Veterinarian Charles “Doc” Anderson, R-Waco, kept his seat in the Texas House with a convincing win Tuesday in a rematch over challenger John Mabry, D-Waco, a local attorney.

Anderson received more than 58 percent of the votes cast, outpolling Mabry 25,551 to 16,554. Libertarian candidate Neill Snider received 1,591 votes in the race for the District 56 seat.

Democrat John Mabry (left) came up short in his bid to unseat Charles "Doc" Anderson.

Taking his fourth term to the House, Anderson said he won because he has stayed in touch with his constituents, “talking with them eyeball to eyeball.”

He said voters rocked the state and the nation with a peaceful revolution that he could see coming. He said it was a conservative revolution, not a Republican revolution.

“I think the message sent today will be heard for decades to come,” Anderson said, adding that he now looks forward to taking on issues such as redistricting, the state budget shortfall and immigration.

Mabry could not be reached for comment late Tuesday night.

The race between Anderson and Mabry turned testy at times.

Mabry publicly pushed for a debate with Anderson, but one never took place.

Mabry said the lack of debate was troublesome given the major challenges facing state, most notably a projected budget shortfall of up to $21 billion.

Ads on behalf of Mabry said the state could more easily balance its budget if Anderson would pay his taxes. The incumbent has had a history of IRS liens placed against him for owing back taxes.

Karen Petree, the McLennan County Democratic Party chairwoman, in September laid out a timeline pinpointing the dates of six tax liens placed against either Anderson’s veterinary clinic or his home during the past decade.

Todd Smith, an Austin political consultant to Anderson, called the liens “old news.” The IRS has released all of the liens Anderson has been involved with, including recent ones dating back to December and January.

Meanwhile, John Cullar, treasurer of the McLennan County Democratic Party, held a news conference Friday to allege Anderson violated state ethics rules and election laws. He said Anderson failed to disclose the employers of 22 campaign donors and did not list categories for 53 campaign expenses on fundraising reports.

Anderson labeled the news conference a “ploy,” and a last-ditch effort to help Mabry.

Advertisements for Anderson painted Mabry as a personal injury trial lawyer who funded his campaign with contributions from other trial lawyers. Anderson said he favors lawsuit reform.

Anderson made security along the Texas-Mexico border a focal point of his campaign.

He also wants to make the rules regulating eminent domain more favorable to landowners, a position the Texas Farm Bureau espouses. Eminent domain is the process through which state entities or utilities seize private land.

mcopeland@wacotrib.com

757-5736

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