Michael L. Williams
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Michael Lawrence Williams | |
---|---|
Commissioner of the Barry Smitherman | |
Assistant Secretary of Education for the Office for Civil Rights | |
In office 1990–1993 | |
President | George H. W. Bush |
Preceded by | LeGree S. Daniels |
Succeeded by | Norma V. Cantu |
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Law Enforcement | |
In office April 1989 – 1990[1] | |
President | George H. W. Bush |
Preceded by | Gerald L. Hilsher[2] |
Succeeded by | Nancy L. Worthington[3] |
Personal details | |
Born | Midland, Texas, U.S. | May 31, 1953
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Donna Nelson[1] |
Residence(s) | Arlington, Texas |
Alma mater | University of Southern California |
Profession | Lawyer, Politician |
Michael Lawrence Williams (born May 31, 1953) is an American educator and attorney who is the former Education Commissioner of the U.S. state of Texas, in which capacity he was leader of the Texas Education Agency. Williams was appointed to the position on August 27, 2012, by then Governor Rick Perry.[4] On October 15, 2015, Williams announced that he would step down as Education Commissioner at the end of the year to return to the private sector.[5]
Williams is also a former member of the elected
On May 29, 2012, Williams ran unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for the redrawn 25th congressional district seat that stretches southward from Tarrant to Hays counties.[6][7]
Career
Williams was a federal prosecutor from 1984 to 1988 and a former assistant district attorney in his hometown of
Williams served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Law Enforcement at the
Williams is the first
Williams was appointed Texas Education Commissioner on August 27, 2012 by then Governor Rick Perry;[4] he became the first African-American Commissioner of Education in Texas history.[9] On October 15, 2015, Williams announced that he would step down as Education Commissioner at the end of the year to return to the private sector. The 200-mile one-way commute from his home in Arlington to the state capital in Austin had become too taxing to remain in the position, Williams said. Perry's successor, Governor Greg Abbott, named Mike Morath as Williams' successor in the position.[5]
Political campaigns and activities
Williams addressed the
, for president.In 2000, Williams won a two-year unexpired term on the Railroad Commission without Democratic opposition. He defeated the
In 2002, Williams won a full six-year term on the Commission. He polled 2,407,036 votes (54.8 percent) to 1,821,751 (41.5 percent) for Democrat Sherry Boyles. Two other candidates received a total of 162,482 votes (4.7 percent).[10]
Williams ran for re-election for a second full six-year term to the Texas Railroad Commission in November 2008. He won the Republican nomination in March 2008 in an unopposed contest. Williams was re-elected with 52 percent of the vote, having defeated the Democratic candidate, Mark Thompson, and Libertarian candidate David Floyd.[11]
Williams' effective use of social media tools earned him a Texas Social Media Award.[12]
2012 Congressional race
On, December 16, 2008 Michael Williams announced via
Personal life
Williams is a 1971 graduate of
Williams is a past Honorary State Chairman of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Texas, which helps to enrich, encourage, and empower children through safe, positive, one-to-one mentoring relationships. He also has served in a volunteer capacity as the general counsel of the Republican Party of Texas, the chairman of the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission and on the board of directors of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, the Texas Public Policy Foundation, and Our Mother of Mercy Catholic School.
References
- ^ a b Nomination : hearing before the Committee on Labor and Human Resources, United States Senate, One Hundred First Congress, second session, on Michael L. Williams, of Texas, to be Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Department of Education, May 23, 1990. 4.L 11/4:S.hrg.101-797 (1990)
- ^ The United States Government Manual (1988–1989), page 472
- ^ The United States Government Manual (1991–1992), page 476
- ^ Texas Tribune, August 27, 2012.
- ^ a b c Lauren McGaughy, "Education commissioner to leave post at year's end: Williams says commute took toll", San Antonio Express-News, October 16, 2015, pp. A3, A5
- ^ a b Answering The Call Archived 2012-10-24 at the Wayback Machine, Michael Williams for U.S. Congress, July 29, 2011.
- ^ Texas Tribune. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
- ^ Austin American Statesman, December 22, 1998
- ^ Commissioner of Education Michael L. Williams, Texas Education Agency, August 27, 2012.
- ^ "Election History". Texas Secretary of State. Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2010-03-26.
- ^ Dana Chiodo. "2008 Texas Election Results". The Texas Prosperity Project. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2010-03-26.
- ^ "Texas Social Media Award Winners". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 2010-03-26.
- ^ "White, Williams plan Senate race". Associated Press. 2008-12-16. Retrieved 2010-03-26.
- Texas Tribune. Retrieved June 28, 2011.