Republican Reggie Smith of Sherman is the early favorite be the new person to represent Delta, Fannin and Grayson counties in the Texas House of Representatives.
In heavily Republican House District 62, Smith defeated fellow Grayson County Republican Brent Lawson by a wide margin. Smith won about 71 percent of the ballots cast (6,227 votes) to Lawson's 28.8 percent (2,520 votes). County by county, Delta County voted about 70 percent for Smith (270 votes to 113), Fannin County favored Smith by around 65 percent (1091 to 585), and Grayson County went to Smith with about 73 percent of votes (4,866 and 1,822).
“I am very humbled by that,” Smith told the Sherman Herald-Democrat regarding the percentage of people who supported him in Grayson County.
Smith, an attorney, is a former chairman of the Grayson County Republican Party; former northern regional director of the Texas Republican County Chairmen’s Association. Smith was endorsed by the Texas Farm Bureau, the Texas Association of Business, Texans for Lawsuit Reform, and Texans for Life. Lawson, an electrical engineer, is a former Republican Party precinct chairman in Grayson County. He was endorsed by some of the state’s most conservative groups, including Texas Right to Life and Texas Values Action.
Smith will face Democrat Valerie Hefner in November. Smith replace longtime House District 62 State Rep. Larry Phillips (R-Sherman), who has resigned to pursue a local judicial post. Phillips had represented District 62 in Austin since 2003. Phillips endorsed Smith in the runoff.
“After deciding to not seek re-election, I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve our state in a different capacity, as a district judge,” Phillips said. His resignation became effective April 30. The seat will remain vacant until the November 6 general election.
This story was edited on May 23.
