issue of Voter ID. The group brought in experts to testify before the 2009 session Senate and House hearings on Voter ID, and worked to alert the grass roots to the need to support the bill.

Melinda joined Republican Women in 1992, first with Denton County Republican Women and then with Montgomery County Republican Women in 1997. She has held most offices in her club, including President of MCRW in 2003-2004. She has been a delegate to TFRW Conventions since 1993, a delegate to NFRW Convention in 2003, and a 2006 Tribute to Women honoree. During the past two election cycles, she served on the TFRW Campaign School faculty, teaching Research and Ballot Security. TFRW President Toni Anne Dashiell appointed Melinda TFRW Parliamentarian in 2008. 

The most important part of Melinda’s life is her faith and her family. She and her husband Jim reside in Conroe and have five children ranging from ages 22 to 12 years.  

“Tom has the blend of business experience and education, together with an unwavering commitment to our social issues that we need in our leadership.  I have years of experience at every level of the Party, and I have developed and maintained positive relationships along the way. If all levels of the Party will work together, we can expect an extremely strong election year.”