Robert Nichols (Texas politician)

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Robert Nichols
Robert Nichols (Texas politician)
Member of the Texas State Senate
from the 3rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
2007
Preceded by Todd Staples
Born November 25, 1944 (1944-11-25) (age 63)
Nationality American
Political party Republican

Robert Nichols (born 25 November 1944) is the Republican senator for the 3rd District in the Texas Senate.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Nichols defeated Bob Reeves of Center; David Kleimann of Willis; and Frank Denton of Conroe in the Republican Primary. Despite initial predictions that no candidate could win the primary outright and without a run-off election, Nichols won with over 54% of the vote.

Nichols earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Lamar University in 1968, having worked his way through college by selling fireworks and ironing clothes for other students.

Nichols went on to success as a small businessman: He built four successful manufacturing facilities by listening to customer needs and developing innovative solutions, earning 32 U.S. patents and creating 900 jobs for East Texas families.

As mayor of Jacksonville, Texas, Nichols streamlined government, improved services and cut property tax rates to the lowest level in 20 years.

Asking him to apply his proven ability to streamline government and improve services without raising taxes, then-Texas Governor George W. Bush recruited Nichols in 1997 to serve on the Texas Transportation Commission.

While fulfilling his six-year term on the commission, Nichols earned a reputation as a committed independent problem-solver, helping to triple the number of roadway construction projects built each year, without raising taxes.

Texas Governor Rick Perry reappointed him to a second term in 2003. Nichols gave up his seat on the Commission shortly before announcing his candidacy for the Texas Senate seat.

Recognized twice as Jacksonville Citizen of the Year, Nichols was also named Jacksonville Businessman of the Year, and the U.S. Small Business Administration Small-Business Person of the Year. He was awarded the Governor’s Industrial Expansion Citation by Governor William P. Clements.

Nichols serves as a board member of Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, Texas; the East Texas Medical Center and the Nan Travis Hospital Foundation, as chairman of the Jacksonville Economic Development Corp. and was formerly on the Jacksonville City Council.

Nichols and his high school sweetheart, Donna, have been married for 31 years. They are parents of three children, Brittney, Joshua and Collynn’rae. Robert Nichols is also the son of the co-founder of Nichols Industries, Inc., Talley Nichols, which was one of the largest manufacturers of toy cap guns in the 1940's, 50's and 60's. Nichols is a member of First United Methodist Church in Jacksonville.

[edit] Election History

[edit] Most recent elections

[edit] 2006

Texas general election, 2006: Senate District 3[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Robert Nichols 119,629 83.13 +11.77
Majority 119,629 100.00 +55.18
Turnout 119,629 -12.03
Republican hold
Republican primary, 2006: Senate District 3[2]
Candidate Votes % ±%
Frank Denton 5,635 15.15
Dave Kleimann 6,716 18.05
✓ Robert Nichols 20,176 54.24
Bob Reeves 4,674 12.56
Majority 13,460 36.18
Turnout 37,201

[edit] References

  1. ^ 2006 General Election. Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved on 2007-01-01.
  2. ^ 2006 Republican Party Primary Election. Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved on 2006-01-02.

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Todd Staples		 Texas State Senator
from District 3 (Jacksonville)
2007 – present		 Incumbent
v • d • e
Current Texas State Senators
1: Eltife (R) • 2: Deuell (R) • 3: Nichols (R) • 4: Williams (R) • 5: Ogden (R) • 6: Gallegos (D) • 7: Patrick (R) • 8: Shapiro (R) • 9: Harris (R) • 10: Brimer (R) • 11: Jackson (R) • 12: Nelson (R) • 13: Ellis (D) • 14: Watson (D) • 15: Whitmire (D) • 16: Carona (R) • 17: Janek (R) • 18: Hegar (R) • 19: Uresti (D) • 20: Hinojosa (D) • 21: Zaffirini (D) • 22: Averitt (R) • 23: West (D) • 24: Fraser (R) • 25: Wentworth (R) • 26: Van de Putte (D) • 27: Lucio (D) • 28: Duncan (R) • 29: Shapleigh (D) • 30: Estes (R) • 31: Seliger (R)