This was a very challenging year for two major endeavors: 1) revitalizing the TARC for the general election in November; and 2) involving GOP presidential election after President Reagan’s second term. Many TARC meetings and events were held and recorded in the file/section of “Birth of TARC” for the year of 1988 after Esther assumed the chairpersonship. As pledged in her memos, she revitalized the chapters and empowered the entire TARC. Her successor, Pauline Van Tho, a Vietnamese American, was elected by the end of 1988. Regarding the presidential election, Esther supported Senator Bob Dole during the GOP primary for several reasons. Being a loyal Republican, she continued supporting the GOP primary winner George H. Bush after the Texas Primary in March. Since it was predicable that Bush would win the primary as a native son, she encouraged other Asian/Pacific Americans to support Bush instead of joining her for the Dole’s campaign. After the Texas Primary, all GOP volunteers—including Asian Americans—worked for Bush/Quayle exclusively. Esther’s photo with vice president candidate Dan Quayle at the rally for him was published on October 3rd by the Houston Chronicle.
In this same year, Esther also campaigned for Senator Phil Gramm for his reelection and Congressman Kent Hance’s bidding for Texas Railroad Commissioner again as the files show.
