A Quick Look at New Members of Texas Legislature
Below is a list of newly elected legislators, as well as their social media contact information and excerpts from their legislative platforms, as published on campaign websites.
New to the Texas Senate:
BOB HALL, R
District 2: Fannin, Hunt, Delta, Hopkins, Rains, Rockwall, Dallas, Kaufman & Van Zandt
Owner of Professional Proposal Management, Inc votebobhall.com
@VoteBobHall facebook.com/votebobhall
Excerpt from votebobhall.com:
“State and local government spending from ALL sources should increase only by the sum of population growth plus inflation and no more. I will fight for a state constitutional amendment to set this limit in order to protect current and future taxpayers from excessive spending.”
PAUL BETTENCOURT, R
District 7: Harris County
CEO of Bettencourt Tax Advisors, LLC; Former Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector paulbettencourt.com
@TeamBettencourt facebook.com/VoteBettencourt
Excerpt from paulbettencourt.com:
“The bottom line is we can’t let even local government grow at 10 percent a year, otherwise the cost to the Taxpayers doubles in just seven years. That’s at least twice as fast as population and inflation rates combined, and what will happen is that your can pay off your Banker’s 30 year Mortgage on your Home, but you will never pay off the Government Taxman.”
VAN TAYLOR, R
District 8: Collin County
Former state representative, District 66; Real estate finance vantaylor.com
@VanTaylorTX facebook.com/VanForTexas
Excerpt from vantaylor.com:
“In the Texas House, Taylor spearheaded legislation that would protect our children from online predators, make it easier for our military to vote while serving overseas and revoke benefits from corrupt politicians. Additionally, Taylor’s Truth in Taxation rule ... forced politicians to state clearly in the first line of any bill if there is an attempt to raise taxes or fees.”
KONNI BURTON, R
District 10: Tarrant County
Wedding consulting business owner konniburton.com
@KonniBurton facebook.com/KonniBurtonTX
Excerpt from konniburton.com:
“This year, the Legislature chose to spend 26 percent more than they did during the previous biennium. This kind of fiscal irresponsibility threatens the foundation of Texas’ success by leaving little in state bank accounts during a time of economic turmoil.”
DONALD HUFFINES, R
District 16: Dallas County
Real estate developer donhuffines.com
@DonHuffines facebook.com/DonForTexas
Excerpt from donhuffines.com:
“Funding our roads is not a revenue issue; it is a spending prioritization issue. Despite Texas’ sufficient budget surplus, some legislators are continuously advocating for the expansion of toll roads and a hike in taxes to cover the cost of our state’s infrastructure. I absolutely oppose the expansion of toll roads and raising taxes to cover further costs.”
New to the Texas House:
GARY VANDEAVER, R
District 1: Lamar, Red River, Bowie, Franklin
New Boston Independent School District Superintendent, retired garyvandeaver.com
@GaryVanDeaver facebook.com/garyvandeavercampaign
Excerpt from garyvandeaver.com:
“In his work as a superintendent, Gary oversaw the annual budget, daily operations, and facilities construction plans. When faced with funding cuts from the 82nd legislative session, Gary made difficult choices and focused on what matters – ensuring the cuts would have minimal impact on our children’s educations.”
STUART SPITZER, R
District 4: Henderson, Kaufman
Surgeon stuartspitzer.com
@Spitzer4TXRep facebook.com/StuartSpitzer
Excerpt from stuartspitzer.com:
“Illegal immigration has brought chaos to our hospitals, schools, and job sites. It costs billions of dollars in direct and indirect costs. I see these costs in this district as a physician, father and taxpayer. ... Elimination of sanctuary cities, bilingual education and in-state tuition for illegal immigrants would be a good start.”
JOHN WRAY, R
District 10: Ellis, Henderson
Attorney, Title company owner wrayfortexas.com
@wrayfortexas10 facebook.com/JohnWrayForTexas
Excerpt from wrayfortexas.com:
“Obamacare is not just a threat to our healthcare; it is the single most damaging government program our economy faces today. John is committed to stopping Obamacare’s implementation in Texas and protecting our small businesses from more job-killing government regulation.”
MARK KEOUGH, R
District 15: Montgomery
Pastor, radio host keough4texas.com facebook.com/votekeough
Excerpt from keough4texas.com press release:
“During the pre-filling period, Mr. Keough has already submitted a number of new bills that will be considered during the session. ... HB 317 also known as the Transparency in Local Government Act would require counties of over 45,000 in population to create a searchable database disclosing county expenditures.”
WILL METCALF, R
District 16: Montgomery
Bank executive willmetcalf.com
@willmetcalfTX facebook.com/WillMetcalfHD16
Excerpt from willmetcalf.com:
“We need to make sure that every community has options for their water needs, with an open dialogue for the solutions. As a member of Leadership Montgomery County, I have been working with the community to improve how we use our water through innovative solutions as well as educating about easy and effective ways to conserve water.”
DADE PHELAN, R
District 21: Jefferson, Orange
Real estate developer, broker texansfordade.com
@DadePhelan facebook.com/TexansForDade
Excerpt from texansfordade.com
“Texas has over 1,100 people moving here each day. Our transportation infrastructure, once the envy of the nation, is falling woefully behind demand. We must dedicate all of Fund 6 revenue to transportation without exception. The time is now to get serious about improving both our highway and port systems.”
WAYNE FAIRCLOTH, R
District 23: Chambers, Galveston
Insurance Agent votefaircloth.com
@WayneFaircloth facebook.com/VoteFaircloth
Excerpt from votefaircloth.com:
“I have been actively involved in the Republican Party since the 1980s. I have worked as precinct chairman, election judge, poll watcher, and served as a delegate at party conventions. I believe that capitalism in a free market economy is the path to prosperity.”
CELIA ISRAEL, D
District 50: Travis
State representative, elected during special election on Jan. 28, 2014; Community affairs consultant celiaisrael.com
@CeliaIsrael facebook.com/CeliaIsraelTX
Excerpt from celiaisrael.com:
“Celia is a vocal advocate for expanded public transportation options as a critical part in solving our transportation challenges. She also believes the time is now to redouble our efforts in making renewable energies cost efficient.”
ANDREW MURR, R
District 53: Crockett, Schleicher, Menard, Sutton, Kimble, Edwards, Real, Kerr, Bandera, Medina, Mason, Llano
Former Kimble County Attorney, former Kimble County Judge andrewmurr.org/issues facebook.com/pages/Andrew-Murr-for-State-Representative/170544576472462
Excerpt from andrewmurr.org:
“Unfunded mandates handed down from both Austin and Washington are incredible burdens on our local county governments and taxpayers. Andrew will support measures, including a constitutional amendment, that would prevent further unfunded mandates from the Texas Legislature on counties.”
MOLLY S. WHITE, R
District 55: Bell
Founder of Women for Life International texansformolly.com
@MollyWhiteTX facebook.com/TexansforMolly
Excerpt from texansformolly.com:
“Texas local debt per capita is the second highest in the nation (second to New York). The Legislature can empower citizens and local authorities with the tools to provide better transparency for taxpayers and government accountability. I support requiring transparent debt disclosure during bond elections.”
DEWAYNE BURNS, R
District 58: Bosque, Johnson
Property/business investment manager burnsfortexas.com
@BurnsForTexas facebook.com/DeWayneBurnsforStateRep
Excerpt from burnsfortexas.com:
“The Texas House took several measures in 2013 to reject the expansion of Medicaid in Texas, but this battle is far from over. As our next Representative, DeWayne will fight any and all healthcare directives the federal government attempts to impose on Texans.”
MATT SHAHEEN, R
District 66: Collin
Former Collin County Commissioner; technology and management consulting mattshaheen.com
@MattShaheen facebook.com/mattshaheenGOP
Excerpt from mattshaheen.com:
“Shaheen served on the Council of Governments Criminal Justice Policy Committee and was a former Appointee of Governor Rick Perry to the State Board of Social Workers where he chaired the board’s Professional Development Committee.”
CESAR BLANCO, D
District 76: El Paso
U.S. Navy Intelligence Analyst, former Chief of Staff for U.S. Rep Pete Gallego cesarforelpaso.com
@CesarJBlanco facebook.com/cesarforelpaso
Excerpt from cesarforelpaso.com:
“I followed my military service by working for three Congressmen in Washington, DC who represented El Paso. ... As the son of two nurses and the brother of a teacher, I’ve learned a lesson from my family that my travels couldn’t teach me.”
BROOKS LANDGRAF, R
District 81: Andrews, Winkler, Ector, Ward
Rancher, oil and gas attorney brookslandgraf.com
@BrooksLandgraf facebook.com/VoteLandgraf
Excerpt from brookslandgraf.com:
“I support cutting wasteful spending in state government and reinvest it in a leaner, smarter and more equitable TxDOT. Importantly, I will fight to ensure that West Texas receives a fair return on its investment in the state highway system. Our roads have become too dilapidated and dangerous to not continue our fight for better highways.”
