No title makes conservatives’ skin crawl like “tax assessor/collector.” It’s just not a job most of us hope our little conservative bundles of joy grow up to be. But thank goodness someone does, because it’s a critically important position.

Speaking in Farmers’ Branch this week I saw a familiar face in the audience – one of my upper-classman from Texas A&M. It turns out that Steven Autry is now seeking to serve as the judge of the Dallas County Criminal Court #4. He was a positive influence on me as a cadet 20 years ago, and I have no doubt he’ll serve the people of Dallas with distinction. Good luck, Mr. Autry, sir!

Hard to believe, but true, we do have a strong number of fiscally conservative lawmakers in the Texas Legislature. While outnumbered, they fight the fight for our values and principles regardless of political pressure. But doing the right thing comes at a cost. One of the taxpayers’ champions in the legislature is State Rep. Corbin Van Arsdale of Harris County.

Confronted with not getting 100% of the money, the city of Nederland (near Beaumont) is backing out of their red-light camera contract.

Voters in three out of four San Antonio area school districts rejected Tuesday’s proposed tax rate increases from $1.04 to $1.17 per $100 valuation. Now the San Antonio ISD (SAISD) superintendent says voters didn’t know what they were doing when they rejected his tax increase. 

Voters in State House District 97 probably don’t need the reminder, but candidate Bob Leonard — the former rep-turned-lobbyist supported by the grow-government crowd — has an abysmal record on taxpayer issues. The Texas Legislature has too many faux fiscal conservatives as it is; we don’t need another one.

I’m really excited about two incredible individuals who will be challenging incumbent Democrats in the 2008 general election.

One of the taxpayers’ best friends in the Texas Legislature is Bill Zedler, R-Arlington. And that means the grow-government crowd has painted a target on his forehead.