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Russell worked as a waitress at the Stage West Theatre café four nights a week while working as a receptionist in a pediatrician's office in the morning.<ref name="fwweekly">{{cite news|title=Wendy Davis stuck her neck out for schoolkids.|author=McGraw, D.|url=http://www.fwweekly.com/2011/08/31/wendy-davis-stuck-her-neck-out-for-schoolkids/|newspaper=Fort Worth Weekly|date=August 31, 2011|accessdate=June 26, 2013}}</ref>
Russell worked as a waitress at the Stage West Theatre café four nights a week while working as a receptionist in a pediatrician's office in the morning.<ref name="fwweekly">{{cite news|title=Wendy Davis stuck her neck out for schoolkids.|author=McGraw, D.|url=http://www.fwweekly.com/2011/08/31/wendy-davis-stuck-her-neck-out-for-schoolkids/|newspaper=Fort Worth Weekly|date=August 31, 2011|accessdate=June 26, 2013}}</ref>


While working as a waitress for her father's restaurant in 1983, when she was 20 years old,<ref name="bloomberg1"/> and still married to Underwood, Russell was introduced, by her father, to her second husband, Fort Worth lawyer and former city councilman Jeffry Davis, who was 13 years older than her.<ref name="DallasMNSlater01182014"/> Russell and Davis "dated two or three years" and then on May 30, 1987, when Russell was 24 years old, they married.<ref name="DallasMNSlater01182014"/> Russell enrolled at [[Tarrant County College|Tarrant County Junior College]], in a two-year [[paralegal]] program, attending from 1984 to 1986.<ref name=docket111303 /> Russell and Davis settled in the historic [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_neighborhoods_in_Fort_Worth,_Texas#Mistletoe_Heights Mistletoe Heights] neighborhood, which sits on the bluffs above the [[Trinity River (Texas)|Trinity River]]. After Tarrant College, Russell started attending [[Texas Christian University]] in 1988.<ref name=docket111303 /> Their daughter, Dru, was born in September 1988, and while Russell was still attending TCU. Russell graduated from TCU in May 1990, where she graduated first in her class with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.<ref name="Wendy Davis LinkedIn">{{cite web|title=Wendy Davis LinkedIn|url=http://www.linkedin.com/in/wendydavistexas|publisher=LinkedIn|accessdate=June 27, 2013}}</ref> Davis paid for Russell's last two years at TCU and, using his [[401(k)]] savings and loan paid for her wife's education at Harvard Law School from 1990 to 1993.<ref name="DallasMNSlater01182014"/> In 1992, Davis took out a 10-year loan a to help pay her tuition, which was not paid off until 2003. Davis cared for their two daughters while Wendy was attending Harvard.<ref name="DallasMNSlater01182014"/> In 2003, Wendy moved out of Davis' home.<ref name="DallasMNSlater01182014"/> When the divorce settlement was finalized in 2005, Jeff Davis was granted parental custody, and the girls (Amber then 21 and Dru then 14) stayed with him, and Wendy was directed to pay child support to Jeff Davis. Wendy admitted his winning custody was a positive development for her career, telling her now ex-husband, "While I’ve been a good mother, it’s not a good time for me right now."<ref name="DallasMNSlater01182014"/> Wendy Davis had previously stated that she paid for TCU and Harvard with scholarship money and by working as a single mother, leaving out Jeff Davis' contribution of cash and loans, another aspect of her earlier life that Davis has admitted to be less than accurate.<ref name="KilloughCNN01202014"/><ref name="DallasMNSlater01182014"/>
While working as a waitress for her father's restaurant in 1983, when she was 20 years old,<ref name="bloomberg1"/> and still married to Underwood, Russell was introduced, by her father, to her second husband, Fort Worth lawyer and former city councilman Jeffry Davis, who was 13 years older than her.<ref name="DallasMNSlater01182014"/> Russell and Davis "dated two or three years" and then on May 30, 1987, when Russell was 24 years old, they married.<ref name="DallasMNSlater01182014"/> Russell enrolled at [[Tarrant County College|Tarrant County Junior College]], in a two-year [[paralegal]] program, attending from 1984 to 1986.<ref name=docket111303 /> Russell and Davis settled in the historic [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_neighborhoods_in_Fort_Worth,_Texas#Mistletoe_Heights Mistletoe Heights] neighborhood, which sits on the bluffs above the [[Trinity River (Texas)|Trinity River]]. After Tarrant College, Russell started attending [[Texas Christian University]] in 1988.<ref name=docket111303 /> Their daughter, Dru, was born in September 1988, and while Russell was still attending TCU. Russell graduated from TCU in May 1990, where she graduated first in her class with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.<ref name="Wendy Davis LinkedIn">{{cite web|title=Wendy Davis LinkedIn|url=http://www.linkedin.com/in/wendydavistexas|publisher=LinkedIn|accessdate=June 27, 2013}}

She has commented upon the discrepancies in the story about her early life, telling the ''Dallas Morning News'', "My language should be tighter. I’m learning about using broader, looser language. I need to be more focused on the detail."<ref name="DallasMNSlater01182014"/>

