By Anna Flagg
Reporter
Hoping to bring conservative values back to his district, 2005 Baylor alumnus Jeff Leach is running for the Texas House of Representatives in District 67, which includes Plano, Allen and Richardson.
Leach grew up in Plano and attended Baylor, where he was Student Body President from 2003-2005.
“I was president during a pretty tumultuous time at Baylor and I learned a ton,” Leach said. “More than anything, I learned how important it is to know what you believe and have the courage to stand up for it even when you are going against the tide.”
Tommye Lou Davis, vice president for constituent engagement, worked closely with Leach when he was involved in student government.
“He is bright, capable, conscientious, reliable and personable,” Davis wrote in an e-mail to the Lariat. “He relates well with all ages and types of people.”
After graduating in 2005 and marrying his high school sweetheart, he enrolled in Southern Methodist University Law School.
Currently, Leach and his family of four live in Plano, where he practices law with the firm of Griffith, Nixon, Davison, P.C. After much prayer and discussion with close family and friends, Leach decided to run for state representative.
“I have always felt called to public service,” Leach said. “My wife and I have prayed that the opportunity would present itself, but we wanted the timing to be just right.”
Leach is a conservative Republican who believes that the nation is at a turning point and in need of true conservatives to step up.
Among others, Leach is running against incumbent Jerry Madden, who has been the representative of District 67 since 1992 and has encouraged spending less money on prisons in Texas.
According to an article by David Boeri from Boston’s NPR news station, “Jerry Madden has become one of the country’s leaders in corrections reform.”
Leach said his platform includes giving more freedom to individuals, families and businesses by making sure the government’s money is being used more wisely, without increasing taxes.
“The state is in need of leaders who will roll up their sleeves and go to work for the people,” Leach said. “And that is what I intend to do.”
Leach discussed how people are over-taxed and said the government is involved too deeply in areas such as education. He said the answer is not simply to throw more money at the problem, but make sure the money is going to the classrooms.
“We need to give individuals, parents and the local government control over education choices for their children, not a state or federal government,” Leach said.
Having lived in Plano for 23 years, Leach said he has a deep base of support.
Besides attending events and meet-and-greets, Leach wants to reach out to voters by listening to their concerns.
“I can talk until I am blue in the face, but it is really about listening and representing what is important to the people,” Leach said.
