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→Political activities
==Political activities==
==Political activities==
Under Polland's tenure as the Harris County Republican chairman, the GOP continued to win majorities in the county even if Republican candidates lost in the Houston corporate limits in contested races. Polland earned national recognition for his party's success from such publications as the national conservative weekly, ''[[Human Events]]'', which called him the most effective party chairman in the nation. Other publications in which Polland has been cited are ''The American Spectator'', ''The Houston Chronicle,'' and ''Inside Houston Magazine''.
Under Polland's tenure as the Harris County Republican chairman, the GOP continued to win majorities in the county even if Republican candidates lost in the Houston corporate limits in contested races. Polland earned national recognition for his party's success from such publications as the national conservative weekly, ''[[Human Events]]'', which called him the most effective party chairman in the nation. Other publications in which Polland has been cited are ''The American Spectator'', ''The Houston Chronicle,'' and ''Inside Houston Magazine.''
Polland has been politically close to such Republicans as [[Karl Rove]], the former chief advisor to former [[U.S. President]] [[George W. Bush]]; [[U.S. Senator]] [[John Cornyn]], former Senator [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]], former [[Governor]] [[Rick Perry]], former Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, and Governor [[Greg Abbott]]. He is a leading fundraiser for Republicans, having secured more than $3.5 million for candidates and causes between 1996 and 2006.
Polland has been politically close to such Republicans as [[Karl Rove]], the former chief advisor to former [[U.S. President]] [[George W. Bush]]; [[U.S. Senator]] [[John Cornyn]], former Senator [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]], former [[Governor]] [[Rick Perry]], former Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, and Governor [[Greg Abbott]]. He is a leading fundraiser for Republicans, having secured more than $3.5 million for candidates and causes between 1996 and 2006.
In 2004, Polland led the Texas Legislative Mission to [[Israel]]. He serves on the national boards of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the Jewish Policy Center, and the board of the [[Susan B. Anthony]] List, a [[pro-life]] political action committee. He is also the vice chairman of the United Jewish Communities. Though he is himself [[Jewish]], Polland has worked closely with the conservative [[Christianity|Christian]] community within Harris County on political matters. Polland resigned in protest from the [[Anti-Defamation League]] after the group criticized conservative Christian activism.
In 2004, Polland led the Texas Legislative Mission to [[Israel]]. He serves on the national boards of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the Jewish Policy Center, and the board of the [[Susan B. Anthony]] List, a [[pro-life]] political action committee. He is also the vice chairman of the United Jewish Communities. Though he is himself [[Jewish]], Polland has worked closely with the conservative [[Christianity|Christian]] community within Harris County on political matters. Polland resigned in protest from the [[Anti-Defamation League]] after the group criticized conservative Christian activism.
In January 2007, Polland warned the Texas [[Republican Party|GOP]] that it could face serious decline in the 2008 elections if the conservative grassroots were not activated and brought into the mainstream of the party.
In January 2007, Polland warned the Texas [[Republican Party|GOP]] that it could face serious decline in the 2008 elections if the conservative grassroots were not activated and brought into the mainstream of the party.
===At political odds with current chairman Paul Simpson===
===Conflict with current chairman Paul Simpson===
In 2014, Polland was a vigorous supporter of [[Jared Woodfill]], his successor as the Harris County Republican chairman who failed in his bid for a fourth term as chairman in the Republican primary. Woodfill was unseated by the Houston engineer-turned-lawyer Paul Simpson, who received a $90,000 donation from Ed Emmett, the since defeated county judge of Harris County. Woodfill and Emmett became estranged in 2012. Emmett claims that Woodfill took personal credit for the establishment of "victory centers" when the sites were actually the work of Emmett and the state Republican party.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.chron.com/houstonpolitics/2014/02/bettencourt-says-he-predicted-emmetts-whopper-donation/|title=Kiah Collier, UPDATED: Paul Bettencourt says he predicted Emmett's whopper donation, February 26, 2014|publisher=''The Houston Chronicle''|accessdate=April 1, 2014}}</ref> Simpson supporters claimed that Woodfill had grown lackluster in campaign fundraising and had accented "social issues" as chairman, including a lawsuit against the then Houston [[Mayor]] Annise Parker regarding benefits for same-sex couples employed by the city government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/houston/article/Challenger-wins-GOP-chair-race-5289730.php#/0|title=Kiah Collier, Challenger wins GOP chair race, March 4, 2014|publisher=''The Houston Chronicle''|accessdate=April 1, 2014}}</ref>
In 2014, Polland was a vigorous supporter of [[Jared Woodfill]], his successor as the Harris County Republican chairman who failed in his bid for a fourth term as chairman in the Republican primary. Woodfill was unseated by the Houston engineer-turned-lawyer Paul Simpson, who received a $90,000 donation from Ed Emmett, the since defeated county judge of Harris County. Woodfill and Emmett became estranged in 2012. Emmett claims that Woodfill took personal credit for the establishment of "victory centers" when the sites were actually the work of Emmett and the state Republican party.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.chron.com/houstonpolitics/2014/02/bettencourt-says-he-predicted-emmetts-whopper-donation/|title=Kiah Collier, UPDATED: Paul Bettencourt says he predicted Emmett's whopper donation, February 26, 2014|publisher=''The Houston Chronicle''|accessdate=April 1, 2014}}</ref> Simpson supporters claimed that Woodfill had grown lackluster in campaign fundraising and had accented "social issues" as chairman, including a lawsuit against the then Houston [[Mayor]] Annise Parker regarding benefits for same-sex couples employed by the city government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/houston/article/Challenger-wins-GOP-chair-race-5289730.php#/0|title=Kiah Collier, Challenger wins GOP chair race, March 4, 2014|publisher=''The Houston Chronicle''|accessdate=April 1, 2014}}</ref>