Rodney Ellis

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Rodney Ellis
Rodney Ellis
Member of the Texas State Senate
from the 13th district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
1990
Preceded by Craig Anthony Washington
Born April 7, 1954 (1954-04-07) (age 54)
Houston, Texas
Political party Democratic
Spouse Licia Green Ellis
Residence Houston, Texas
Alma mater Texas Southern University, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas Law School
Profession attorney
Religion Protestant

Rodney Glenn Ellis[1] (born 7 April 1954)[2] Rodney Ellis is currently serving in his sixth term in the Texas Senate from Houston. During his sixteen year tenure in the Texas Senate, the Senator has earned praise as a legislative leader on economic development, education, civil rights, tax cuts, criminal justice and workforce development issues.

Senator Ellis has passed over 400 pieces of legislation. One of his most notable legislative accomplishments includes passage of the $650 million TEXAS Grants Program. This program has provided free college tuition to over 137,000 students and continues to contribute to a more skilled and competitive Texas workforce.

In 1999, Senator Ellis passed a tax relief bill that created the 3-day sales tax holiday and provided businesses franchise tax relief for job creation, capital investment, and research and development. By the end of the 2005 fiscal year, this bill saved taxpayers over $1.7 billion.

Ellis also authored the James Byrd, Jr., Act, an anti-hate crimes bill, and has been recognized for his leadership in improving and protecting the integrity of the Texas criminal justice system by increasing indigent criminal defense funding and fighting to ban the execution of the mentally retarded.

Senator Ellis currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Government Organization. This Committee looks at ways to improve the efficiency of Texas state government. He also sits on the Senate State Affairs, Criminal Justice and Transportation and Homeland Security Committees. Over the course of his time in the Senate, Ellis has chaired the Senate Finance, Jurisprudence and Intergovernmental Relations Committees.

Senator Ellis is the managing director of Rice Financial Products Company, a financial services firm and is vice-chair of The Tagos Group, a firm providing business consulting, business services and business products to Fortune 500 companies. Senator Ellis has a diverse background in international finance and he played an important role as advisor to the Mexican government in the ratification of the NAFTA Treaty. Senator Ellis successfully brought a strategic partner to Telkom South Africa and has helped equity partners in telecommunications projects throughout Africa.

Senator Ellis currently serves on the National Commission on Energy Policy, the University of Texas Law School Foundation Board, the Rainbow PUSH board, and is Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Innocence Project, Inc. of New York. Senator Ellis is also the former Chairman of the Center for Policy Alternatives. Senator Ellis also acts as a special advisor to the World Forum, a body that aims to promote understanding and co-existence among the various cultures and civilizations in today's world.

Prior to his election to the Texas Senate in 1990, Senator Ellis served three terms as a member of the Houston City Council and as chief of staff to the late U.S. Congressman Mickey Leland. He holds a bachelor's degree from Texas Southern University and has a master's degree from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs and a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. In 2005, Senator Ellis was honored by the University of Texas with its Distinguished Alumnus Award. Ellis also studied at Xavier University of New Orleans and the London School of Economics.

Rodney Ellis is married to Licia Green-Ellis and has four children.


Contents

[edit] Election history

Election history of Ellis from 1992.[3]

[edit] Most recent election

[edit] 2006

Texas general election, 2006: Senate District 13[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Rodney Ellis (Incumbent) 90,148 100.00 0.00
Majority 90,148 100.00 0.00
Turnout 90,148 -16.45
Democratic hold

[edit] Previous elections

[edit] 2002

Texas general election, 2002: Senate District 13[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Rodney Ellis (Incumbent) 107,897 100.00 0.00
Majority 107,897 100.00 0.00
Turnout 107,897 +24.55
Democratic hold

[edit] 1998

Texas general election, 1998: Senate District 13[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Rodney Ellis (Incumbent) 86,631 100.00 0.00
Majority 86,631 100.00 0.00
Turnout 86,631 -3.56
Democratic hold

[edit] 1994

Texas general election, 1994: Senate District 13[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Rodney Ellis (Incumbent) 89,832 100.00 +8.59
Majority 89,832 100.00 +17.18
Turnout 89,832 -39.29
Democratic hold

[edit] 1992

Texas general election, 1992: Senate District 13[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Rodney Ellis (Incumbent) 135,262 91.41
Libertarian John Persakis 12,713 8.59
Majority 122,549 82.82
Turnout 147,975
Democratic hold


[edit] References

  1. ^ Rodney Ellis. Texas State Cemetery. Retrieved on 2007-01-03.
  2. ^ Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) (2002-09-13). State Senate Candidates for 2002 General Election. Retrieved on 2006-12-26.
  3. ^ Uncontested primary elections are not shown.
  4. ^ 2006 General Election. Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved on 2007-01-03.
  5. ^ 2002 General Election. Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved on 2007-01-03.
  6. ^ 1998 General Election. Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved on 2007-01-03.
  7. ^ 1994 General Election. Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved on 2007-01-03.
  8. ^ 1992 General Election. Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved on 2007-01-03.

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Craig A. Washington		 Texas State Senator
from District 13 (Houston)
1989 – 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)


Persondata
NAME Rodney Ellis
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Houston, Texas politician
DATE OF BIRTH 7 April 1954
PLACE OF BIRTH Santa Fe, New Mexico
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH