David Stein and Kevin McCall are both running for Smith County Republican Party County Chair in the March 2024 GOP Primary.

Editor’s Note: This is part of a series of candidate profile stories ahead of the March primary elections.

Two Smith County residents are vying for the Republican County Chair in the upcoming March election. Incumbent David Stein and opponent Kevin McCall each participated in an interview with the Tyler Morning Telegraph, during which they shared insights into their backgrounds and top priorities.

Stein is looking to secure a third term, while McCall believes new leadership is needed.

The Republican Party of Texas website defines the county chair as the head of the local party in each county. The chair holds various responsibilities, including supervising the primary, filling candidate vacancies and organizing other elections. The county chair also chairs county executive committee meetings and leads and manages the local party.

Stein grew up in New York captivated by political figures and the scandals and assassinations of the late 1960s and ‘70s. After a long career in sales and seeking a warmer climate, he moved to East Texas in 1994. Involved locally from the start, he first ran for elected office in 2005. He has served as a county commissioner and board member for organizations such as the United Way of Smith County and Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce.

Since he was elected county chair in 2020, Stein has worked to repair a fractured Republican club and electoral district. He said he has also raised and managed party funds that were practically non-existent when he took over.

One of the county chair’s roles is to raise funds and secure necessary resources for the party’s operations. Stein’s strategy has focused less on conflicts and more on action and solutions, he said.

“My actions since the beginning and will continue to be is to focus on what we have in common; let’s focus on the ultimate goal,” Stein said. “We’re arguing about how to get something done, not necessarily what needs to be done.”

He is motivated to continue serving in his role to uphold Republican values for his grandchildren and future generations.

“I want our county and our state to exercise and protect the freedoms we enjoy,” he said. “Supporting conservatives, Republican candidates and conservative limited government.”

People inevitably disagree on various issues. Finding people who agree on everything is impossible. Stein said as a county chair, what’s most important is the ability to collaborate with all party factions.

“We have to have a Republican Party that spends more time supporting our fellow Republican candidates than we do fighting with them,” Stein said. “All that will do is foster the ability of the opposition party to gain ground.”

Stein’s top priorities on the federal level include electing a Republican to the White House, reclaiming majority in the U.S. Senate, and increasing majority in the U.S. House. On the state level, he supports strengthening the Republican majority in the House and Senate and focus on conservative values and legislation. Locally, his top priorities are to increase voter turnout, recruit precinct chairs, conduct secure elections, and increase party unity, according to his campaign website.

Stein feels strongly about election integrity and is pro-life, according to his campaign website. He supports the Second Amendment, limited government, free enterprise, personal accountability, military and law enforcement, low taxes, family, border security.

McCall emphasized his commitment to traditional conservative values over the incumbent’s business-oriented approach.

McCall is a rancher, operating Wilson Hill Farm outside of Bullard for over two decades.

“As a rancher, I am constantly solving problems. Previously, I was a petroleum landman, where I learned the values of honesty, hard work, and personal responsibility,” McCall said on his campaign website.

McCall grew up in the Tyler area. From a young age, he and his father attended county conventions, tuned into elections, and consumed political news. For over two decades, he’s gained experience as a precinct chair, poll worker and elections judge, giving him unique insight into the electorate.

When it comes to border security, McCall called the border “a disgrace.” The “wide-open Texas border is flat-out dangerous to folks in our county,” he said on his campaign website. If elected as county chair, McCall would emphasize this issue in Austin and urge elected officials to treat this issue with “the seriousness it requires.” He also believes in holding all elected officials accountable and putting “principles over politicians.”

McCall also wants to advance the cause of eliminating property taxes.

According to McCall, Stein doesn’t fully endorse the committee’s prerogatives due to actions or inaction within the county executive committee, where Stein serves as the chair and McCall is a member.

“The Republican Party is split. It is not unusual in historical context for that to happen,” McCall said. “There were two distinct philosophies.”

McCall cited the Republican Party of Texas platform, a document laying out the principles elected officials are expected to uphold, including stances on constitutional issues, education, national defense and foreign affairs, health and human services and more.

“In my view, the Platform Document is the guiding light of the Party, not necessarily the people we elect to office,” McCall said on his campaign page. “Too often, the voting electorate is left feeling betrayed by those elected to office, their priorities overlooked, and their hopes of a positive outcome dashed by special interest catering politicians.”

McCall believes he and Stein disagree on aspects of the platform and fundamental ideas of Republican conservatism.

“When you analyze him for a political, philosophy or ideology, he does not reflect the will or the sentiments of our current county executive committee,” McCall said. “We’ve decided somebody needs to step up to the plate and take a stand on this.”

The grassroots center-right of the party, which, according to McCall, is the current makeup of the county executive committee, shouldn’t be alienated. He said the grassroots movement will certainly participate in philosophical debates.

The party needs leadership willing to “thread the needle” to unite both factions, he said.

“It has to be about raising funds and keeping these various factions happy to where we can all coexist and achieve our stated goal, which is electoral victory,” McCall said.

On the other hand, Stein said in a statement on his campaign website that the local party is “more unified” and “will promote positive Republican values which support our party’s beliefs, ideals, and platform.”

“Our political counterparts are out of control. We must unite and regain control of the direction of our county and economy,” Stein’s campaign website states.

The Republican Party has had strong representation in Smith County for years, according to Stein.

Ultimately, voters should consider both sides to determine which candidate’s contributions most align with their beliefs.

For more information about Stein’s campaign, visit davidsteintx.com. Voters can call him at 903-372-9699 or email david@davidsteintx.com. For more information about McCall’s campaign, visit kevinforsmithcounty.com. Voters can call him at 903-372-6013 or email kevin@kevinforsmithcounty.com.

Voters can cast their ballot in the March Primary during early voting from Feb. 20 to March 1. Election Day and the last day to receive a ballot by mail is March 5. Early voting and election day polling places can be found at the Smith County Elections website at www.smith-county.com.

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For more information about Stein’s campaign, visit davidsteintx.com. Voters can call him at 903-372-9699 or email david@davidsteintx.com.

For more information about McCall’s campaign, visit kevinforsmithcounty.com. Voters can call him at 903-372-6013 or email kevin@kevinforsmithcounty.com.

To view sample ballots and find out more about the upcoming primary elections, visit www.smith-county.com/government/departments/elections and tylerpaper.com/elections.