Kelly Hancock, 48, represented North Richland Hills-centered District 91 in the Texas House for five years before entering the Republican primary for the state Senate District 9 seat last spring.
That primary race was an intense fight between Hancock and state Rep. Todd Smith of Euless, but Hancock emerged with a lopsided victory.District 9 has long been represented in the Senate by Sen. Chris Harris of Arlington, who has announced his retirement. The district has been redrawn to include most of Northeast Tarrant County and much of Arlington and Grand Prairie.Hancock's support in the primary was impressive, and he clearly is the best choice in the Nov. 6 general election.The owner of a small chemical distribution business in Richland Hills, Hancock has been named a "Champion of Free Enterprise" by the Texas Association of Business and a "Taxpayer Hero" by Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, one of the state's most prominent conservative pressure groups.In last year's legislative session, Hancock filed bills in the House favoring mandatory sonograms before abortions, limiting the growth of state spending, assisting charter schools and giving more financial flexibility to life insurance companies headquartered in Texas.The Star-Telegram Editorial Board recommends Kelly Hancock for Texas Senate District 9.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
