Thank you to those who have contributed to your TNLA PAC. Without your support, TNLA would not be able to assist elected officials and candidates who support the nursery/landscape industry.
TNLA PAC had a really good election night with our endorsed candidates. The five heavily contested races in the House we participated in were successful as well as the Senate seat on the Coastal Bend. All of our Primary Election endorsees also won their General Election. The negative news is three of the five Judges we endorsed on the 4th Court of Appeals were defeated. This could prove difficult for property owner’s water rights in the state.
Both Democrat and Republican candidates prevailed and they have been very supportive of our issues in the past. When we start the 83rd Session on January 8, 2013 there will be many new faces. In the Texas House we will see almost 50% sophomores and freshmen. In the Senate, five new members of 31 will be in place. This is a huge turn over and loss of institutional knowledge. This is unprecedented, but many elected officials retired or were defeated in the Primary Election.
TNLA PAC supported some of these newly elected officials and we look forward to working with them next legislative session.
The current House has 102 Republicans and 48 Democrats. Based on unofficial results reported by the Texas secretary of state's office, in 2013 the makeup will be 95 Republicans and 55 Democrats. The Senate’s amount of Republicans and Democrats will remain the same. TNLA will still have key elected official friends in positions to support us.
With all probability, Joe Strauss will maintain his position as Speaker of the House. This is good for the nursery/landscape industry because his leadership and his top lieutenants have been very supportive of our issues.
TNLA PAC endorsed these wining candidates in heavily contested races:
Senator Chuy Hinojosa (D) McAllen
Representative J.M. Lozano (R) Harlingen
Representative Craig Eiland (D) Galveston
Representative Jason Isaac (R) Dripping Springs
Representative Jimmie Don Aycock (R) Killeen
Representative Linda Harper-Brown (R) Irving
Please consider making another contribution to your TNLA PAC to continue supporting candidates like these.