Changes

{{Infobox officeholder

{{Infobox officeholder

|name=Lawrence Augustine<br> "Larry" Phillips

|name=Lawrence Augustine<br> "Larry" Phillips

|party=[[Republican Party|Republican]]

|party=[[Republican Party|Republican]]

|spouse=Robin Lynn Phillips

|spouse=Robin Lynn Phillips

|term_end=April 2018

|term_end=April 2018

|preceded=Ronald H. Clark

|preceded=Ronald H. Clark

|succeeded=Pending November 6 general election between Reginald B. "Reggie" Smith, Jr., and Valerie Hefner

|succeeded=[[Reggie Smith]]

|office2=[[Judge]] of the Texas District Court for Grayson, Fannin, and Delta counties

|office2=[[Judge]] of the Texas District Court for Grayson, Fannin, and Delta counties

|term_start2=January 2019 (pending)

|term_start2=January 2019 (pending)

In 2003, Phillips initially won his seat in a special runoff election with nearly 66 percent of the vote; his defeated opponent was the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Donnie Jarvis, also of Sherman.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe|title=Special election returns, January 7, 2003|publisher=elections.sos.state.tx.us|accessdate=September 28, 2011}}</ref> The vacancy occurred when [[U.S. President]] [[George W. Bush]] appointed Republican State Representative Ronald H. Clark of Sherman as a judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, based in the branch court at [[Beaumont]] in southeastern Texas. Clark had held the District 62 seat since 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/legeLeaders/members/memberDisplay.cfm?memberID=165&searchparams=chamber=~city=~countyID=0~district=62~first=~gender=~last=~leaderNote=~leg=77~party=~roleDesc=~Committee=|title=Ronald H. Clark|publisher=lrl.state.tx.us|accessdate=September 28, 2011}}</ref>

In 2003, Phillips initially won his seat in a special runoff election with nearly 66 percent of the vote; his defeated opponent was the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Donnie Jarvis, also of Sherman.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe|title=Special election returns, January 7, 2003|publisher=elections.sos.state.tx.us|accessdate=September 28, 2011}}</ref> The vacancy occurred when [[U.S. President]] [[George W. Bush]] appointed Republican State Representative Ronald H. Clark of Sherman as a judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, based in the branch court at [[Beaumont]] in southeastern Texas. Clark had held the District 62 seat since 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/legeLeaders/members/memberDisplay.cfm?memberID=165&searchparams=chamber=~city=~countyID=0~district=62~first=~gender=~last=~leaderNote=~leg=77~party=~roleDesc=~Committee=|title=Ronald H. Clark|publisher=lrl.state.tx.us|accessdate=September 28, 2011}}</ref>

    

    

While in the House, Phillips served as the chairman of the House Transportation Committee and sat on these committees: (1) Ethics, (2) Redistricting, and (3) Border and Intergovernmental Affairs.<ref name=house/> Phillips secured his latest full term in 2010 with nearly 88 percent of the ballots cast over the [[Libertarian Party|Libertarian]] Kenneth Myers. No[[Democratic Party|Democrat]] sought the seat.<ref name=ttribune/>

While in the House, Phillips served as the chairman of the House Transportation Committee and sat on these committees: (1) Ethics, (2) Redistricting, and (3) Border and Intergovernmental Affairs.<ref name=house/> Phillips secured his latest full term in 2010 with nearly 88 percent of the ballots cast over the [[Libertarian Party|Libertarian]] Kenneth Mye, as no [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] sought the seat.<ref name=ttribune/>

    

    

In November 2010, State Representative [[Bryan Hughes]], an attorney from Mineola County in Wood County in east Texas, withdrew his support for a second term for moderate Republican [[Joe Straus]]  of [[San Antonio]] as [[Speaker]] of the Texas House of Representatives. Hughes charged that Straus was punishing intraparty conservative opponents with unfair [[redistricting]]. Hughes based his claim on a conversation with one of Straus' staffers. Hughes said that Phillips told him that two East Texas members were being especially earmarked through redistricting, then Representative-elect [[Erwin Cain]] of Sulphur Springs and  [[Dan Flynn]] of Van, Texas. Representative [[Chuck Hopson]] of Jacksonville, Texas, a De Democrat-turned-Republican and chairman of the House Ethics Committee, called upon Hughes to reveal the name of the informant.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texastribune.org/texas-house-of-representatives/speaker-of-the-house/bryan-hughes-withdraws-support-for-straus/|title=Elise Hu, "Bryan Hughes Withdraws Support for Straus," November 10, 2010|publisher=texastribune.org|accessdate=September 26, 2011}}</ref> Under oath at his own request, Hughes identified the informant as Representative Phillips. Before the Ethics Committee, Phillips removed himself as a member for the  duration of the hearing and denied Hughes's accusation. The phone conversation between Hughes and Phillips was not recorded. The committee hence did not reach a judgment because of the lack of corroborating witnesses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kxii.com/news/headlines/Texas_House_committee_wont_act_on_Rep_Phillips_alleged_threats__110251099.html|title=Texas House committee won't act on Rep. Phillips' alleged threats, November 23, 2010|publisher=KXII-TV.com|accessdate=September 27, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.americanindependent.com/158065/texas-house-ethics-panel-takes-no-action-on-alleged-redistricting-threats-by-vice-chair-phillips|title=Patrick Brendel, "Texas House Ethics Panel Takes No Action on Alleged Redistricting Threats by Vice-Chair Phillips," November 23, 2010|publisher=americanindependent.com|accessdate=September 28, 2011}}</ref>

