Dan Branch
| Dan Branch | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 108th district | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Kenn George |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 5, 1958 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Stacey Branch |
| Children | Five children |
| Residence | Dallas, Texas |
| Alma mater | Douglas MacArthur High School (San Antonio) Oklahoma Christian University Southern Methodist University Georgetown University |
| Website | www.danbranch.com @TexansforDan - Twitter Dan Branch - Facebook Dan Branch - Google Plus Dan Branch - YouTube |
Dan Branch (born March 5, 1958) is a member of the Texas House of Representatives from Dallas, Texas, U.S.A. First elected in 2002, as a Republican, Branch is currently in his sixth term[1] representing District 108, which includes Downtown, Uptown, Historic East Dallas, Greenland Hills, Lower Greenville, The Village, as well as the town of Highland Park and the city of University Park.[2]
On July 25, 2013, Dan Branch officially announced his candidancy [3] for Texas Attorney General in the 2014 election.
Biography
Education
Branch is a graduate of the Southern Methodist University School of Law (now the Dedman School of Law), where he served as an editor of the law review. He is an alumnus of the Institute on Comparative Political & Economic Systems at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and he holds Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees from Oklahoma Christian University, having graduated summa cum laude in 1980.[citation needed]
Legislative service
Branch won the seat in 2002, when the incumbent Republican Kenn George stepped down after two terms to run unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for Texas land commissioner, losing to Jerry E. Patterson, then a state senator from Houston. The 2002 race was Branch's first for statewide office and he has won every subsequent election in which he has run.[4]
Branch has served as Chairman of the House Committee on Higher Education since 2009 and serves on the Calendars, Elections and Redistricting Committees, as well as the House Select Committee on State Sovereignty. Branch also serves on the Legislative Budget Board. Prior to the 81st Session, he served three terms as the Chair of Budget and Oversight on House Public Education Committee and served as Vice Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education. In 2009, Rep. Dan Branch was selected by Texas House members from eleven north Texas counties to Co-Chair the Dallas Area Legislative Delegation (DALD), at the delegation's first meeting of the 81st session. Branch replaces retired member Rep. Fred Hill (R-Richardson) as the Republican co-chair.[5] He was re-elected in 2011 to serve as co-chair.[6]
During the 81st legislative session, Rep. Branch was the author of House Bill 51, also known as the "Tier One Universities" Bill. The bill announced that seven so-called emerging research universities would compete for extra funding in hopes of joining the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University as nationally recognized research institutions. Rice University, which is private, is also a top-tier school.[7] These seven schools include the University of North Texas, the University of Texas at Dallas, the University of Texas at Arlington, the University of Texas at El Paso, the University of Texas at San Antonio, the University of Houston and Texas Tech University. After signing HB 51 into law, Governor Rick Perry said "[House Bill 51] will go down in the history books as one that truly is improving education in our state."[8]
Campaign for Texas Attorney General
On July 8, 2013, Governor Rick Perry announced that he would not seek a fourth full term.[9] On July 14, 2013, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announced his intention to run for Governor of Texas in the 2014 Texas gubernatorial election.
On July 25, 2013, Dan Branch officially announced his candidacy[10] in the 2014 election.
Shortly following the launch of his campaign, Branch received the endorsement of six of Attorney General Greg Abbott’s top lieutenants,[11] including former Solicitor General Jim Ho.[12] Former Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas R. Phillips and former Texas Supreme Court Justices Craig T. Enoch, Harriet O’Neill and Alberto Gonzales have endorsed Branch’s campaign for state attorney general.
A majority of the Republican Caucus in the Texas House of Representatives has endorsed Dan Branch [13] for Texas Attorney General.
In the days after his announcement, Dan Branch reported more than $4 million on hand,[14] a considerably larger campaign war chest than that of the other announced candidates.
Non-legislative career
In addition to his service in the Legislature, Branch is a corporate lawyer and shareholder of Winstead PC. He is a former judicial clerk to Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Jack Pope and a former aide to the late U.S. Senator John Tower. Branch is a member of the bars of Texas, New York and the District of Columbia.
Community involvement
Beyond his professional service, Branch is a member of the Mayor's Downtown Task Force in Dallas, a former president of The Dallas Assembly and a former Chairman of the Texas Public Finance Authority, appointed by Governor George W. Bush. In addition, he is the chairman of SMU's John Tower Center for Political Studies, named for the late Texas U.S. Senator John G. Tower, and serves on numerous boards, including The Fund for American Studies in Washington, D.C., the Boy Scouts of America/Circle Ten Council and the Southwestern Medical Foundation in Dallas.
On a regular basis, Branch visits the many elementary, middle and high schools in his legislative district. In the fall of 2008, Branch joined Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert and Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa in leading "Operation Comeback", a statewide effort to stop 50,000 students a year from dropping out of high school.[15]
He sits on the Board of Directors of the John Goodwin Tower Center for Political Studies at Southern Methodist University.[16]
Family life
Dan and his wife, Stacey, have five children: Daniel, Spencer, Catherine, Charles and Sarah. They have lived and worked in Dallas for almost three decades.[7]
References
- ↑ "Editorial: We recommend Branch in Texas House District 108" Retrieved on 2009-5-7.
- ↑ "Representative Dan Branch" Retrieved on 2009-5-7.
- ↑ Official announcement of candidacy
- ↑ Texas Tribune Elected Officials Directory, "Elections Info" section. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
- ↑ "Rep. Dan Branch for lieutenant governor in 2014?" Retrieved on 2011-10-25.
- ↑ " Retrieved on 2011-8-18.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Top-tier measure heads to governor Retrieved on 2010-5-6.
- ↑ "Tier One university bill is signed, uniting old foes Retrieved on 2010-5-6.
- ↑ Rick Perry's big decision
- ↑ Rep. Dan Branch announces bid for Texas attorney general for Texas Attorney General
- ↑ Branch endorsed by half dozen former Abbott aides
- ↑ Jim Ho.
- ↑ Texas Rep. Dan Branch announces support from 53 House Republicans in bid for AG
- ↑ Fundraising Reports Offer Chance to Stand Out in Crowded Field
- ↑ "DISD Taking anti-dropout effort into ex-students' homes City and school officials visit youths as part of statewide drive" Retrieved on 2009-5-8.
- ↑ John Goodwin Tower Center for Political Studies Board of Directors
External links
- "Representative Dan Branch". Texas State Directory.
- "Dan Branch". Official Campaign Website.
| Preceded by Kenn George |
Texas State Representative from District 108 (Dallas County) 2003– |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
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