DUSTIN BURROWS, R
District 83: Lubbock, Terry, Lynn, Gaines
Commercial litigation attorney burrows4texas.com
@Burrows4TX facebook.com/Burrows4TX
Excerpt from burrows4texas.com:
“Despite the Supreme Court reaffirming that underground water is a property right of the landowner, many in the Texas Legislature still feel that underground water should be controlled by Austin. I am against any attempt to treat private property as communal, and will fervently oppose all such efforts.”
RAMON ROMERO JR., D
District 90: Tarrant
Construction business owner ramonromerojr.com
@RamonRomeroJr90 facebook.com/pages/Ramon-Romero-Jr-For-State-Representative/
Excerpt from ramonromerojr.com:
“The majority of incarcerated men and women do not have a high school diploma, too many others are trapped in homelessness or mental illness. Without support they have nowhere to turn but to the state for the housing of last resort. I’ll work to make or prisons safe and humane.”
TONY TINDERHOLT, R
District 94: Tarrant U.S. Air Force and Army veteran; Spanish professor tonytinderholt.com
@Tony_Tinderholt facebook.com/tonytinderholtfortexas
Excerpt from tonytinderholt.com:
“Despite our prosperity, our Legislature has decided to spend much like Sacramento or Detroit, using accounting gimmicks, ignoring priorities, and exploding the budget by over 26% in the 83rd Representative, I will demand truth in budgeting, transparency, and fight for the balanced budget our Texas Constitution demands.”
LINDA KOOP, R
District 102: Dallas
Dallas City Councilmember; Small business owner lindakoop.com
@LindaKoopforTX facebook.com/pages/Linda-Koop-for-Texas/1385294418360578
Excerpt from lindakoop.com:
“Everyday more Texas families are losing their health insurance while the disastrous implementation has confirmed what we always knew-healthcare without the free-market hurts job creators and families. … We need real solutions and a workable approach that puts Texas families first. … I will do everything in my power to stop Obamacare.”
RODNEY ANDERSON, R
District 105: Dallas
Former state representative, District 106, 2011-2013l Commerce Title Company vice-president rodneyanderson.org
@rodneyanderson facebook.com/texansforrodneyanderson
Excerpt from rodneyanderson.org:
“I’ve had enough of excessive spending, enough of excessive taxation, and enough of the unfunded mandates on our education system. As your Representative, I will work day and night for a smaller, less intrusive government, lower taxes, reduced spending and a secure border. I am a champion for the liberties and freedoms of Texans.”
MORGAN MEYER, R District 108: Dallas
Attorney morganmeyerfortexas.com
@MorganMeyerTX facebook.com/MorganMeyerForTexas
Excerpt from morganmeyerfortexas.com:
“Morgan will work to bring that higher ethical standard to state government by leading for ethics reform that puts our citizens first, like: requiring greater disclosure from elected officials, especially as it relates to votes they make regarding the industries they benefit from financially; and prohibiting lawmakers from serving as paid lobbyists immediately after stepping down from the Texas House.”
MATT RINALDI, R
District 115: Dallas
Commercial litigation attorney mattrinaldi.com
@MattRinaldiTX www.facebook.com/mattrinalditx
Excerpt from mattrinaldi.com:
“The respect and protection we afford our God-given property rights is greater than every other civilization that has come before us. ... I support further citizen protections against eminent domain takings and would ensure private property owners subject to such takings are compensated for at least the full appraised value of their property.”
RICK GALINDO, R
District 117: Bexar
Risk manager rickgalindo.com
@GalindoForRep facebook.com/pages/Rick-Galindo-III/701220939906322
Excerpt from rickgalindo.com:
“Rick will oppose any and all tax increases. And he will go through the budget with a fine- toothed comb and put every line item to a simple test - is this program worth taking money out of the pockets of taxpayers? Those that benefit taxpayers and our economy should be funded. Those that don’t should be shut down and the money to fund them returned to taxpayers.”
DENNIS PAUL, R
District 129: Harris
Small business owner dennispaul.com facebook.com/Dennis.Paul.HD129
Excerpt from dennispaul.com
“Who taxes you? These entities do: Your local city, Harris County, your school district, Harris County Hospital District, Harris County Department of Education, Harris County Flood Control District, your Emergency Services District, a junior-college district, the Port of Houston Authority (for those Houston) and your Municipal Utility District. ... We also need a reduction in the appraisal cap to provide relief for families.”
MIKE SCHOFIELD, R
District 132: Harris
Advisor/staff to Governor Rick Perry mikeschofield.com facebook.com/schofieldfortexas
Excerpt from mikeschofield.com:
“Mike worked for several legislative sessions on the successful efforts to limit government’s power to take your property by eminent domain. Mike has also advised Governor Perry on Tenth Amendment issues, election law, the Texas judicial system, and appraisal cap reduction.”