In November 2010, State Representative [[Bryan Hughes]], an attorney from Mineola County in Wood County in east Texas, withdrew his support for a second term for moderate Republican [[Joe Straus]]  of [[San Antonio]] as [[Speaker]] of the Texas House of Representatives. Hughes charged that Straus was punishing intraparty conservative opponents with unfair [[redistricting]]. Hughes based his claim on a conversation with one of Straus' staffers. Hughes said that Phillips told him that two East Texas members were being especially earmarked through redistricting, then Representative-elect [[Erwin Cain]] of Sulphur Springs and  [[Dan Flynn]] of Van, Texas. Representative [[Chuck Hopson]] of Jacksonville, Texas, a De Democrat-turned-Republican and chairman of the House Ethics Committee, called upon Hughes to reveal the name of the informant.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texastribune.org/texas-house-of-representatives/speaker-of-the-house/bryan-hughes-withdraws-support-for-straus/|title=Elise Hu, "Bryan Hughes Withdraws Support for Straus," November 10, 2010|publisher=texastribune.org|accessdate=September 26, 2011}}</ref> Under oath at his own request, Hughes identified the informant as Representative Phillips. Before the Ethics Committee, Phillips removed himself as a member for the  duration of the hearing and denied Hughes's accusation. The phone conversation between Hughes and Phillips was not recorded. The committee hence did not reach a judgment because of the lack of corroborating witnesses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kxii.com/news/headlines/Texas_House_committee_wont_act_on_Rep_Phillips_alleged_threats__110251099.html|title=Texas House committee won't act on Rep. Phillips' alleged threats, November 23, 2010|publisher=KXII-TV.com|accessdate=September 27, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.americanindependent.com/158065/texas-house-ethics-panel-takes-no-action-on-alleged-redistricting-threats-by-vice-chair-phillips|title=Patrick Brendel, "Texas House Ethics Panel Takes No Action on Alleged Redistricting Threats by Vice-Chair Phillips," November 23, 2010|publisher=americanindependent.com|accessdate=September 28, 2011}}</ref>

Phillips resigned his long-term House seat in April 2018. He is the unopposed Republican nominee for a state district court position in Grayson, Fannin, and Delta counties to which [[Governor]] [[Greg Abbott]] appointed him in the interim pending the start of the judicial term in January 2019. A special election will be held November 6, 2018, to choose a successor to finish Phillips' unexpired House term.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2018/04/30/abbott-calls-nov-6-special-election-phillips-seat/|title=Gov. Greg Abbott calls Nov. 6 special election for Larry Phillip's state House seat|publisher=''The Texas Tribune''|date=April 30, 2018|author=Patrick Svitek|accessdate=May 26, 2018}}</ref> [[Conservative]] Republican Reginald B. "Reggie" Smith, Jr., and the Democrat Valerie Hefner, both of Sherman, will compete for the regular District 62 House term. A former chairman of the Grayson County Republican Party, Smith defeated fellow Republican Brent Lawson, 71 to 29 percent, in the May 22 party runoff election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/may22_326_state.htm|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|title=Election Returns|date=May 22, 2018|accessdate=May 26, 2018}}</ref>

Phillips resigned his long-term House seat in April 2018. He was the unopposed Republican nominee for a state district court position in Grayson, Fannin, and Delta counties to which [[Governor]] [[Greg Abbott]] appointed him in the interim pending the start of the judicial term in January 2019. A special election was held on  November 6, 2018, to choose a successor to finish Phillips' unexpired House term.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2018/04/30/abbott-calls-nov-6-special-election-phillips-seat/|title=Gov. Greg Abbott calls Nov. 6 special election for Larry Phillip's state House seat|publisher=''The Texas Tribune''|date=April 30, 2018|author=Patrick Svitek|accessdate=May 26, 2018}}</ref> [[Conservative]] Republican [[Reggie Smith|Reginald B. "Reggie" Smith, Jr.]], and the Democrat Valerie Hefner, both of Sherman, competed for the regular District 62 House term. Smith prevailed, 41,899 (76.2 percent) to  Hefner's 12,047 (percent), A Libertarian, David Schaab held another 1,071 votes (1.9 percent).

 

A former chairman of the Grayson County Republican Party, Smith defeated fellow Republican Brent Lawson, 71 to 29 percent, in the May 22 runoff election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/may22_326_state.htm|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|title=Election Returns|date=May 22, 2018|accessdate=May 26, 2018}}</ref>

      

      

== References ==

== References ==

[[Category:Texas]]

[[Category:Texas]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Lawyers]]

[[Category:Attorneys]]

[[Category:Politicians]]

[[Category:Politicians]]