Issues

Jobs and the Economy

In these challenging economic times, we need business leaders who understand that jobs and opportunity come from the private sector – not government.  Van has been a successful businessman at Churchill Capital, a firm focused on real estate finance.  As the Vice Chairman of Texas Gulf Bancshares, he’s helped lead one of the soundest banks in Texas with almost 100 employees – a bank that hasn’t taken a dime of bailout money.  Van believes that to create jobs, we must unleash entrepreneurs and keep government at bay. 

State Spending

When the legislature convenes in 2011, Texas will face a multi-billion budget shortfall and liberals will call for higher taxes.  Van believes that we must hold the line and reduce the size and scope of government instead.  Families and businesses all across Texas live and operate on a fixed budget and our state government must do the same.

Taxes

Van’s first act as an official candidate for Texas House District 66 was signing the Taxpayers Protection Pledge, opposing all efforts to increase taxes.  As a small businessman, Van understands that lower taxes on our families and small businesses give Texans greater control in our everyday lives.  He has learned first-hand that excessive taxation, abusive litigation, and burdensome regulation threaten to strangle Texas’ small business community, which is the engine for economic growth.

View Van’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge here.

2nd Amendment

Van is a lifelong gun owner and avid hunter.  As a Life Member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association, Van will always defend and expand our second-amendment freedoms in Austin. Van has received an “A” Rating from the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association

Pro Life

As a social conservative, Van will always stand up for pro life values.  Van has advocated for pro life issues.  For Van, life begins at conception and ends at natural death.

Border Security and Illegal Immigration

As a Marine, Van served on our southern border and knows first hand that our borders are not secure.  In order to keep our families secure at home, Van will work to safeguard our borders to keep terrorists and drug traffickers out of Texas.

Voter Identification

Freedom is a gift that one generation gives to the next, and it can be lost in a generation.  Fair elections are at the core of our democratic principles, and that is why Van strongly supports a voter ID bill.  He will work to pass this important legislation to ensure that only those with valid state identification can cast their ballot.

Military and Veteran’s Issues

As the state Chairman of the National Defense Committee, Van worked to make it easier for those serving in the military to vote.  Additionally, Van is the state Vice Captain for Vets for Freedom where he helped organize combat veterans to lobby Congress to win the war on terror.  Since leaving active duty, Van stood up for our nation’s veterans and active duty military here in Texas, and will continue advocating for our military and veterans in Austin.