John Whitmire

John Harris Whitmire (born August 13, 1949)[2] is an American attorney and politician who is the longest-serving current member of the Texas State Senate. Since 1983, he has represented District 15, which includes much of northern Houston, Texas. His tenure earns him the title of Dean of the Senate. Previously he was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1973 through 1982. He also served as the Acting Governor of Texas in 1993[3] as part of the Governor for A Day tradition.

John Whitmire
Member of the Texas Senate from the 15th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 11, 1983
Preceded by	Jack C. Ogg
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 82nd district
In office January 9, 1973 – January 11, 1983
Preceded by	Bill Heatley
Succeeded by	Nolan J. Robnett
Personal details
Born	John Harris Whitmire August 13, 1949 Hillsboro, Texas, USA
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Rebecca Lynn Dalby (1976-Divorced[1])
Relations	Kathy Whitmire (former sister-in-law)
Children	2
Residence	Houston, Texas
Alma mater	University of Houston Bates College of Law
Profession	Attorney

Early life and education

Whitmire was born in Hillsboro north of Waco, Texas, to James Madison Whitmire, the Hill County clerk, and the former Ruth Marie Harris, a nurse.[2] He came from humble beginnings and moved more than three times as a child; but his fondest memories were of his early childhood in Whitney, Texas where he had no running water but had the strong support of his neighbors.[4] He cherishes this time in his life so much, you can still find his blue corduroy Future Farmers of America jacket, with "Whitney" largely embroidered on it hanging behind his desk in the Capitol. In his early teenage years, he moved to North Houston and attended Waltrip High School. Whitmire attended college at the University of Houston to study political science while paying for his education by working for the Texas State Welfare Department to which he credits his understanding of ordinary people facing difficult times.

Texas House of Representatives

Under pressure from the Federal Courts, the 1971 legislature drew up Texas's first single-member district plan for the House of Representatives.[5] Whitmire's political science professor Richard Murray was the one to inspire him to run for office as he illustrated the newly drawn district lines that newly encompassed John's home, church, old high school and the hospital where his mother worked. Having only voted once in his life, John Whitmire suspended his studies and left his job to enter the race.

In the 1972 election for House District 82, Whitmire won the primary runoff election and easily won the general election. In 1973, Whitmire at twenty-three, was sworn into the Texas House of Representatives. Whitmire served in the Texas House with colleagues Gene Green, Craig Washington and Mickey Leland and eventually finished his undergraduate degree. He began his law studies at the Bates College of Law, then passed the bar in 1981.

Texas Senate

In 1982, Senator Jack Ogg vacated his seat to pursue the Attorney General position.[6] Whitmire captured the Senate District 15 seat, taking office in 1983. Senator Whitmire quickly became an ally to policemen, farmers, firefighters, and fought for the rights for municipal and state employees. [3] Recognizing Whitmire's success and commitment to the citizens of Texas, Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock appointed him to the Chair of Senate Criminal Justice Committee where he rewrote the state's criminal laws.

Whitmire handily won reelection to the state Senate in the general election held on November 6, 2018. With 152,728 votes (65.2 percent), he defeated the Republican candidate, Randy Orr, who polled 75,423 (32.2 percent). Another 6,266 votes (2.7 percent) went to the Libertarian choice, Gilberto "Gil" Velasquez, Jr.[7]

Criminal justice

Senator Whitmire serves as Chair of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee.

Freeing the Tulia 13

Senator Whitmire passed legislation to free the Texans who were imprisoned as a result of the Tulia drug raid. That incident resulted in the conviction of 38 Texans based on the testimony of one individual who has since been indicted and arrested for perjury. The legislation allowed the judge to release the prisoners on bond pending the decision of the Court of Criminal Appeals. On June 10, 2003, the Tulia defendants were freed on bond as provided for in Senator Whitmire's legislation. They were later pardoned by the Governor.[8]

End to special last meals

Whitmire was angered by convicted murderer's Lawrence Russell Brewer refusal to eat the last meal he ordered prior to his September 21, 2011, execution. Whitmire said that this was Brewer's attempt to "make a mockery out of the process." The senator contacted the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and asked the agency to end the practice of last meals or he would get the State Legislature to pass a bill doing so. The agency replied that last meal requests were accommodated "within reason" from food available in the prison kitchen, but it agreed to end the practice immediately at Whitmire's insistence.[9]

Redistricting

In 2003, Whitmire was one of the "Texas Eleven", a group of Democrats who fled the state for New Mexico in 2003 in a quorum-busting effort aimed at preventing the passage of redistricting legislation that would have benefited Texas Republicans. He ultimately returned to the legislature, creating a quorum and undoing the efforts of the rest of the Texas Eleven.

