Chris Harris (Texas politician)

Member of the Texas Senate
from the 9th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
2005
Preceded by Jane Nelson
Member of the Texas Senate
from the 10th district
In office
1991–2005
Preceded by Bob McFarland
Succeeded by Kim Brimer
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 93rd district
In office
1985–1991
Preceded by Roy E. English
Succeeded by Toby R. Goodman
Personal details
Born February 19, 1948[1]
Nationality American
Political party Republican
Residence Arlington, Texas
Occupation Attorney

Chris Harris (born 19 February 1948)[1] is a Texas politician and attorney. He was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1985 to 1991 and has been a member of the Texas Senate since 1991, representing District 9, which comprises parts of Dallas, Denton and Tarrant County.

Biography

Texas State Senate District 9 is a fast-developing area of North Texas. It includes a quality public education system, as well as the University of Texas at Arlington. His district is also home to the new Dallas Cowboys stadium, Ameriquest Field (home of the Texas Rangers), Six Flags Over Texas, Nokia Theatre, Lone Star Park, and Airhogs Stadium. The district also sits on the Barnett Shale, which is believed to contain the largest quantity of natural gas in the state of Texas, and is home to approximately 683,000 residents.

Senator Harris is the highest ranking Republican in the Texas Senate and currently serves as Chairman of the Jurisprudence Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Senate Business and Commerce Committee. He also sits on the Transportation & Homeland Security Committee and the Economic Development Committee.

During the 82nd session, Senator Harris will work on issues important to Senate District 9 while collaborating with other legislators to balance the budget and complete the redistricting process in a fair manner. His priorities will continue to focus on improving air quality in the Dallas-Fort Worth area by reducing congestion on roadways as well as decreasing the overall level of pollutants from various sources. Harris will address the need to fill the skilled labor shortage by supporting workforce training and encouraging better education practices in public schools and our institutions of higher education. As always, his main goal will be to reduce the burden on the average Texan by keeping taxes low.

As a family law attorney and Chair of Senate Jurisprudence, Senator Harris will bring extensive knowledge of critical issues that will be addressed in this committee. Harris has years of Civil Trial experience in Complex Divorce and Family Law cases, as well as multi-party Commercial and Business Litigation.

During the 78th and 79th Legislatures, Senator Harris served as Chairman of the Senate Administration Committee. In this capacity, he focused on improving the internal operations of the Texas Senate. Senator Harris also played an active role as a member of the Texas Legislative Council and the State Preservation Board.

He was elected President Pro Tempore of the Texas Senate for the 77th Legislature, and served as Governor for a Day on May 5, 2001. Also during this time he served as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Vice-Chairman of the Texas Sunset Commission, and as a member of the Legislative Budget Board.

Senator Harris has been recognized for his leadership by the National Child Support Enforcement Association, Texas Medical Association, American Cancer Society, Texas Association of Realtors, Texas Civil Justice League, Family Law Specialty of the Texas State Bar, Tarrant County Family Bar Association, Fort Worth and Dallas Chambers of Commerce, Retired Teachers' Association, Humane Society of North Texas, Future Farmers of America, Texas Municipal Officers' League, American Subcontractors Association, Texas Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, and Texas State Troopers Association.

Chris Harris was born on February 22, 1948 in Pasadena, California. He graduated from Arlington High School, attended Texas Christian University, and received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Baylor Law School. Chris practices family and business law. He and his wife, Tammy, live in Arlington where they reared their family.

Controversy

Senator Harris received international attention as a result of a session in the Texas Senate where he confronted a man (who had been in the US since 1988) giving testimony in his native Spanish, interrupting his testimony and demanding, "Why aren't you speaking in English?" Continuing, Harris added, "it's insulting to us", then later, "It is very insulting. If he knows English, he needs to be speaking in English."[2]

Election history

Election history of Harris from 1992.[3]

Most recent election

2004

Texas general election, 2004: Senate District 9[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Chris Harris (Incumbent) 143,501 100.00 +13.44
Majority 143,501 100.00 +26.87
Turnout 143,501 +51.50
Republican hold

Previous elections

2002

Texas general election, 2002: Senate District 9[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Chris Harris (Incumbent)[6] 81,994 86.56 -13.44
Libertarian David C. Pepperdine 12,727 13.44 +13.44
Majority 69,267 73.13 -26.87
Turnout 94,721 -54.26
Republican hold

2000

Texas general election, 2000: Senate District 10[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Chris Harris (Incumbent) 187,302 100.00 0.00
Majority 187,302 100.00 0.00
Turnout 187,302 +25.85
Republican hold

1996

Texas general election, 1996: Senate District 10[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Chris Harris (Incumbent) 154,989 100.00 0.00
Majority 154,989 100.00 0.00
Turnout 154,989 +19.83
Republican hold
Republican primary, 1996: Senate District 10[9]
Candidate Votes % ±%
✓ Chris Harris (Incumbent) 30,330 77.80
Jim Lollar 8,656 22.20
Majority 21,674 55.59
Turnout 38,986

1994

Texas general election, 1994: Senate District 10[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Chris Harris (Incumbent) 129,343 100.00 +38.64
Majority 129,343 100.00 +77.27
Turnout 129,343 -40.30
Republican hold

1992

Texas general election, 1992: Senate District 10[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Bob Bass 83,711 38.64
Republican Chris Harris (Incumbent) 132,947 61.36
Majority 49,236 22.73
Turnout 216,658
Republican hold

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Office of the Secretary of State (Texas) (2002-09-13). "State Senate Candidates for 2002 General Election". Retrieved 2006-12-26.
  2. ↑ "'Speak English', Texas senator tells Mexican during heated immigration debate". Daily Mail (London). 2011-06-17.
  3. ↑ Uncontested primary elections are not shown.
  4. ↑ "2004 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved 2007-01-03.
  5. ↑ "2002 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved 2007-01-03.
  6. ↑ Harris was the District 10 incumbent prior to the 2002 Senate district redistricting.
  7. ↑ "2000 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved 2007-01-03.
  8. ↑ "1996 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved 2007-01-03.
  9. ↑ "1996 Republican Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved 2007-01-03.
  10. ↑ "1994 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved 2007-01-03.
  11. ↑ "1992 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved 2007-01-03.

External links

Texas House of Representatives
Preceded by
Roy E. English 		Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from District 93 (Arlington)(1)
1985–1991 		Succeeded by
Toby R. Goodman
Texas Senate
Preceded by
Bob McFarland		 Texas State Senator
from District 10 (Arlington)
1991–2005 		Succeeded by
Kim Brimer
Preceded by
Jane Nelson		 Texas State Senator
from District 9 (Arlington)
2005 – present 		Incumbent
Notes and references
1. For the 69th and 70th Legislatures, Harris’ home city was Mansfield