A look at the Tarrant County delegation for the 83rd Legislature, which begins Tuesday.
SenateDistrict 9Senator: Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland HillsDistrict: Includes Arlington, Fort Worth and eight Northeast Tarrant County citiesContact: 512-463-0109Online: www.kellyhancock.com; www.hancock.senate.state.tx.us (after Tuesday)Social media: www.facebook.com/kelly.hancock.9883; Twitter @KHancock4TXAbout: Hancock, who owns a small chemical distribution business in Richland Hills, served in the Texas House for five years before running for this Senate seat, seeking to replace the retiring Chris Harris of Arlington. He bested Rep. Todd Smith of Euless in the primary. Hancock said he "will continue to focus on a fiscally responsible budget, keeping taxes and spending low, protecting consumer rights and addressing infrastructure needs." This year, he said, "it's more important than ever that we remain committed to being fiscally responsible and transparent," he said. He's working on filing local economic development legislation that could help "the great entertainment venues" in District 9.District 10Senator: Wendy Davis, D-Fort WorthDistrict: Includes Fort Worth, Arlington, Mansfield, Colleyville, and other areas of south and Northeast Tarrant CountyContact: 512-463-0110 in Austin; 817-332-3338 in Fort WorthOnline: www.wendydavisforsenate.com; www.davis.senate.state.tx.usSocial media: www.facebook.com/wendy.davis.790; Twitter @WendyDavisTexasAbout: Davis, an attorney and former Fort Worth councilwoman, begins her second term after winning the nastiest and most expensive legislative race in Texas. She has served as vice chairwoman of the International Relations and Trade Committee and the Open Government Committee and has served on the Education, Transportation, and Veteran Affairs and Military Installations committees. "We should make protecting and strengthening public schools, colleges and universities one of our highest priorities," she said. "Families want to know that their children will have the opportunities realized through strong public schools, affordable colleges and training that leads to good jobs." Also at the top of her list: healthcare for women and children, aid for veterans with special challenges, transportation, economic development, consumer reforms and budget transparency. Balancing the budget may be hard, she said, but it all depends on what priorities rise to the top. "Restoring funding for public education, higher education and women's health are all issues that my constituents have communicated a desire to see," she said.District 12Senator: Jane Nelson, R-Flower MoundDistrict: Includes part of Denton County and the Tarrant County cities of Grapevine, Haslet, Saginaw, Westworth Village, Westover Hills, White Settlement and AzleContact: 512-463-0112 in Austin; 817-424-3446 in GrapevineOnline: www.janenelson.org; www.nelson.senate.state.tx.usSocial media: www.facebook.com/SenatorJaneNelson; Twitter @SenJaneNelsonAbout: Nelson, a former teacher and businesswoman, is the dean of the Tarrant County delegation, having served in the Senate since 1993. She heads the powerful Health and Human Services Committee, which shapes policies for healthcare programs, the foster-care system, protective services and more. Her top legislative priorities include "protecting Texas' economic success while meeting our needs on education, transportation, water and other important priorities." As committee leader, she is "focused on delivering efficient, cost-effective health and human services to children, seniors and Texans with disabilities. I am ramping up our efforts to eliminate fraud and abuse, which have reached epidemic proportions. ... We are also working to reform mental health, improve the quality of long-term care and expand access to primary care."At the same time, she said, lawmakers need to continue to focus on the economy. She has pre-filed more than two dozen bills, including measures to address a shortage of primary-care physicians in Texas, to require drug screening for Texans applying for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and to strengthen health and PE requirements for high school students.District 22Senator: Brian Birdwell, R-GranburyDistrict: Includes pieces of Tarrant County, including parts of Grand Prairie, Arlington and Mansfield, and stretches west to Hood County and south to Falls CountyContact: 512-463-0122 in Austin; 817-573-9622 in GranburyOnline: brianbirdwell.net; www.birdwell.senate.state.tx.usSocial media: www.facebook.com/BrianBirdwellForTexas; Twitter @SenatorBirdwellAbout: Birdwell, who has served in the Senate since a 2010 special election, is a Fort Worth native who became an Army officer. He was critically injured in the 9-11 attack on the Pentagon. He has served as vice chairman of the Veteran Affairs and Military Installations Committee and the Higher Education Committee. He has served on the Economic Development, Government Organization and human-trafficking committees.HouseDistrict 90Representative: Lon Burnam, D-Fort WorthDistrict: Stretches through Fort Worth, including parts of the north side, the south side, the near west side and the Polytechnic Heights