Integrity, conservative credentials top factors in GOP race for Collin County House seat

AUSTIN – Seeking a second term in the Texas House, Rep. Frederick Frazier says he has amassed a record of conservative accomplishments that include co-authoring priority Republican bills to lower property taxes, ban sex grooming for minors and give the state a role in arresting and deporting immigrants.

Keresa Richardsonhis opponent in the May 28 GOP primary runoff disputes Frazier's conservative credentials and says Republican McKinney lacks integrity after declaring no contest to two election-related misdemeanors the end of last year.

The hotly contested runoff was created when Richardson received 40% of the vote in the March 5 Republican primary to Frazier's 32%.

Early voting for the May 28 runoff ends Friday. The winner will face Democrat Tony Adams in November in a heavily Republican Collin County district that includes parts of McKinney and Frisco.

Richardson, backed by some of the most conservative Republicans in the Texas House, has attacked Frazier — who has been endorsed by Gov. Greg Abbott — for several votes during the 2023 legislative session, particularly his vote to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton.

“I decided somebody had to replace him,” Frazier said in a brief telephone interview. “The Texas House is dysfunctional and things aren't getting done.”

Paxton, who has campaigned against House Republicans who supported his dismissal, has supported Richardson.

Frazier said he doesn't regret Paxton's vote, calling it a tough choice that was his constitutional duty.

“It was part of our job to look at what we had and then look at nothing the other way around and then send it to the Senate,” Frazier said.

Richardson disagrees. In an email, she said she saw “NO hard evidence” provided by the Texas House.

Richardson and her supporters also criticize Frazier for the dissent two misdemeanor charges attempt to impersonate a public servant.

A Collin County grand jury Frazier sued in June 2022accusing him of impersonating a McKinney city code enforcement officer on two occasions to instruct people to remove campaign signs. His GOP runoff opponent at the time, Paul Chabot, said his campaign signs were targeted.

Frazier was given one year of deferred adjudication probation and fined $8,000.

Based on his plea, Frazier was originally dishonorably discharged from the Dallas Police Department, where he was a police officer for about 28 years.

Frazier is pushing back against the criticism, saying a Collin County judge dismissed the misdemeanor charges last month and freed him from probation. Upon the dismissal of his charges, the Dallas Police Department changed his dishonorable discharge to a general discharge.

After the court's decision, Frazier said he is focused on correcting Richardson's “smear campaign” by connecting with voters in a vigorous round of door-knocking and walk-in jamming in House District 61.

On the issues, Frazier and Richardson promote similar conservative priorities for the upcoming legislative session, including additional property tax cuts. Both say Gov. Greg Abbott Operation Lone Star has been effective in the fight against illegal immigration.

“We've done a good job there and we should continue to monitor (the border) until we have a change in the White House,” Frazier said.

Richardson said she believes Democrats have a “huge influence” in the House Chairman Dade Phelanwhich she blamed for allowing Democrats to water down GOP priority bills.

Richardson and Frazier support barring Democrats from leading legislative committees.

The two candidates also support Abbott's plan to eliminate the portion of property taxes devoted to maintaining and operating schools.

Richardson wants to make up for lost tax revenue by adding a consumption tax to the purchase of a good or service. She opposes raising sales taxes.

“There are many options that we need to explore,” Richardson said. “The entire property tax structure needs an overhaul and it will be a long, arduous process, but we need to spread the tax burden so that our senior citizens don't risk losing their homes when they can't. pay their property taxes.”

Frazier has had a fundraising edge with $818,576 in campaign contributions to Richardson's $263,679 before the May primary. Frazier has also spent $353,362 on TV ads, according to AdImpact, which tracks ad spending, while Richardson has spent no money on TV ads.