Tony Dale

Anthony William "Tony" Dale
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 136th district
In office January 8, 2013 – January 2019
Preceded by	Beverly Woolley
Succeeded by	John Bucy III
Personal details
Born	1969 Westover Air Reserve Base near Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Mary Lopez Dale
Children	Two daughters
Residence(s)	Cedar Park Williamson County Texas
Alma mater	The Ohio State University
Occupation	Businessman
Military service
Branch/service	United States Army Reserves, United States Army, Texas State Guard

Anthony William Dale, known as Tony Dale (born 1969) is a businessman from suburban Cedar Park, Texas, who is a Republican former member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 136, which encompasses part of Williamson County near the capital city of Austin on the eastern edge of the Texas Hill Country.

First elected in 2012, Dale was reelected to successive two-year terms in 2014 and 2016. House District 136 consists of the Williamson County portion of Austin, the City of Cedar Park, the City of Leander, North Austin MUD #1 (Rattan Creek), Block House Creek MUD, Brushy Creek MUD, Fern Bluff MUD and a small portion of Round Rock. He was defeated in his reelection bid in 2018 by Democrat John Bucy III.

Background

Dale received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Ohio State University at Columbus in central Ohio. While at Ohio State, he was active in partisan politics and for a time was President of the Ohio State University College Republican Club and the state co-chairman of the Ohio College Republican Federation. He also worked at the Ohio Republican Party for four years as a college intern.

In 1989, Dale met his wife, attorney Mary Lopez Dale, when the two enlisted in the United States Army Reserve. Both served in Reserve Officer Training Corps; upon college graduation, they were stationed at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. In 1997, both left the Army with the rank of captain. His military decorations include the Parachutist Badge, Army Commendation Medal with Oak leaf cluster, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Texas Cold War Service Medal, Texas Humanitarian Relief Ribbon and Expert Marksman Badge and The Noble Patron of Armor Award. Dale is a charter member of the Hunter-Morris Memorial American Legion Post 911 in Cedar Park. Mrs. Dale was the 2014-2015 post commander. He is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Texas State Guard where he serves as the Director of the Civil Affairs Operations Section at Headquarters, Camp Mabry.

The former owner of a consulting company, Dale is a member of the Cedar Park Chambers of Commerce. The Dales have two daughters. One is graduate of Leander ISD schools and the other attends school at LISD. They attend St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church in Austin.

Political life

From 2002 until 2009 Dale served as a precinct chairman for the Williamson County Republican Party. He also served in the capacity of election clerk and election judge. In 2004, then District 20 State Representative Dan Gattis appointed Dale to the Textbook Review Panel of the Texas Education Agency.

From 2009 to 2012, Dale was a member of the Cedar Park City Council and for a year served as the mayor pro tem. Earlier, he was the secretary and later vice chairman of the Cedar Park Planning and Zoning Commission. As a member of the board of the Williamson County Conservation Foundation, he pushed for local control over federal regulations. He served too on the Cedar Park Charter Review Committee.

In 2012, the long-term incumbent Republican Representative Beverly Massey Wooley of Houston could not seek a tenth term in District 136, which was reconfigured and based in Williamson County, rather than Harris County. Therefore, an open seat developed, and Dale and another Republican, Paul Matthews, each sought their party nomination. Dale easily prevailed, 5,126 votes (66.4 percent) to 2,597 (33.6 percent). In the general election on November 6, 2012 Dale defeated the Democrat Matt Stillwell and the Libertarian Party nominee, Matthew Wayne Whittington (born c. 1971) of Cedar Park. He received 32,383 votes (53.1 percent); Stillwell, 24,851 (40.7 percent); Whittington, 3,802 votes (6.2 percent).

In 2014 Dale was unopposed in the Republican Primary. In the November 4, 2014 Dale received 20,862 (54.2 percent) and out paced his closest opponent by 13.1 percent. Democratic nominee John Bucy of Austin received 15,821 (41.1 percent) and Libertarian nominee Justin Billiot of Cedar Park received 1,811 (4.7 percent).

In 2016 Dale ran unopposed in the Republican Primary. In the November 8, 2016 general election, he received 41,643 votes (55.0%) and defeated Democratic challenger Paul Gordon who received 34,077 votes (45.0%).

In the 83rd Legislative Session (2013-2014) Dale served on the House committees of (1) Homeland Security and Public Safety, (2) Energy Resources and (3) House Select Committee on Child Protection. In the 84th Legislative Session (2015-2016) Dale served on the house committees of (1) Homeland Security and Public Safety, (2) Energy Resources and (3) Local and Consent Calendar Committee. In the 85th Legislative Session (2017-2018) Dale served on (1) Environmental Regulation Committee and (2) Vice Chairman of the Juvenile Justice & Family Issues Committee and (3) House Select Committee on Cybersecurity. He was appointed as a member of the House Working Group to reform the Child Protective Service. He is a member of the House Working Group developing internal House policies on sexual harassment. He is the Chairman of the House Energy Caucus. In the 85th legislative session Dale served as Deputy Floor Leader for the Republican Caucus. He is on the board of directors of the Texas Conservative Coalition.

The Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce named Dale the 2017 Citizen of the Year. In 2018 Cedar Park Mayor Matt Powell presented Dale with the city's highest civilian honor by bestowing upon him a key to the city. In 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2013 the Hill Country News reader poll voted Dale the "Best Elected Official". The Texas Conservative Coalition, a bipartisan group of legislators, named him a "Courageous Conservative" following the 83rd, 84th and 85th regular sessions. After the 84th session the Texas Right To Life rated him a 100%. The Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT) named him Freshman of the Year in 2013." Following the 84th legislative session in 2015 the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas named him, "Best of the House". In 2015 he was elected to the Board of Directors of the Texas Conservative Coalition. In 2013 and 2015 the Texas Association of Business named him a "Champion For Free Enterprise". The Texas Alliance For Life PAC endorsed his reelection in 2015/2016. In 2015 the Texas Conservative Roundtable named him an "Effective Conservative".

He has also conducted seminars in Amman, Jordan on campaign message, communications and organization for the International Republican Institute.

Legislative positions

Dale supported in 2013 the ban on abortion after twenty weeks of gestation; the measure passed the House, 96-49. He also voted for companion legislation to increase medical and licensing requirements of abortion providers. These issues brought forth an unsuccessful filibuster in the Texas State Senate by Wendy R. Davis of Fort Worth. He supported legislation to provide marshals for school security as a separate law-enforcement entity. He voted to extend the franchise tax exemption to certain businesses. He voted for the adoption of the biennial state budget. Dale voted against the prohibition of texting while driving, which nevertheless passed the House, 97-45. He voted to require testing for narcotics of those individuals receiving unemployment compensation. He voted for the "equal pay for women" measure, which passed the House, 78-61, but was ultimately vetoed by Governor Rick Perry.

Dale co-sponsored the bill to permit college and university officials to carry concealed weapons in the name of campus security. He voted for the bill to reduce the time required to obtain a concealed-carry permit. He backed the redistricting bills for the state House and Senate and the United States House of Representatives. To protect election security, he voted to prohibit an individual from turning in multiple ballots.

During the 84th Regular Legislative Session (2015) Dale filed legislation to award the Texas Purple Heart Medal to the Fort Hood shooting victims of terrorist Nidal Hasan on 11/5/2009 (HB115). He also filed legislation to require the use of E-Verify by all state agencies and public universities (HB183) and require the use of E-Verify by state contractors and subcontractors (HB889). Dale filed HB861 to facilitate the prosecution of adults who solicit minors online for illicit sexual purposes.

His 2015 84th legislative session accomplishments also include: HB939 – Allows homeowners in HOAs to install standby generators. HB1446 – Allows sexual assault victims and stalking victims to get reimbursed by the crime victims fund. HB 1447 – streamlines protective orders for victims of sexual abuse, assault, stalking and trafficking. HB2604- Reduces red tape for police officers applying for a concealed handgun license (CHL). HB4030 – Requires a complete background check prior to starting work as a private security licensee.

In the 84th session he also jointly authored of co-authored the following successful legislation: HB114 – Restricts the use of Capital Appreciation Bonds. HB505 – Removes limits on the number of dual-credit courses high school students may take. HB1286 – Enhanced penalties for injury to a child, elderly individual or disable person. HB1293 – Allows stalking victims to have confidentiality in court proceedings. HB1783 – Requires schools to reports crimes to police and not coerce employees to not report crimes. HB2339 – Allows customers to carry alcoholic beverages throughout all areas inside stadiums and arenas.

During the 85th session (2017) Dale authored legislation to target the teachers having inappropriate relationships with students. He authored additional child protection measures such as HB 1810 that allows for the prosecution of criminals possessing and publishing lewd visual images of children. He also passed legislation targeting online predators who blackmail individuals online using intimate images and videos. This crime known as 'extortion" is a growing concern as reported by the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children". The Speaker of the House appointed Dale to the House Working Group on Child Protective Service Reform. In that capacity Dale worked on legislation to transform and improve Texas' challenged child welfare system.

Interest group ratings

The Texas Association of Business scored him 93 percent for the 83rd session. The National Rifle Association scored Dale 92 percent following the 83rd session. Following the 84th session Texas Right to Life noted his score of 100%. Americans For Prosperity named him a Lone Star Leader with an A rating. Dale was in the top 24 most conservative House Members on Rice University Professor Mark Jones' 2017 Liberal-Conservative Ranking and Score of Texas House of Representatives.

Third term election in 2016

Dale won his third term in the House in the general election held on November 8, 2016. With 41,643 votes (55 percent), he defeated the Democrat Paul R. Gordon, who polled 34,077 (45 percent).

2018 general election

Dale lost his bid for a fourth term in the general election held on November 6, 2018. He was unseated by the Democrat John Bucy III, who had lost the 2014 election to Dale: 41,485 votes (53.3) to 34,031 (43.8 percent). The Libertarian Party choice, Zack Parks, held another 2,253 (2.9 percent).