neighborhoodContact: 512-463-0740 (Capitol); 817-924-1997Online: www.lonburnam.com; www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/?district=90Social media: www.facebook.com/LonBurnam; Twitter @LonBurnamAbout: Burnam, a consultant, is the dean of the Tarrant County House delegation, having served since 1997. He is one of the most outspoken and liberal members of the House and has long been regarded as a champion of working people. Last session, he served on the Environmental Regulation Committee and the Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee. He has filed a package of bills meant to raise $14.6 billion over two years, including proposals addressing tax collections on items ranging from high-cost gas to permanent hotel residents. When asked about the top issues, Burnam said: "We need to restore funding to public education and healthcare and stop playing politics with women's healthcare."District 91Representative: Stephanie Klick, R-Fort WorthDistrict: Covers North Richland Hills, Richland Hills, Haltom City, Watauga and part of Fort WorthContact: New members' telephone numbers will soon be set up.Online: stephanieklick.com; www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/?district=91Social media: www.facebook.com/stephanie.klick; Twitter @StephanieKlickAbout: Klick, a registered nurse and former Tarrant County Republican Party chairwoman, won the primary and faced no challengers in the general election to replace Kelly Hancock, who is now in the Senate.District 92Representative: Jonathan Stickland, R-HurstDistrict: Centered in Hurst-Euless-BedfordContact: New members' telephone numbers will soon be set up.Online: jonathanstickland.com; www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/?district=92Social media: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=512770356; Twitter @VoteSticklandAbout: Stickland is a consultant to oil and gas companies and a former pest control technician. He was endorsed by the NE Tarrant Tea Party and the Texas Right to Life PAC and said he supports lowering taxes, reducing regulations and cutting spending. He follows in the footsteps of Rep. Todd Smith, who left the House and lost his Senate bid. Stickland has filed bills, including measures to rename the Texas Railroad Commission and to give students whose parents are on active military duty more excused absences.District 93Representative: Matt Krause, R-Fort WorthDistrict: Stretches 30 miles across Tarrant County, from Haslet to ArlingtonContact: New members' telephone numbers will soon be set up.Online: texansformattkrause.com; www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/?district=93Social media: www.facebook.com/MattKrauseforTexas; Twitter @RepMattKrauseAbout: Krause, who lives in far north Fort Worth, is executive director of the Torch of Freedom Foundation, a nonprofit designed to train future leaders. He bested incumbent Barbara Nash in the primary and claimed the post by edging a Democrat and a Libertarian in the general election. His priorities are promoting limited government and liberty, reforming the budget process and helping school districts find ways to better educate their students. The biggest issues, he said, are the budget and the looming shortfall. "Texas must use the 83rd session to make the structural reforms necessary to put Texas on a solid fiscal path for years to come," he said.District 94Representative: Diane Patrick, R-ArlingtonDistrict: Mostly covers ArlingtonContact: 512-469-0624 (Capitol), 817-548-9091Online: dianepatrick.us; www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/?district=94Social media: www.facebook.com/Diane4Texas; Twitter @Diane4TexasAbout: Patrick, who has represented the district since 2007, is a former schoolteacher and professor at the University of Texas at Arlington. She is known as a watchdog on transportation and a key voice in school issues. Her top priority this session is "K-16 Education," both public and higher education. And she said the top issues facing the state are public education, water and transportation. At the same time, she said, the budget looms large. "The budget is about competing priorities; therefore, it will be challenging as always to get legislators to agree on those priorities," she said. "Obviously, my priority is education because I believe it is the most important economic driver we have. Good public education is good for business in Texas."District 95Representative: Nicole Collier, D-Fort WorthDistrict: Includes downtown Fort Worth, Forest Hill, Everman and Edgecliff VillageContact: New members' telephone numbers will soon be set up.Online: www.votenicolecollier.com; www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/?district=95Social media: www.facebook.com/nicole.collier.18; Twitter @NicoleCollier95About: Collier is a civil trial attorney who won the seat vacated by Marc Veasey, who was elected to Congress. Collier has been a politically active precinct chairwoman and election judge.District 96Representative: Bill Zedler, R-ArlingtonDistrict: Includes parts of Arlington, Mansfield and KennedaleContact: 512-463-0374 (Capitol); 817-463-0374Online: www.billzedler.org; www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/?district=96Social