Mar 31, 2010
The campaign will be out knocking on doors this upcoming Saturday and we really need your help! Early voting in the runoff against Mabrie Jackson starts the following Monday! Even if you can only come out for a little bit, it would very much be appreciated! The details are as follows:
Date: Saturday, April 3
Start Time: 10 AM
Meeting Location: Cheyenne Park, 2501 Mission Ridge Rd., Plano
If you can make it at any point over the course of the day, please RSVP to (972) 369-2504 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Mar 29, 2010
The Coalition for a Better Government, founded by conservatives including former Plano mayor Jeran Akers, has upgraded their recommendation of Van's campaign to a full endorsement. Here is an excerpt from their statement:
It is said that you can tell a lot about a person by the friends, in this case supporters, they have. We believe this ole saying particularly applies in this contest. Mr. Taylor’s endorsements include: Texas Right to Life, Collin County Conservative Republicans, the North Texas Party, the Conservative Hispanic Society, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility but most importantly their former opponent, Wayne Richard.
See more from the endorsement at the Coalition for a Better Government website.
Mar 28, 2010
(Plano) – On March 26, 2003 Van Taylor led two platoons to rescue 31 wounded Marines during a counter-attack by several thousand Iraqis. For his service in Iraq, the Marine Corps awarded Van the Navy Commendation Medal with a “V” for Valor, the Combat Action Ribbon, and the Presidential Unit Citation.
Today marks the 7th anniversary of this rescue mission. In reflection of this day, Taylor’s Platoon Sergeant in Iraq and retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant Trace Bond remembers Taylor’s service, the rescue mission, and endorses Van Taylor candidacy for the State House. Of Taylor, Gunnery Sergeant Bond said:
When you serve with someone in combat, you get to know them in a very unique way, especially when they are your leader. I trust Van Taylor with my life. Every day we served together Van showed all the very best qualities of a strong leader: judgment, courage, dignity, honesty, drive, and genuine compassion for the men he led. After 16 years in Marine reconnaissance, I had served under many excellent officers, but the Lord blessed me with Van Taylor as my platoon commander in combat. Van's judgment and courage made the difference.
When the order came down to send two teams forward of the brigade’s breaching site prior the main Iraq invasion, Capt. Taylor’s focus on rapid response planning allowed our platoon to get the job done. He dealt with our men fairly but constantly demanded they improve - he would not accept anything less than excellence.
I will never forget the night of March 26, 2003, when Capt. Taylor led our platoon and another platoon to rescue 31 wounded Marines. That night, the Second Marine Regiment found itself with numerous casualties under heavy fire, unable to get their wounded out, and with so much sand in the air that helicopters could not fly. To rescue the wounded required driving at night with headlights blazing on a route that had just been heavily shelled and one of our teams had just gotten into a firefight. Since we had just been down that road a few hours earlier, we knew an encounter with the enemy was nearly certain. Van kept a rock solid composure during the mission despite the immense danger. I consider it a miracle that Iraqis did not hit us during this ground medevac. We rescued all the wounded and got them the medical attention they needed. The regimental commander personally thanked our platoon for rescuing the wounded. Every Marine and Sailor under Van's command that night received an award personally signed by our commanding General for participating in the rescue.
The robust training regime pushed by Van before the war gave our platoon the skills we needed to defeat several ambushes by irregular Iraqi forces. Our platoon also provided direct support to Task Force 20 and part of our platoon participated in Task Force 20's reconnaissance for the rescue of PFC Jessica Lynch. Our platoon operated independently for days at a time relying solely on Van's judgment and leadership to guide us through challenging stressful situations.
Van’s forthright leadership stands out in my mind as remarkable. I am proud to have served with him. I know that we need leaders like him in public service.
Our platoon accomplished every mission and we all came back to our families. It doesn’t get better than that.
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Gunnery Sergeant Trace Bond UMCR, Retired after serving 22 years in the US Marine Corps Reserves, 17 of which were in 4th Reconnaissance Battalion. He graduated from, School of Infantry, Scout Sniper School, Scout Swimmer & Scout Patrolling courses, Advanced Scout Sniper School, Martial Arts Instructor Course, Jungle Commando course, Airborne School and Scuba School. Gunnery Sergeant Bond served as Platoon Sergeant for 3rd Platoon, C Company, 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company, Task Force Tarawa, during the initial push to liberate Iraq in 2003. For his service, the Marine Corps awarded Trace the Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a “V” for Valor, the Combat Action Ribbon, and the Presidential Unit Citation.
