Client Highlights

First elected with 57 percent of the vote in 2002, Attorney General Greg Abbott was re-elected with 59 percent of the vote in 2006. As Texas’ 50th Attorney General, Abbott is known for his focus on protecting states’ rights, prosecuting sex offenders, cracking down on waste and fraud in government, and collecting more than $15 billion in child support for Texas children.  

 

 

When Senate District 3 opened up in 2001, then-State Representative Todd Staples waged a hard fought political battle to win in a multi-candidate primary without a run-off. He then captured 60 percent of the general election vote. In 2006, Staples was elected Commissioner of Agriculture with 54.8 percent of the vote. Staples' public service has focused on promotion of agriculture, common-sense regulation, worker’s compensation reform, private property rights, natural resources, school finance, and education.  

  

Described by National Review as “a Republican star rising in Texas,” Ted Cruz represented Texas as its chief appellate lawyer before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Texas Supreme Court, and the state and federal appellate courts. Cruz has authored over 80 U.S. Supreme Court briefs and personally presented 37 oral arguments, including eight before the U.S. Supreme Court -- the most of any lawyer in Texas.  Since leaving the Attorney General’s Office, Cruz has continued to speak in defense of liberty, faith, family, and preserving the American dream. 

 

First elected in a special election in 2004, then-Tyler Mayor Kevin Eltife overcame a second place finish to defeat one current and two former state representatives in the final run-off to represent Senate District 1 in Northeast Texas.  Eltife currently serves as Vice Chair of both the Senate Economic Development and Nominations Committees.  He is also a member of the Senate Finance and Natural Resources Committees.

 

In 2006, Robert Nichols avoided a Republican primary run-off by garnering 54 percent of the vote against three other candidates -- two from more populous areas within the district.  Nichols subsequently won the general election and now represents 16 counties, including the greater part of east Texas and Montgomery County.  Nichols, a former TxDOT Commissioner, has focused his priorities on reforming transportation policies, protecting landowners' rights, and expanding educational opportunities in east Texas. He was designated as one of ten best legislators by Texas Insider and named a champion of free enterprise by the Texas Association of Business. 

 

Entering a crowded special election in mid-2008, former State District Judge Joan Huffman overcame a field of candidates all with established political and financial support.  Huffman ultimately prevailed over her runoff opponent -- former Congressman and Democrat-gubernatorial nominee Chris Bell – with 56 percent of the vote.  She now serves as a member of the Texas Sunset Commission, as well as the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, and Government Organization Committees. 

 

Dennis Bonnen represents Texas House District 25, covering most of Brazoria County.  Re-elected in 2008 with 86 percent of the vote, Bonnen is an advocate for land and resource issues and utility and environmental regulation reform.  He currently serves as Chairman of the House Land and Resource Management Committee and Vice Chair of the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission. 

 

Ignoring an early special election runoff defeat, Mark Shelton went on to prevail over a multi-candidate field to win the Republican nomination for House District 97 and defeat his Democrat opponent in the November 2008 election.  Shelton, a board-certified physician specializing in pediatrics and infectious diseases, serves on the House Committees on Public Education, Border & Intergovernmental Affairs, and Administration.  He also serves on the House Select Committee on Federal Legislation, responsible for analyzing and identifying impacts of federal legislation, including the recently enacted federal health care reform law, on the Texas economy and its citizens.

 

A fifth generation Williamson County resident, Dan A. Gattis was elected to be Williamson County Judge in 2006 with 64.5 percent of the vote.  Gattis, a former Vice President and COO of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, has focused on the unique challenges facing Williamson County, including transportation, long range planning, and effective county services.