Van Taylor

Nicholas Van Campen "Van" TaylorTexas Birth Index, 1903-1997.] (born 1972) is a Texas businessman and Iraq War veteran who was an unsuccessful Republican candidate for the United States Congress in Texas' 17th Congressional District in 2006. Taylor challenged 16-year incumbent Chet Edwards of Waco. He is a former Marine platoon leader in Iraq.

Early years

Taylor, a seventh generation Texan, was born in Dallas. He grew up in Midland where he attended the Hillander School and San Jacinto Junior High School, Taylor graduated from St. Paul's School, a prep school in Concord, New Hampshire. He did his undergraduate studies at Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, having graduated with a degree in history.

He then joined the United States Marine Corps, completed infantry and intelligence training, and served as a reconnaissance platoon leader and an intelligence officer. After his four year active duty tour ended, Taylor joined the Marine Corps Reserves. He returned to Harvard and earned a Masters of Business Administration from the Harvard Business School; he then worked for McKinsey and Company and the Trammell Crow Co. in Dallas until he volunteered for active duty service in Iraq.

Military service

Taylor volunteered for duty with the Marine Corps' C Company, 4th Reconnaissance Battalion and fought with the 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company. As a Captain, Taylor led missions behind enemy lines for the 4500 Marine Task Force Tarawa, including the leadership of the Task Force's first platoon to enter Iraq before the start of the main invasion. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Taylor's platoon encountered, and defeated, several Fedayeen ambushes, participated in the operation to rescue U.S. prisoner of war Private First Class Jessica Lynch and rescued 31 wounded men-under-fire during a counter attack by several thousand Iraqi soldiers.

Taylor's military decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal with "V" for Valor, the Combat Action Ribbon, and the Presidential Unit Citation. Taylor is currently a major in the Marine Corps Reserves.

2006 campaign

Taylor was one of a number of Iraq War veterans to run for elected office in 2006. [http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/washington/columnists/tgillman/stories/DN-texwatch_02nat.ART.State.Edition1.3d8b91e.html "Edwards' record a tough defense against vet's challenge"] ] After Taylor "received a tremendous amount of encouragement to run for Congress, Taylor kicked off his campaign with a 2-day, 4-city tour of the district on Oct. 11" [http://www.wacocitizen.com/wacocitizen/The%20Waco%20Citizen/Previous%20Editions/2005/12-23-05/Pg%204%2012-23.pdf "Taylor qualifies for Congress"] Waco Citizen (December 22, 2005)] 2005. Taylor was considered "one of the GOP's top prospects for knocking off a sitting Democrat."

Taylor was endorsed by President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush who reside in House District 17. [http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/4430876.html "Taylor Wins Endorsement Of President, First Lady"] KWTX October 18, 2006.] “Van Taylor is an outstanding leader and decorated combat veteran who will make a difference in Congress,” Mr. Bush said. “I strongly support Van and urge my neighbors to do so, too.”

On November 7, 2006, Edwards defeated Taylor, 93,198 votes (58 percent) to 64,617 votes (40 percent). The remaining 2 percent went to Libertarian Party candidate Guillermo Acosta. [ [http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/pre/TX/H/17/51467/frameset.exclude.html CNN.com ] ] [ [http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/states/TX/H/17/ CNN.com - Elections 2006 ] ] Taylor's defeat can be seen as part of a nationwide trend — no Republican challenger defeated an incumbent Democrat in any race for the United States House of Representatives in 2006. [United States House elections, 2006 complete list]

Taylor's campaign slogan was: "I fought for you in Iraq. I'd like to fight for you in Washington." [ [http://www.mudvillegazette.com/archives/004179.html Gazette Archives] ]

Personal

Taylor married his wife, Anne, after he returned from Iraq in May 2004. They have two daughters Laura Taylor (born 2005) and Helen Taylor (born 2006). [ [http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=2622034&page=2 "Texas Congressman Is Barnyard Burden in Bush's Backyard"] ABC News] They live in West, Texas, a small town with a distinct Czech ethnicity located north of Waco in McLennan County. Van and his family attend St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Waco.

ee also

References

External links

* [http://www.vantaylor.com Official 2006 campaign site]
* [http://www.vantaylor.com/aboutvt.asp Official biography]
* [http://www.mywesttexas.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16121232&BRD=2288&PAG=461&dept_id=475626&rfi=6 MyWestTexas.com article]