Lyle Larson
Lyle Larson | |
---|---|
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 122nd district | |
In office January 11, 2011 – January 10, 2023 | |
Preceded by | Frank Corte Jr. |
Succeeded by | Mark Dorazio |
Member of the San Antonio City Council | |
In office 1991–1995 | |
Personal details | |
Born | San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | March 25, 1959
Political party | Republican |
Education | Texas A&M University (BBA) |
Lyle Thomas Larson (born March 25, 1959)[1] is an American politician and businessman who served as a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives for the 122nd district from 2011 to 2023. He was first elected to the state House in 2010 to succeed fellow Republican Frank Corte Jr.
Early life and education
Larson was raised on a family farm at Thousand Oaks and Jones-Maltsberger Road; the location is now heavily
Career
Prior to starting his own company, American Consortium, which distributes industrial products for Polaroid, he worked for Nalco Chemical Company and Johnson & Johnson.[2][3]
Texas House of Representatives
During his tenure in the House, Larson was an ally of Speaker Joe Straus, also of San Antonio. The two men are the same age, and their family connections go back for four decades. Larson's father provided care for the horses and cattle on the Straus farms. But Larson said in an interview that "sometimes" Straus "doesn't quite understand me."[2]
After the 2017 regular session of the legislature, Governor
On the eve of the special legislative session of 2017, Larson continued to express frustration with Governor Abbott: "The reality is, since the governor skipped class for four months, we've got ... summer school with him now to help him learn what we did."[5] Larson said that he is unlikely to serve in the state House much past 2020: "My ambitions are just to try to do the right thing. ... And then leave everything on the field, then walk away."[2]
Despite his squabbles with Governor Abbott, Larson won re-nomination over a conservative intra-party challenger, Mayor Christopher Michael "Chris" Fails of Hollywood Park in Bexar County. On November 6, 2018, he was reelected with 58,062 votes (62 percent) to 35,577 ballots (38 percent) for his Democratic opponent, Claire Barnett.[6]
Larson has been characterized as a moderate Republican.[7]
Ethics controversy
Larson caused controversy within his own party after accusing Governor Abbott of quid pro quo, or "pay for play", politics. According to Larson, people "have to pay large sums of money" [8] for state seats. However, opponents of Larson's comments were quick to cite the fact that Abbott has appointed 21 people from the 122nd district to positions on boards, including Larson himself who was named to the Southwestern States Water Commission. Of these 21 people, none of them gave more than $5000.[8] Greg Abbott responded by saying, "Mr. Larson's fabricated comments are an embarrassment for someone who claims to be a champion of ethics reform. His comments are a disservice to his constituents, and even more so to the appointees from his district who selflessly serve the state of Texas".[8]
Personal life
Larson married and divorced right out of college.[
References
- ^ a b "Representative Lyle Larson's Voting Records". votesmart.org. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
- ^ a b c d Peggy Fikac, "S.A. Rep. Larson is not scared by any governor," San Antonio Express-News, August 6, 2017, pp. 1, A23.
- ^ a b "Lyle Larson Biography" (PDF). Legislative Reference Library of Texas. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
- ^ Mike Ward and Peggy Fikac, "Abbott veto tally highest since '07: Larson, who saw five bills axed, cites retribution," San Antonio Express-News, June 16, 2017, p. A3.
- ^ Peggy Fikac, "Curtain is rising on Act iI in Austin: Reputations are on the line in this Legislature drama," San Antonio Express-News, July 16, 2017, p. 1.
- ^ "Election Returns". Texas Secretary of State. November 6, 2018. Archived from the original on November 10, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
- ^ Harris, Cayla (9 June 2022). "We asked every Texas lawmaker for their views on gun regulations. Just one Republican answered". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
- ^ a b c Fikac, Peggy (August 2, 2017). "Lawmakers press Gov. Abbott on ethics; his office accuses them of 'showboating'". mySA.