John Whitmire

John Whitmire
File:JWMAction.jpg
Member of the Texas Senate from the 15th district
Incumbent
Assumed office 1983
Preceded by	Jack C. Ogg
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 82nd district
In office 1973–1983
Preceded by	Bill Heatley
Succeeded by	Nolan J. Robnett
Personal details
Born	John Harris Whitmire (1949-08-13) August 13, 1949 Hillsboro, Texas, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Rebecca Lynn Dalby (1976-Divorced)
Children	Whitney (b. 1982) Sarah (b. 1983)
Residence(s)	Houston, Texas, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Houston, Bates College of Law
Profession	Attorney

John Harris Whitmire (born August 13, 1949) is the longest-serving of current members of the Texas State Senate representing District 15, which includes much of northern Houston, since 1983. 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 as part of the Governor for A Day tradition.

Early Life and Education

Whitmire was born in Hillsboro, Texas to James M. Whitmire, the Hill County Clerk and Marie Harris Whitmire, a nurse. He came from humble beginnings and moved more that 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. 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' first single-member district plan for the House of Representatives. 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, John 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.

In his first House session, Whitmire was voted by Texas Monthly magazine as part of "the furniture", meaning he left no distinguishing mark of performance in the regular 1973 session. Others receiving the "furniture" designation included State Representative Joe Sage, one of the first two Republicans to represent Bexar County since Reconstruction. Sage served only one term in the House.

Texas Senate

In 1982 Senator Jack Ogg vacated his seat to pursue the Attorney General position. 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. 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.

In the District

• Led the effort in securing 3.75 million to preserve the West 11th Street Park
• was successful in securing federal stimulus money for the preservation of the Barbara Jordan and Mickey Leland papers maintained by the Barbara Jordan - Mickey Leland School Of Public Affairs at Texas Southern University as a member of the Senate Finance Committee.

Safe Clear

From its inception Senator Whitmire questioned, as a matter of public safety, the use of wrecker drivers in the Safe Clear program who had not undergone sufficient criminal background checks. He challenged the city’s privatization and profiting off of state roads by leasing sections to tow companies for mandatory tow purposes. Whitmire also reminded the city that the gasoline tax and state general sales tax are used to pay for and maintain our highways. After a two-hour meeting with Mayor Bill White, an agreement was made on modifications to Safe Clear. As a result of his efforts, positive modifications were made to the Safe Clear program. Senator Whitmire and Mayor White were able to take numerous steps towards the common goal of safer freeways in Houston.

Criminal Justice

Senator Whitmire serves as Chair of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee and works to bring about needed changes to the adult and juvenile criminal justice systems.

Freeing the Tulia 13

Senator Whitmire passed legislation to free the Texans who were imprisoned as a result of the notorious 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.

Diversion Programs

Senator Whitmire worked closely with his colleagues and was successful in obtaining funding for the largest expansion of treatment and rehabilitation programs in decades. The Legislature appropriated more than $200 million to add more than 8,000 new treatment beds for inmates, parolees, and probationers. The additional beds gives judges alternatives to prisons, provide treatment alternatives for parolees or probationers who were otherwise being revoked to prison for minor or technical violations. The funding also established a DWI prison unit to rehabilitate low level DWI offenders.

Juvenile Justice Reform

In 2007, when scandal hit the Texas Youth Commission (TYC), Texas incarcerated more than 4,700 juvenile offenders in institutions, halfway houses, and contracted care. In 2009, Senator Whitmire partnered with local juvenile probation departments across Texas to secure additional funding to allow judges and probation departments to keep nonviolent juvenile offenders in programs and facilities in their communities where they can get the adequate care needed.

By diverting nonviolent offenders from TYC, the State of Texas was able to close the older, more remote TYC facilities; and juveniles now have greater access to community-based comprehensive education and treatment programs already successfully run by local juvenile probation departments. The results not only saved money, but provide for a much better outcome for the youthful offender when they are placed near their families and near the services and care they need to turn their lives around.

The Texas Youth Commission was merged with the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission. The Texas Juvenile Justice Department coordinate services for youth offenders with the goal of keeping more kids in the community while providing a secure state run system for our more violent offenders.

Pipeline to Prison

Across Texas, school districts were hiring police departments, issuing tickets, requiring families to go to court, and creating the first encounter with the justice system. Those students were cited for behavior that while disruptive to the classroom were not grounds for citation, expulsion, or a criminal record. Senator Whitmire passed legislation to ensure that kids under twelve would no longer receive criminal charges for truancy. Children over twelve can receive a Class C misdemeanor for truancy. If conditions are met, the case will be expunged with no criminal record.

End to Special Last Meals

Whitmire was outraged when convicted murderer Lawrence Russell Brewer ordered a large last meal which he did not eat 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.

Health Care

Pharmaceutical Drug Law

Whitmire authored Senate Bill 410 intended to regulate the function of the State Board of Pharmacy. The bill also contained provisions regulating out-of-state pharmacies such as “Internet Pharmacies”. Senate Bill 410 allows the State Board to publish on their website a list of free and reduced programs offered by various pharmaceutical companies. The bill also made way for the State Board to inspect Canadian pharmacies therefore giving Texans an opportunity to buy less expensive prescription drugs safely. This bill was signed by Governor Perry and went into effect September 1, 2005.

Education

• Led the charge in the Senate to guarantee an across-the-board pay raise for public school teachers, librarians, nurses, and counselors during the 81st legislative session
• Flibustered a school finance bill that he felt did not give equal education dollars to poorer school districts during the first special session of the 79th legislative session.

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 went back to the legislature, creating a quorum undoing the efforts of the rest of the Texas Ten.

Recognition

• Dean of the Texas Senate, 2003
• Named one of the Top Ten Best Legislators by Texas Monthly Magazine, 2003
• Named a Top Five Legislator by Gallery Watch
• Outstanding Legislator by the Judicial Advisory Committee to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice
• Outstanding Legislator by Texans Standing Tall for his efforts to prevent underage drinking.
• Legislator of the Year Award from the Justice of the Peace and Constables Association, 2006
• Legislator of the Year award from the North Texas Crime Commission, 2009
• Named one of the Top Ten Best Legislators by Texas Monthly Magazine, 2011

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).

Election history of District 15 from 1992

Previous elections

2002

Texas general election, 2002: Senate District 15

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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