Liberal State Rep. Larry Phillips (R-Sherman) has announced his retirement from the Texas House, making him the fourth Republican chairman allied with House Speaker Joe Straus to call it quits thus far. Phillips leaves office with a lifetime rating of C+ on the Fiscal Responsibility Index, but earned a failing grade for the most recent legislative session with a score of 53.
Phillips also cumulatively scored an 83 percent on Young Conservatives of Texas’ legislative ratings, not factoring in the 85th Legislative Session.
Phillips has represented House District 62 since 2003. In the most recent legislative session, he chaired the Committee on Insurance, and prior to that the House Committees on Transportation and Homeland Security and Public Safety, where he assisted in the passing of Open Carry and a watered-down version of Campus Carry.
Two candidates are already vying for the now-open seat in the 2018 Republican primary: Brent Lawson, an electrical engineer from Van Alstyne, and former Sherman City Council member Kevin Couch.
