Primary fight for Texas House seat in Plano tilts right

Think back nearly two decades, when the Persian Gulf War was unfolding, the Dallas Cowboys had yet to renew their dynasty and the word “web” meant spiders.

That is the last time someone other than Brian McCall has represented West Plano in the Texas House.

McCall’s decision not to seek re-election means a new face will take his District 66 seat in November.

The campaign’s action is in the March 2 Republican primary, where Mabrie Jackson, Wayne Richard and Van Taylor have sought to burnish their appeal among conservatives.

No Democrats filed to run. Other candidates include Libertarians Josef Novak and Benjamin Westfried and independent Eric Roberson.

Moderate Republicans in the affluent district have long anchored support for McCall, one of Plano’s most popular politicians.

But with impassioned conservatives showing new life at Tea Party rallies and in groups such as the Collin County Conservative Republicans, the politics of the primary has tracked to the right.

At a packed kickoff event earlier this month, Jackson vowed to keep tax rates in check and adhere to what she called “traditional values.”

Taylor has picked up the endorsement of the Young Conservatives of Texas and signed a “taxpayer protection” pledge with the Americans for Tax Reform, a group opposed to most taxes.

Meanwhile, Richard says he is “worried about the direction that Texas can possibly go,” wants to lessen the business tax burden and promotes home schooling.

Barbs thrown

Little sparring has occurred so far, but that could change as March approaches.

Opponents have quietly begun throwing barbs at Taylor, a real estate investor who according to federal records spent more than $300,000 of his own money in an unsuccessful 2006 bid for Congress in the Waco area. He moved to Plano shortly thereafter.

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