Texas anti-toll group applauds Cruz win; takes credit for state Senate victory

An anti-toll group in Texas said Wednesday that former state Solicitor General Ted Cruz’s (R) victory in the Republican primary on Tuesday was good for taxpayers and drivers in the Lone Star State.

The San Antonio Toll Party and Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom (TURF) said Cruz’s defeated opponent, former Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst (R), was “pro-toll extraordinaire.”

Cruz defeated Dewhurst 54 percent to 46.

TURF President Terri Hall said the victory was “a great day for Texas taxpayers and this sends a strong message to both Austin and Washington.

“We don't want more taxes, especially to use roads we've already paid for with tax money,” Hall said in a statement. “Enough is enough!"

The anti-toll coalition gave Cruz an “A” rating for his position on tolls on Texas’s roads. The group said retiring Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), whom Cruz is running to replace, was also against additional tolling.

The group also took credit for a down-ballot Texas raise, saying that it helped to defeat a longtime incumbent state senator who had been in office for 40 years.

"We're elated that Dr. [Donna] Campbell gave longtime toller Jeff Wentworth the boot,” Hall said. “We helped her polish up those boots with lots of grassroots support, and it paid off.”

Hall said the anti-toll coalition made robo-calls and knocked on doors against the incumbent Wentworth, a member of the San Antonio Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).

"This is the first opportunity for our supporters to make an example out of the board members who recently voted to toll existing lanes on 281 at the MPO June 25,” she said. "There was a ton of enthusiasm behind Dr. Campbell. She's just what we need to shake up Austin to get a pro-taxpayer transportation policy in place in Texas.”

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