Mar 25, 2010
Web Site Underscores Why Conservatives Are Uniting Behind Van Taylor
(Plano, TX) – Today, the Van Taylor campaign unveiled a new website, www.mabriefacts.com, highlighting key aspects of Mabrie Jackson’s record and backers for State House. The website highlights five main points:
- The false, negative campaign Mabrie Jackson began weeks ago.
- The liberal special interest groups backing her campaign, including a group who campaigned for Barack Obama.
- The $172,000 special election that taxpayers must pay for as a result of Mabrie Jackson’s political ambition, an election triggered by her quitting city council after serving less than half a term.
- Her big spending record on city council; voting to increase city spending nearly $35 million dollars.
- And, her refusal to meet with or answer the questionnaires of respected conservative organizations including Texas Right to Life, Texas Alliance for Life, Texas Eagle Forum, Liberty Institute, and the Young Conservatives of Texas.
The facts documented in the website underscore why Plano conservatives keep rallying to Van Taylor in the April 13th runoff. While Ms. Jackson held yet another fundraiser with Austin special interests on Tuesday, Van Taylor is walking door to door to in Plano.
Taylor has now earned the endorsement of every major conservative organization in this race including the Collin County Conservative Republicans, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility PAC, Young Conservatives of Texas, Texas Right to Life, Texas Alliance for Life, Texas Home School Coalition, Conservative Republicans of Texas, Conservative Hispanic Society, and the Coalition for Better Government. He has received an “A Rating” from the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association, and he is the only candidate in the runoff with the TeaApproved label from the North Texas Tea Party.
Additionally, Taylor has secured the important backing of fellow conservative Wayne Richard, who earned over a quarter of the vote on March 2nd. Together, Taylor and Richard earned almost 60% of the vote. Most recently, Taylor announced the endorsement of a majority of Republican Precinct Chairs in House District 66, including all six Republican precinct chairs that previously supported Wayne Richard during the primary.
Mar 24, 2010
We will be knocking on doors both Saturday and Sunday of this weekend, and we really need your help! Early voting for the Runoff against Mabrie Jackson starts the Monday after Easter and we want for turnout to be as high as possible. Even if you can only come out for a little while, it would very much be appreciated! The details are as follows:
Dates: Saturday, March 27 and Sunday, March 28
Start Time: Saturday at 10 AM, Sunday at 1 PM (if you can’t make either of these times, just give us a call and we will get you set up!)
Meeting Location: Cheyenne Park, 2501 Mission Ridge Rd., Plano
If you can make it at any point over the weekend, please call (972) 369-2504 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to RSVP. The weather is supposed to be great!
Mar 23, 2010
Van released the following statement this morning on the passing of Denise Short Smith.
"Anne and I join the entire campaign team to mourn the loss of Denise Short Smith. We can hardly believe that she is gone. She was so full of energy, so happy, so eager to share, and she leaves all who knew her with sadness at her passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with this godly woman and her family. She is in a better place, but we still wish she was here. We will always remember her."
Mar 23, 2010
Collin County Republican Party 8416 Stacy Rd., McKinney, TX 75070 972-540-5985 Fred N. Moses, County Chair
IN MEMORY OF DENISE SHORT SMITH
The Collin County Republican Party is sad to announce the passing of longtime volunteer Denise Short Smith, who died suddenly on Thursday of a heart attack.
Collin County GOP Chairman Fred Moses said, “We are shocked and saddened at the sudden passing of Denise. She was a very special person who had a heart of service to her many friends and the causes in which she believed. Her death is a great loss to the party that she loved, and we will miss her dearly.”
Denise was the Legislative Chair for the Plano Republican Women, and was a gifted and talented writer. In fact, late in life she had returned to school to pursue her passion for writing, earning a Degree in Public Relations/Journalism from the University of North Texas. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a 3.95 GPA. Other academic honors and awards earned by Denise throughout her life included: Mayborn Writers Award; Outstanding Public Relations/Journalism Student Award; Member of Kappa Tau Alpha National Honor Society of Mass Communication and Journalism; Recipient of Journalism Department’s Kenneth May Memorial Scholarship for academic excellence and community and university service; Member Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society; English Department Faculty’s Outstanding Student Award (two-time honoree); Colorado State Merit Scholarship and President’s Merit Scholarship; and Dean’s List and President’s List.
