Craig Anthony Washington

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Craig Anthony Washington
Craig Anthony Washington
In office
December 9, 1989 – January 3, 1995
Preceded by Mickey Leland
Succeeded by Sheila Jackson Lee
Constituency Texas's 18th congressional district
In office
1983 – 1989
Preceded by Walter Mengden
Succeeded by Rodney Ellis
Constituency Senatorial District 13
In office
1973 – 1983
Preceded by Charles Finnell
Succeeded by Larry Q. Evans
Constituency District 86
Born October 12, 1941
Longview, Gregg County, Texas
Political party Democratic
Relations Five children (Craig II, Chival, Alexander, Cydney, Christoper} and four grandchildren (Craig III, Cameron, Kristen and Kerri).
Residence Texas
Alma mater B.S., Prairie View A&M University, 1966; J.D., Texas Southern University Law School, 1969
Occupation Attorney

Craig Anthony Washington (born October 12, 1941 in Longview, Gregg County, Texas) is a former African-American congressman representing Texas as a Democrat in the United States House of Representatives.

Born to Roy and Azalia Washington, Craig was already a proficient reader at three years old. He graduated from Prairie View A&M University in 1966 and was originally interested in becoming a doctor, but as admissions to medical school had already ceased, Washington decided to instead apply at Texas Southern University's law school.

In 1972, the state of Texas began electing members of the state House of Representatives and State Senate, for the first time, by single-member districts. Washington, along with four other minority candidates, Anthony Hall, George T. "Mickey" Leland, Benny Reyes and Cecil Bush, (dubbed the "People's Five"), ran for seats in the House of Representatives in Texas. Washington was elected, and served as Texas state representative, Rep. District 86, from 1973 to 1982. He was then a Texas state senator, Senatorial District 13, from 1983 until 1989.

Washington was elected as a Democrat to the 101st United States Congress for Texas's 18th congressional district, by special election, December 9, 1989, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mickey Leland. He was reelected to the 102nd United States Congress and 103rd United States Congress and served from December 9, 1989, to January 3, 1995.

In March, 1994, Washington was unsuccessful in his renomination bid to the 104th United States Congress. Sheila Jackson Lee defeated the incumbent congressman in the Democratic primary for the 18th Congressional District of Texas.

Today, Washington practices law out of Houston, Texas, and Bastrop, Texas, and enjoys life away from politics with his family and friends, including five children (Craig II, Chival, Alexander, Cydney, Christoper} and four grandchildren (Craig III, Cameron, Kristen and Kerri). Although Washington has generally stayed out of politics, saying he returned to voting and considered himself a bystander, in 2006 he endorsed Democrat Borris Miles in his successful primary battle against longtime state representative Al Edwards (while in the legislature and Congress, Washington had represented parts of this district). He said Edwards had lost touch and was no longer an effective leader. [1]

[edit] Quotes

"I prefer a man who will burn the flag and then wrap himself in the Constitution to a man who will burn the Constitution and then wrap himself in the flag." — quoted in Molly Ivins' syndicated newspaper column, June 30, 1997

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Charles Finnell		 Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from District 86 (Houston)
1973–1983		 Succeeded by
Larry Q. Evans
Preceded by
Walter Mengden		 Texas State Senator
from District 13 (Houston)
1983–1989		 Succeeded by
Rodney Ellis
Preceded by
Mickey Leland		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 18th congressional district
1989–1994		 Succeeded by
Sheila Jackson Lee