Jerry Patterson

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Jerry Emmett Patterson (born November 15, 1946) is only the second Republican since Reconstruction to serve as Land Commissioner of Texas. Patterson also served six years in the Texas Senate.

Contents 1 Political career 2 Background 3 Election history 3.1 Previous elections 3.1.1 1994 3.1.2 1992 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Political career

Patterson served six years in the Texas state Senate from 1993 to 1999. His major legislative successes included passage of the concealed handgun law of 1995, a constitutional amendment allowing home equity lending in 1998, the state coastal management plan, and the creation of the Texas State Veterans Home Program. He has been an advocate of individual freedom and constitutional rights. Patterson also works for veterans causes, having himself been a U.S. marine for more than twenty years.

He was first elected Land Commissioner in November 2002 to succeed fellow Republican David Dewhurst, who was elected Lieutenant Governor. Patterson polled 2,331,700 votes (53.16 percent) to Democrat David Bernsen's 1,819,365 (41.48 percent). Two other candidates shared the remaining 5.36 percent. Both Patterson and Bernsen were state senators at the time they contested the land commissioner's position.

In 2004, Patterson headed the Texas state campaign for the re-election of George W. Bush.

Patterson was re-elected Land Commissioner, defeating Democrat VaLinda Hathcox in the 2006 general election. Patterson was unopposed in his March 7 primary. The final results were as follows: 2,314,965 (55 percent) for Patterson, 1,720,985 (41 percent) for Hathcox, and 166,965 (4 percent) for Michael A. French, nominee of the Libertarian Party.

[edit] Background

Patterson was born 15 November 1946 to Jerry Patterson and the former Georgia Lee Scheaffer in Houston, Texas.^[1] Patterson graduated from Texas A&M University in College Station in 1969. In 1972, he volunteered for duty in Vietnam. He was later designated a naval flight officer in Pensacola, Florida, and he served in Marine fighter squadrons until his retirement from the Marine Corps Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1993.

He and his wife Jennifer reside in Austin. Patterson has four children: twins Samantha and Cole, born in 2004, and, from a previous marriage, Emily Patterson and Travis Patterson. Emily Patterson is a graduate of the South Texas College of Law and works for the OSCE as a Human Rights Officer in Kosovo. Travis Patterson graduated from Texas A&M University, where he was commissioned a Marine Lieutenant. He has served on active duty as a Marine attack helicopter pilot.

[edit] Election history

Senate election history of Patterson.^[2]

[edit] Previous elections

[edit] 1994

Texas general election, 1994: Senate District 11[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Mike Martin	59,047	44.39	-1.84
	Republican	Jerry Patterson (Incumbent)	73,959	55.61	+6.39
Majority			14,912	11.21	+8.23
Turnout			133,006		-33.66
	Republican hold

[edit] 1992

Texas general election, 1992: Senate District 11[4]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Chet Brooks (Incumbent)	92,702	46.24
	Republican	Jerry Patterson	98,671	49.21
	Libertarian	Marshall N. Anderson	9,121	4.55
Majority			5,969	2.98
Turnout			200,494
	Republican gain from Democratic

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• 1992 - 2006 Election History (Texas Secretary of State Website)
• Patterson campaign website
• Texas General Land Office

Preceded by Chet Brooks	Texas State Senator from District 11 (Pasadena)(a) 1993–1999	Succeeded by Mike Jackson
Preceded by David Dewhurst	Texas Land Commissioner 2003 – present	Incumbent
(a) For the 73rd Legislature, Patterson’s home city was Houston.