Former Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams of Arlington will be the state's newest top education official.
On the first day of school for many Texas students, Gov. Rick Perry announced that Williams, also a former Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights, will as of Sept. 1 become the new State Commissioner of Education and guide nearly 5 million Texas students at public schools. Perry also announced that Lizzette Gonzalez Reynolds will serve as the chief deputy commissioner."High standards and accountable public schools are essential to our state's future success, and no two people understand that better than Michael and Lizzette," Perry said in a written statement Monday. "Together, they will build on the improvements achieved during the tenure of Robert Scott and Todd Webster, and will ensure our children are prepared for the challenges of college and the workplace."Michael's pioneering leadership in both public and private sectors, combined with Lizzette's nearly two decades of public education experience guiding and implementing statewide reforms create a powerful and dynamic team that will fortify our state's public education system."Williams could not immediately be reached for comment Monday afternoon.A Midland native and son of two public-school teachers, Williams replaces Robert Scott, who stepped down as Texas Education Agency Commissioner earlier this summer after five years on the job, and 18 years with the agency.Scott, the longest-serving education commissioner in two decades, turned in his resignation a few months after apologizing for the more than $5 billion in cuts to school funding made by the Texas Legislature. Todd Webster is the former chief deputy commissioner.The state's education commissioner carries a hefty work load, ranging from overseeing funding for schools and adoption of textbooks and technology to purchasing buses and equipment for schools and adopts procedures to appraise the work done by teachers, administrators and counselors.ReactionPolitical observers say they believe Williams -- known as much for his trademark bow tie as for his charismatic speeches -- will be a success at his new job."He's smart and a real detailed, substantive guy," said Bill Miller, an Austin-based political consultant who works with both Republicans and Democrats. "Everyone likes him and respects him He's a popular guy ... and he will do a great job."Williams was chosen from a pool of candidates that reportedly included state Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, former state Rep. Kent Grusendorf, R-Arlington, and state Rep. Rob Eissler, R-The Woodlands."A former prosecutor and deputy district attorney, Williams is a no-nonsense administrator who would not hesitate to shut down bad charter schools," said Peggy Venable, Texas Director of Americans for Prosperity. "Michael Williams will serve with distinction and I believe he will put Texas schoolchildren, parents and taxpayers ahead of special interests, while working to give teachers and schools greater autonomy and holding them accountable for results."Not all the reaction was positive."Really? Michael Williams as Ed Commish? So ridiculous," Colin Strother, an Austin-based Democratic political consultant who recently worked on the 33rd Congressional District campaign of Domingo Garcia, posted on Twitter. "Just further proof that @governorperry has zero interest in improving public ed."Political historyWilliams was appointed Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights in 1990 by former President George H.W. Bush, served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Law Enforcement at the U.S. Department of the Treasury and served as special assistant to Attorney General Richard Thornburgh in the late 1980s.Through the years, his work has included serving as a prosecutor in the Reagan administration's Justice Department, as general counsel for the Republican Party of Texas and as chairman of the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission.He has also served on the board of directors for the Arlington Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and the Rolling Hills Country Club, both in Arlington.Williams was raised in Midland, where he graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1971. He has received three degrees from the University of Southern California -- a bachelor's, a master's and a law degree.He drew national attention at Republican National Conventions in 2004, when he endorsed his friend George W. Bush for his presidential re-election bid, and in 2008, when he told fellow Republicans why Sen. John McCain was the right man for the White House.Williams and his wife, Donna, moved to Arlington in 1993, buying a house in 1995 that they still own. At the time, Williams worked as an attorney for Haynes and Boone.Then-Gov. George W. Bush appointed him to the Texas Railroad Commission that oversees the state's natural gas and oil industry in 1998, and he was re-elected in 2000, 2002 and 2008. He was the first African American to hold a statewide elected position in the state.He left the Railroad Commission last year to seek a higher office, first planning to run for the U.S. Senate and then for the 33rd Congressional District. In the end, he chose to run for the 25th Congressional District, which stretches from Tarrant County to Austin. He lost that bid in May, when Weatherford car dealer Roger Williams and retired Army veteran Wes Riddle of Gatesville headed to a July 31 runoff.Roger Williams ultimately won the GOP nomination for the post.Anna M. Tinsley, 817-390-7610Twitter: @annatinsleyHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