Catherine Gibb, President of the Plano Republican Women (PRW), said “Denise was one of my dear friends and a true Southern lady. She loved this country and was a true patriot. She had a heart as big as Texas and always had time for her friends. We trusted one another and I always knew she ‘had my back.’ I will miss her, but she will live on in our hearts and memories.”
Denise Laman was active in PRW for many years with Denise Short and considered her a very close friend. Ms. Laman was also one of the last people to talk to her. “Denise worked to find common ground and had a talent for bringing people together. She loved the military and had a huge network of military servicemen and women whom she supported and encouraged. I’ve lost a dear friend, and our party has lost one of the hardest-working grass roots activists I’ve ever known.”
Linda Schenck, V.P. of Membership for PRW and Vice Chairman of Collin County GOP, said “Denise has worked on every campaign since the 1980’s. I will miss Denise because she was always there when needed, worked for the most conservative candidates, and never held a grudge against anyone. Anytime I went to an event, I always looked for her, and that’s why it’s hard to imagine that I won’t see her again.”
Diana Dail, President of the Collin County Conservative Republicans, said “Denise was a friend and one of the most passionate women I knew. She loved her country, the military, and the Republican Party. She will be truly missed.”
Throughout years of service to the Collin County Republican Party, Denise volunteered for countless candidates and officeholders. Most recently, Denise had been on the staff of the Van Taylor Campaign for State Representative. Denise Laman noted, “She loved working for people she believed in, and it is so fitting that one of the last things she was doing on Thursday was walking door to door on behalf of her candidate.”
Denise was also involved in causes outside of the political realm, as an Ambassador for the Plano Symphony Orchestra, volunteering at George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens, and providing educational presentations to the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary. A staunch supporter of the military, she served as USAF colonel’s liaison and facilitated support groups in a Red Cross/U.S. Air Force joint health initiative.
Funeral services are pending, but we will provide that information when it becomes available. In the meantime, we honor and remember fondly the life of Denise Short Smith, our friend and fellow warrior in the Republican Party.
Mar 20, 2010
If you don't like walking in the rain and still want to help today, we have our phone bank set up and ready to go. Call the campaign at (972) 369-2504 and we'll let you know where to meet!
Mar 19, 2010
We will be knocking on doors both Saturday and Sunday of this weekend and would love to have your help! Even if you can only come out for a couple hours, it would very much be appreciated! The details are as follows:
Dates: Saturday, March 20 and Sunday, March 21
Start Time: Saturday at 10 AM, Sunday at 1 PM (if you can’t make either of these times, just give me a call and we will get you set up!)
Meeting Location: Cheyenne Park, 2501 Mission Ridge Rd., Plano
If you can make it at any point over the weekend, please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call (972) 369-2504 to RSVP.
Mar 18, 2010
We are just over three weeks out from the runoff election on April 13th. Will you please take a moment to sign up for email updates from the campaign?
Please click here to sign up today.
Mar 17, 2010
(Plano, TX) – In another indication of the growing momentum in his campaign, Van Taylor today announced the endorsement of 20 Republican Precinct Chairs in House District 66, including all six Republican precinct chairs that previously supported Wayne Richard during the primary. Taylor also announced the endorsement of the Collin County Conservative Republicans, one of the fastest-growing Republican organizations in the county.
“I worked hard campaigning for Wayne in the primary,” said Daniel Rudd, Republican Chair for Precinct 123 and former Richard supporter. “Now it is imperative that conservatives rally around Van Taylor as the only true conservative in the race. Mabrie Jackson is a moderate at best and her negative campaign has been funded by Austin lobbyists and special interest groups that are typically committed to electing Democrats. Wayne Richard won my precinct in the primary and I look forward to working just as hard to deliver each of those Wayne votes to Van.”
Mary Carl Finkelstein, another former Richard supporter and Republican Precinct 107 Chair added, “The way Mabrie Jackson conducted herself during the final weeks of the campaign, I can’t imagine any Wayne supporters pulling the lever for her. Her negative campaign and character assassination falsely attacked the true conservatives in order to hide her own moderate record. Plano conservatives are smart enough to see through her mudslinging, and they are well aware of her moderate record during her partial term on Plano City Council, as well as the lineup of Austin special interest groups supporting and funding her campaign.”
These precinct chair endorsements come after Wayne Richard formally endorsed Taylor via a press release and email to his supporters. Taylor now has the endorsement of a majority of local Republican precinct chairs.
