Lone Star Report Recent Blog Posts

Nov 30

Written by: Mark Lavergne
11/30/2009 2:18 PM 

Rep. Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi), who chairs the House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee, today announced that he will be running for re-election to the Texas House. He represents HD 32, which includes Aransas, Calhoun, San Patricio and part of Nueces County.

Said House Speaker Joe Straus:

Todd Hunter has been a very important part of our leadership team. His experience and judgment has been invaluable to me and his talents will be needed in the next legislative session.

Hunter was first elected to the House in 1988 and served four terms before stepping out. He was elected to his fifth term in 2008, receiving an immediate chairmanship from the newly chosen Speaker Straus.

Hunter has received legislative awards from Texans for Lawsuit Reform, the Texas Civil Justice League, the Texas Association of Business, the Texas Medical Association, and the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, among other.

Said he:

I am asking voters to return me to the Texas Legislature so that we can continue our work to help reduce the tax burden, bring strong fiscal accountability to state government and use common sense in lawmaking. Texas is making good progress but there is still much to be done to help our business community and improve our education and health care systems.

Meanwhile, here are a couple of statements from candidates who announced in the last couple of weeks that we did not have a chance to publish.

Florence Shapiro for re-election
Sen. Florence Shapiro (R-Plano) announced a couple weeks ago that she is running for re-election to her State Senate seat, apparently putting her federal-level ambitions on hold in deference to Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Shapiro, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, and sits on the Transportation and Homeland Security Committee, said:

Interim charges will be assigned soon and I am prepared to take my State Senate committee tasks very seriously.

I will adjust my US Senate Campaign based on the future resignation decision of US Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.

On July 15, 2008, I became the first candidate in Texas to announce for the US Senate. I knew it would be a long road. Sixteen months later, I am very pleased with the statewide team of supporters we have assembled and to have raised over a million dollars. We are excited and ready for 2012 or sooner.

Mabrie Jackson emphasizes "pro-life," "conservative" values in campaign announcement
Plano City Councilwoman Mabrie Jackson, who resigned her position after Rep. Brian McCall announced he would not be running again for his House seat, released an official announcement on Nov. 19 that she will be running to fill the vacancy in the House.

She mentioned "conservative" and "pro-life" values prominently in her statement, saying:

I am running for this office because I believe in our children, our community and our conservative values. I am a grassroots Republican who is dedicated to lower taxes, conservative pro-life family values, quality public schools and strong public safety. I also strongly favor illegal immigration reform, property owner rights, and gun owner rights.

Jackson belongs to the Texas Federation of Republican Women, and was formerly a delegate to the State Republican Convention. She also is a member of the National Rifle Association and the Texas Rifle Association.