We covered the four-way GOP primary in House District 52 this week. Here's a look at how the issue of property taxes are at play there:

John Gordon, longtime Republican strategist and operative in Williamson County, says he is the only candidate who “led efforts” to reduce property taxes in Williamson County, claiming that other candidates “only talk” about reducing them. He did vote against Capitol Metro coming into Round Rock, freeing up a half-cent sales tax in the 1980s. He also fought against two Round Rock ISD school bonds he called “excessive in their spending.” He also defeated a tax proposal to build a baseball stadium in the mid-’90s, he said.

Larry Gonzales, a campaign consultant who has worked at the Capitol as a staffer for nine sessions, has worked with Rep. John Otto (R-Otto) and others to address property tax reform. He drafted eight bills in 2007 that addressed the appraisal and protest processes, and others. Those bills died in the Senate in 2007. Otto continued that work in 2009, Gonzales said at the Williamson County Republican Assembly HD 52 candidate forum on Jan. 19.

Stephen Casey, a navy veteran and lawyer who is relatively new to the district, told the assembly on Jan. 19 that he has not had the chance to do that much because he hasn’t lived in the district that long -- which is true. Casey instead called for a transition to a sales tax-bases system – similar to the plan that has been advanced by Rep. Ken Paxton (R-Plano), but which has not gotten much traction at the Capitol. Proponents of the bill including Casey say that the sales tax would be “simpler” and more transparent, and could even generate more revenue and encourage property development. But critics like Rep. Rene Oliveira (D-Brownsville) say that the tax would be regressive and hit larger families harder because they have to spend more on bare essentials.

Alyssa Eacono, a teacher who grew up in the district and most recently served as Rep. Will Hartnett's (R-Dallas) chief of staff, said she favors “moving deliberately” on property taxes. She said she wants to see what the interim studies find in the area. She hopes to sit on the House Local Ways and Means Committee to directly impact legislation in the next session – though she admits the seat is usually a senior-level position.