Collin County Conservative Republicans Board Member Katherine Park said, “After supporting Wayne Richard, I am proud to announce my endorsement of Van Taylor – the only conservative remaining in this race. Van Taylor has served his country as a U.S. Marine, and he will serve us well in Austin. He ran an honorable campaign which focused on the issues, while Mabrie Jackson launched vicious, negative attacks that cheapened our political discourse. I urge all supporters of Wayne to join me in helping to elect Van Taylor.”
Taylor said, “I am truly humbled by this outpouring of support. Conservatives recognize the stark contrast and clear ideological differences facing Plano voters in the April 13 runoff election. The momentum behind our campaign is building each day as conservatives across Plano are uniting to fight the moderate record and negative campaign tactics of the Jackson campaign.”
Jackson gathered 41% of the 13,682 votes cast. However, the two conservatives and Tea Party Approved candidates, Taylor and Richard, split the remaining 59%, with Taylor receiving 33.5% and Richard 25.5%.
Taylor has now earned the endorsement of every major conservative organization which has endorsed in this race including the Texans for Fiscal Responsibility PAC, Young Conservatives of Texas, Texas Right to Life, Texas Alliance for Life, Texas Home School Coalition, Conservative Republicans of Texas, Conservative Hispanic Society, and the Coalition for Better Government. He has received an “A Rating” from the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association, and he is the only candidate in the runoff with the TeaApproved label from the North Texas Tea Party.
Conversely, Jackson has courted the support of many Austin Political Action Committees, some of whom, including the Texas State Teachers Association and Texas Parent PAC, have well-known reputations for supporting Democrats and liberal policies.
Full List of Current Republican Precinct Chairs in TX-66 Endorsing Van Taylor for Texas House District 66:
Tim Heeney, Precinct 15*
Michael Watson, Precinct 19
Dan Panetti, Precinct 28*
Carlos Amaral, Precinct 34
John Myers, Precinct 64
Gregory Knapp, Precinct 75*
Clyde Goodnight, Precinct 76*
Bobby Pelerose, Precinct 81
Mitch Easley, Precinct 86
Mary Carl Finkelstein, Precinct 107*
Peter Laws, Precinct 109
Jim Bright, Precinct 116
Shannon Burchett, Precinct 119
Mohamed Elibiary, Precinct 121
Daniel Rudd, Precinct 123*
Deinde Peters, Precinct 135
Mark Greer, Precinct 137
Thomas Harrison, Precinct 139
Eric Flores, Precinct 167
David Hall, Precinct 176
* Indicates former Wayne Richard supporter.
Taylor has been endorsed by the Texans for Fiscal Responsibility PAC, Young Conservatives of Texas, Texas Alliance for Life, and Congressman Jeb Hensarling. He has received an “A Rating” from the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association, been certified as pro-life by the Texas Right to Life, and is the only runoff candidate to earn the TeaApproved label from the North Texas Tea Party.
A successful businessman, decorated Marine Officer, and lifelong conservative, Van married Anne after his return from Iraq and they are the proud parents of Laura, 5, Helen, 4, and four-month old Susie. Van and his family reside in Plano near the land which his great-grandfather farmed during the Great Depression.
Mar 16, 2010
This Republican runoff contrasts a stark difference in ideology and it is important that we remind Plano voters to get back to the polls. With a critically important legislative session beginning in January, we need to make sure we have a conservative voice representing us in Austin to keep government small, taxes low, and our family values strong.
You can help by starting early to remind your friends and neighbors that there is an important Republican runoff election on April 13th. EVERY VOTE WILL COUNT!
Early Voting for the Republican Runoff election is:
Monday, April 5 - Friday, April 9
Election Day is:
Tuesday, April 13th
Please help by spreading the word about the runoff election, and thanks for all of your help with our campaign!
Mar 15, 2010
Some action photos from a great couple who are working hard to get the word out about our campaign!
Mar 11, 2010
We will be knocking on doors and walking neighborhoods both Saturday and Sunday of this weekend and would love to have your help! Even if you can only come out for a couple hours, it would very much be appreciated! The details are as follows:
Dates: Saturday, March 13 and Sunday, March 14
Start Time: Saturday at 10 AM, Sunday at 1 PM
Meeting Location: Cheyenne Park, 2501 Mission Ridge Rd., Plano
If you can make it at any point this weekend, please call (972) 369-2504 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). We look forward to seeing you this weekend!