media: www.facebook.com/bzedler; Twitter @Bill_ZedlerAbout: Zedler, who has served four terms in the state House, served last session on the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee and the Government Efficiency and Reform Committee. His goals this session are to "stop the implementation of Obamacare," implement Gov. Rick Perry's compact, help local transportation projects move forward and ensure that candidates from all parties fill out the same forms when running for office. He also said he wants to eliminate benefits -- such as in-state tuition -- for people who are in Texas illegally. "We are the only place in the world that gives free healthcare, free education and free social service benefits," he said. "We need to eliminate in-state tuition for people here illegally."District 97Representative: Craig Goldman, R-Fort WorthDistrict: Includes southwest Fort Worth and BenbrookContact: New members' telephone numbers will soon be set up.Online: craiggoldman.org; www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/?district=97Social media: www.facebook.com/craig.goldman.92; Twitter @GoldmanCraigAbout: Goldman, a former campaign strategist for Sen. John McCain and adviser to Sen. Phil Gramm, will replace Mark Shelton, who unsuccessfully challenged Sen. Wendy Davis. Goldman has criticized other Republican leaders for not completely funding Medicaid during the last session and for balancing the budget through a loophole. His top priorities include passing a "full and balanced budget without raising taxes" as well as working to "find the source and fix the waste, fraud and abuse of funds in every department of government, but most importantly in the Department of Health and Human Services, which seems to have an extraordinary amount of Medicaid fraud and abuse." He also hopes to support Gov. Rick Perry in "his fight to tell the federal government that we cannot afford and do not want Obamacare and the federal mandates that come with the expansion of Medicaid."District 98Representative: Giovanni Capriglione, R-SouthlakeDistrict: Includes Grapevine, Colleyville, Keller, Southlake, Westlake and part of far north Fort WorthContact: New members' telephone numbers will soon be set up.Online: votegiovanni.com; www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/?district=98Social media: www.facebook.com/capriglione; Twitter @VoteGiovanniAbout: Capriglione, a political newcomer who runs his own private equity business, bested veteran Rep. Vicki Truitt in the primary and defeated a Libertarian challenger in the general election. A Southlake resident and Ron Paul supporter, Capriglione drew support from Tea Party activists, state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, and others for his conservative message.District 99Representative: Charlie Geren, R-Fort WorthDistrict: In northwest Tarrant CountyContact: 512-463-0610 (Capitol); 817-738-8333Online: www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/?district=99Social media: www.facebook.com/charlie.geren.1; Twitter @charliegerenAbout: Geren is a restaurant owner and rancher who has represented the district since 2001. Geren was one of the 11 ABC Republicans -- "Anybody But Craddick" -- who helped unseat Speaker Tom Craddick in 2009 by supporting San Antonio Rep. Joe Straus as a consensus candidate for speaker. Geren was elevated to Straus' leadership team and has since chaired the powerful House Administration Committee. His priorities include funding education, transportation and water infrastructure needs -- and passing a state budget. "I think we are going to have some difficulties because of all the lawsuits that have come from school funding," he said.District 101Representative: Chris Turner, D-Grand PrairieDistrict: Runs along both sides of Texas 360 and takes in east Arlington and the Tarrant County portion of Grand PrairieContact: New members' telephone numbers will soon be set up. A temporary district office number is 817-561-4900.Online: votechristurner.com; www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/?district=101Social media: www.facebook.com/chrisgturner; Twitter @ChrisGTurnerAbout: Turner, a former state representative, will be back in the Capitol as the first representative of this new district. He represented District 96 from 2009 to 2011 until he lost to Rep. Bill Zedler. A public relations consultant, he is the former executive director of the Tarrant County Democratic Party and was a campaign manager for U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco. He said his top priority is to "ensure that the people of House District 101 receive the representation and responsiveness they expect and deserve." His legislative priorities include improving funding for public schools, reforming the school accountability system, opening healthcare options for the uninsured and underinsured, and addressing infrastructure and economic development needs. "The $5.4 billion in cuts to public education have hit school districts in Tarrant County hard, and we need to take a long look at how we can right the wrongs of last session and reverse these harmful cuts," he said.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
