Businessman Wayne Richard operated a successful technology company for 30 years before retiring, and now he is considering a second run for public office.
Richard was the founder and CEO of W.S. Richard Enterprises and ICglobal, serving clients in the relocation and household goods moving industry with internet-based solutions.
The West Plano resident and former talk show host was also an early supporter of former President Donald Trump. He organized rallies for Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
Richard, 68, told The Dallas Express that he is considering a run for a Texas House seat in 2024. If he declares his candidacy, he will be vying for Republican incumbent Rep. Matt Shaheen’s (R-Plano) seat in District 66.
“I’m pretty much retired at this point,” Richard said. “People tell me, ‘You’ve got a good life. Why would you want to get involved with politics now?’ Well, it’s like President Trump. He had a great life as a businessman. He did not need to run for president. But he loved his country and wanted to serve.”
Richard continues to work as a business management consultant, public speaker, and guest lecturer on tech issues, regulations, and government policy. He also occasionally puts his CEO cap back on.
“I have people who call and ask for assistance from time to time, but I am not out there beating the bushes for business,” he said.
Richard said his business was one of the first local internet service providers when he founded it in 1992.
“We were one of the first to bring touchscreen kiosks to the marketplace,” he added.
The fast-changing tech market went from dial-up to high-speed in a blur, and Richard had to keep up with the times to stay relevant.
“The technology was moving so quickly, we always found individuals who specialized in capabilities,” said Richard, a graduate of SMU’s Cox School of Business. “We found specialists, and that’s how I built my model and business. I was very successful at finding solutions for my clients and for being forward-thinking.”
Richard commented on the recent developments in artificial intelligence, noting the significant efficiencies that could someday be at hand.
“It’s driven by what humans write in the code,” Richard said. “Do I anticipate a time when AI starts to recognize its own self-entity? I do not know if it can happen. We have seen so many movies about it. That seems to be the biggest concern. Today, AI can impact the workforce because it is more efficient in performing tasks ordinarily done by a human.”
Richard first took a run at a Texas House seat in 2010. He lost to incumbent Van Taylor, who since went on to become a two-term U.S. congressman.
“It was a major learning experience for me,” Richard said, noting he became more acquainted with local politics and the Collin County Republican Party. He subsequently started a weekly conservative talk radio show.
“The GOP of Collin County was actually one of my sponsors,” he added. “My name recognition grew as a result of the show. My conservative beliefs and values became very evident as the various subjects came up.”
Richard said he is seriously considering a run against Rep. Shaheen, who voted to impeach suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton. Richard said he was outraged by what happened to Paxton, a fellow Collin County resident.
“Ken Paxton is a good friend of mine. I am very concerned about the weaponization of the House. I knew what was taking place was unconstitutional. I knew the way it was handled was inappropriate and probably illegal,” Richard claimed.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the Texas House voted 121-23 to impeach Paxton in May. His Senate trial is scheduled to begin September 5 in Austin.
“Paxton is the best attorney general in the country,” Richard said. “He is a warrior, battling the leftist movements of the Biden administration. It’s more than coincidental that he was impeached on flimsy charges, innuendo, and rumors. That upset me quite a bit.”
Richard claimed Shaheen’s decision to vote for impeachment says something about his politics.
“He’s a phony conservative. His voting credentials have moved further and further to the left. He deserves to be primaried, and I might be the person to run against him,” he said.
Richard said he will wait until after the Paxton impeachment trial to decide whether to run.
“The outcome of the Senate trial will have a major impact on my decision,” Richard said. “If Ken is found innocent, it shows there’s a lack of professionalism in the House, and my opponent would have been part of that. If he is found guilty, I will consider the way the House handled it to be inappropriate from beginning to end.”
Each of the 20 articles of impeachment against Paxton will be voted on separately by senators. If two-thirds of the upper chamber accept an article, it will be registered as a conviction.
“This is the most monumental action in Texas politics for the last 100 years,” said Richard, noting that property taxes, election integrity, and border security would be high on his list if he runs.
Above all, Richard said he wants to see Trump replace President Joe Biden in the White House. He supported Trump in 2016 when many in the state endorsed Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) during the Republican primary.
“If Texas goes blue, this country is done for,” Richard said. “President Trump will return America to greatness.”
Richard and his wife, Susan, have been married for 31 years. He has been a delegate at Texas Republican Party conventions and previously served as chairman of the Cox School of Business Alumni Board. He was also a former member of the Plano Salvation Army’s board of directors.
“Sometimes your love of country supersedes your personal life. I guess that’s where I am right now,” Richard said. “My wife and I have a great place in Florida. We love to go to it, but with what’s happening now, I need to fight for conservative values. I don’t need to retire. Trump is fighting from the national perspective. I am fighting from the state perspective.”