Election history

Whitmire won re-nomination to Senate District 15 in the Democratic primary election held on March 4, 2014. He defeated his intraparty challenger, Damian LaCroix, 9,756 (75.1 percent) to 3,232 votes (24.9 percent).[10]

2002

Texas general election, 2002: Senate District 15[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Michael P. Wolfe	41,003	39.63	+4.69
	Democratic	John Whitmire	62,458	60.37	-4.69
Majority			21,455	20.71	-9.38
Turnout			103,461		-29.76
	Democratic hold

2000

Texas general election, 2000: Senate District 15[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Warren A. Lawless	51,465	34.94	-3.01
	Democratic	John Whitmire	95,826	65.06	+3.01
Majority			44,361	30.12	+6.02
Turnout			147,291		+12.65
	Democratic hold

1996

Texas general election, 1996: Senate District 15[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Tom Kelly	49,619	37.95	+37.95
	Democratic	John Whitmire	81,134	62.05	-37.95
Majority			31,515	24.10	-75.90
Turnout			130,753		+97.09
	Democratic hold

1994

Texas general election, 1994: Senate District 15[14]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	John Whitmire	66,341	100.00	+30.12
Majority			66,341	100.00	+55.79
Turnout			66,341		-33.62
	Democratic hold

1992

Texas general election, 1992: Senate District 15[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	John Whitmire	69,844	69.88
	Republican	Thomas V. Kelly	25,660	25.67
	Libertarian	George Hollenback	4,438	4.44
Majority			44,184	44.21
Turnout			99,942
	Democratic hold

Democratic Party Primary Runoff Election, 1992: Senate District 15[16]

Candidate		Votes	%	±
	Roman O. Martinez	15,390	47.61
✓	John Whitmire	16,938	52.39
Turnout		32,328

Democratic Party Primary Election, 1992: Senate District 15[17]

Candidate		Votes	%	±
	David Alley	1,587	4.97
✓	Roman O. Martinez	15,575	48.87
✓	John Whitmire	14,707	46.14
Turnout		31,869

References

1. "WHITMIRE, REBECCA DALBY vs. WHITMIRE, JOHN HARRIS".
2. Texas Department of State Health Services, Vital Records. "Birth Certificate for John Harris Whitmire" (Third party index of birth records for Hill County). Rootsweb.com. Retrieved December 19, 2006.
3. "Governor John Whitmire" (PDF). Legislative Reference Library.
4. Root, Jay. "For Dean of Senate, Public and Private Blur". The Texas Tribune.
5. "Overview: Texas House Districts 1846–1982". Texas Legislative Council.
6. McNeely, Henderson, Dave, Jim (2008). Bob Bullock: God Bless Texas. University of Texas Press. p. 152. ISBN 9780292748491.
7. "Election Returns". Texas Secretary of State. November 6, 2018. Archived from the original on November 10, 2018. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
8. Whitmire, John (2004). "Legislative Report" (PDF) (Fall). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 14, 2013. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
9. Fernandez, Manny (September 22, 2011). "Texas Death Row Kitchen Cooks Its Last 'Last Meal'". The New York Times. Retrieved September 22, 2011.
10. "Democratic primary election returns, March 4, 2014 (Senate District 15)". enr.sos.state.tx.us. Archived from the original on March 5, 2014. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
11. "2002 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved December 19, 2006.
12. "2000 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved December 19, 2006.
13. "1996 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved December 19, 2006.
14. "1994 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved December 19, 2006.
15. "1992 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved December 19, 2006.
16. "1992 Democratic Party Primary Runoff Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved December 19, 2006.
17. "1992 Democratic Party Primary Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved December 19, 2006.

External links

• Senate of Texas - Senator John Whitmire
• Project Vote Smart - Senator John Whitmire (TX) profile
• Follow the Money - John Whitmire
  • 2006 2004 2002 2000 campaign contributions
• Appearances on C-SPAN