Jane Nelson

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Jane Nelson
Member of the Texas State Senate from the 12th district
Incumbent
Assumed office  2003
Preceded by	Mike Moncrief
Member of the Texas State Senate from the 9th district
In office 1995–2003
Preceded by	David Sibley
Succeeded by	Chris Harris
Member of the Texas State Senate from the 22nd district
In office 1993–1995
Preceded by	Bob Glasgow
Succeeded by	David Sibley
Born	October 5, 1951 (1951-10-05) (age 56) Hamilton, Ohio
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Spouse	J. Michael Nelson
Children	Brian, Elizabeth, Christina, Michelle, and Jennifer
Residence	Lewisville, Texas
Alma mater	B.S., North Texas State University
Occupation	Businesswoman

Jane Gray Nelson^[1] (born 5 October 1951)^[2] is the second highest ranking Republican in the Texas Senate and serves as Chairman of the Health & Human Services Committee.

[edit] Biography

Nelson is a former public school teacher who represents District 12 which includes parts of Denton and Tarrant Counties. Prior to serving on the Texas state Senate, she served two terms on the State Board of Education, leading the fight to correct more than 2,000 errors in school history textbooks. She attended the University of Texas at Arlington for two years,^[1] and earned a B.S. degree from the University of North Texas in 1972, and worked as a sixth-grade teacher in the Arlington Independent School District. She and her husband, J. Michael Nelson own and operate a precision aircraft component manufacturing company in Denton County. Her residence is Lewisville, Texas. The Nelsons have a grown son, Brian, and four daughters: Elizabeth, Christina, Michelle and Jennifer; and a grandson, Andrew.

As a child in Hamilton, Ohio, her parents would often bring current issues into dinner table conversation. Her father was a World War II veteran. Her mother died in 2001 after a long battle with Alzheimers. Of her mother, she said, "She survived World War II and the Great Depression but still succeeded in a lasting marriage and raising her children to appreciate service and education."^{[citation needed]}

Nelson paid her way through college with money she earned giving baton lessons in Hamilton. Nelson was first elected in 1993. During her first year in the senate, she was among nine Republicans in the 31-member Senate. She caught the ire of then-lieutenant governor Bob Bullock, who would not allow lobbyists to walk through her office door. Texas Monthly rated her the worst politician in 1993, calling her, "Loud and uninformed." In 2007 however, she is the second highest ranking senator in the Republican Caucus. She has received bipartisan accolades, being named a key player by the Associated Press, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and The Dallas Morning News in the current session.^{[citation needed]}

The Associated Press ranked her among the state's most effective politicians and praised her for the Child Protective Services Bill.^{[citation needed]} Capitol Inside, an influential Web site based in Austin, named Nelson "Most Valuable Player" of the regular 2005 legislative session. Writers noted her work on health care and called her the Senate's most conservative member. On April 23, 2004, Nelson served as the Acting Governor of Texas. On that day, she appointed her husband, Michael Nelson, as her replacement senator.

[edit] Election history

Election history of Nelson.^[3]

[edit] Most recent election

[edit] 2006

[edit] Previous elections

[edit] 2002

[edit] 2000

[edit] 1996

[edit] 1994

[edit] 1992

[edit] References