Neighbor asks city to press Weatherford Chamber on political activity at Peach Festival

During non‑agenda citizen comments, Weatherford resident Janette Lockett told the council she reported to the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce that the Parker County Republican Women operated a booth at the Peach Festival to register voters while Democratic organizations have been denied booth access in past years.

Lockett said she was told by chamber president Tammy Pizzola in 2023 that the chamber would discuss the issue in advance of future festivals, but Lockett said the concern recurred in 2025 and that she has sent six emails to the chamber asking for a response. She said she was previously told the chamber would limit voter registration booths to the Democratic office and that noncompliant groups could be escorted off festival grounds by police.

City officials responded that the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce is a separate 501(c)(6) organization that runs the Peach Festival and that the chamber’s board does not support political activity at community events. The council said the chamber’s leadership committed to avoid political booths at those events and city staff said they would encourage the chamber to respond to Lockett’s request. No formal city action was taken; the chamber, not the city, issues festival permits and sets booth policy.