At Harvard, she volunteered at a legal clinic for the poor, where she helped AIDS patients write living wills and surviving partners with their legal rights.<ref name="bloomberg1"/> In May 1993, she earned her [[law degree]] with ''[[cum laude]]'' honors.<ref>http://www.canteyhanger.com/content.php?page=lawyer_detail&lid=112</ref><ref name="Senator Wendy Davis: District 10">{{cite web|title=Senator Wendy Davis: District 10|url=http://www.davis.senate.state.tx.us/|publisher=Texas State Senate|accessdate=August 9, 2012}}</ref> She was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in November 1993.<ref>Record, State Bar of Texas, Wendy Davis, at [http://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Find_A_Lawyer&template=/Customsource/MemberDirectory/MemberDirectoryDetail.cfm&ContactID=225166].</ref>
At Harvard, she volunteered at a legal clinic for the poor, where she helped AIDS patients write living wills and surviving partners with their legal rights.<ref name="bloomberg1"/> In May 1993, she earned her [[law degree]] with ''[[cum laude]]'' honors.<ref>http://www.canteyhanger.com/content.php?page=lawyer_detail&lid=112</ref><ref name="Senator Wendy Davis: District 10">{{cite web|title=Senator Wendy Davis: District 10|url=http://www.davis.senate.state.tx.us/|publisher=Texas State Senate|accessdate=August 9, 2012}}</ref> She was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in November 1993.<ref>Record, State Bar of Texas, Wendy Davis, at [http://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Find_A_Lawyer&template=/Customsource/MemberDirectory/MemberDirectoryDetail.cfm&ContactID=225166].</ref>


Revision as of 15:10, 21 January 2014

Wendy Davis
File:Wendy Davis 2013.jpeg
Member of the Texas Senate
from the 10th district
Assumed office
January 9, 2009
Preceded byKim Brimer
Member of the Fort Worth City Council
from the 9th district
In office
May 1, 1999 – January 8, 2008
Preceded byCathy Hirt
Succeeded byJoel Burns
Personal details
Born
Wendy Russell

(1963-05-16) May 16, 1963 (age 61)
West Warwick, Rhode Island, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic from 2006 to present
Republican Party before 2006
Spouse(s)Frank Underwood (1981–1984)
Jeff Davis (1987-2005)
ChildrenAmber (born 1982)
Dru (born 1988)
Alma materTarrant County College
Texas Christian University
Harvard University
Signature
WebsiteOfficial website

Wendy Russell Davis[2] (born May 16, 1963) is an American lawyer and Democratic politician from Fort Worth, Texas. She represents District 10 in the Texas Senate. She previously served on the Fort Worth city council.

On June 25, 2013, Davis held an eleven hour long filibuster to block Senate Bill 5, legislation that would create new abortion regulations in Texas. The filibuster played a major role in Senate Democrats' efforts to delay passage of the bill beyond the midnight deadline for the end of the legislative session. In October of that year she announced she would run for Governor of Texas in the 2014 election.

Early life and education

Wendy Russell was born in West Warwick, Rhode Island,[3] and moved to Fort Worth with her family at age 11. Her father, Jerry Russell, worked at the National Cash Register (now known as the NCR Corporation) and later became a local actor and director who founded the Stage West Theatre in Fort Worth in 1979.[4][5] Her parents divorced at that time, leaving her to be raised by a single mother, Virginia, with a ninth-grade education who had to raise four children without child support.[6] Russell's mother worked at a Braum's ice cream shop and later became a restaurant manager to support her family.[7][8]

Russell began working at age 14, selling newspaper subscriptions for The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, working at an Orange Julius, and waitressing at a restaurant.[9] During high school, in May 1980, she moved in with her boyfriend, Frank Underwood, a construction worker, when she was 17.[10][11] In May 1981, Russell graduated from Richland High School in North Richland Hills, Texas. She became pregnant with her first child, Amber.[10][11] On January 24, 1982, when she was 18, Russell married Underwood in response to the pregnancy.[10] In the late summer of 1982, after Russell had turned 19, she gave birth to Amber, her first daughter.[10] In December 1983, Russell filed for divorce when she was 20.[10] On May 22, 1984, Russell's divorce from Underwood became official, when she was 21 years old.[11][12] Russell previously claimed, in federal court case on redistricting, State of Texas, plaintiff, vs. United States of America and Eric H. Holder, in his official capacity as Attorney General of the United States, defendants, and Wendy Davis, et al., intervenor-defenders, that "I got divorced by the time I was 19 years old".[8][9][11][12] Davis admitted to the Dallas Morning News that her description of some aspects of her earlier life was not accurate, a narrative she has used to appeal to voters in Texas.[10]

Russell worked as a waitress at the Stage West Theatre café four nights a week while working as a receptionist in a pediatrician's office in the morning.[5]

While working as a waitress for her father's restaurant in 1983, when she was 20 years old,[7] and still married to Underwood, Russell was introduced, by her father, to her second husband, Fort Worth lawyer and former city councilman Jeffry Davis, who was 13 years older than her.[11] Russell and Davis "dated two or three years" and then on May 30, 1987, when Russell was 24 years old, they married.[11] Russell enrolled at Tarrant County Junior College, in a two-year paralegal program, attending from 1984 to 1986.[9] Russell and Davis settled in the historic Mistletoe Heights neighborhood, which sits on the bluffs above the Trinity River. After Tarrant College, Russell started attending Texas Christian University in 1988.[9] Their daughter, Dru, was born in September 1988, and while Russell was still attending TCU. Russell graduated from TCU in May 1990, where she graduated first in her class with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).[13] She was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in November 1993.[14]

Law career

Early in her law career Davis served in a federal clerkship under U.S. District Judge Jerry Buchmeyer. In 1994, she joined the Fort Worth office of Haynes & Boone and began practicing specialized litigation. She later became part owner of Safeco Title Co., the title company that her ex-husband Jeff Davis founded. Davis is a former executive of Republic Title, of Fort Worth, Texas. Davis joined Cantey Hanger in an Of Counsel role and partnered with Brian Newby to open Newby Davis, PLLC in 2010. Her current practice includes federal and local governmental affairs, litigation, economic development, contract compliance and real estate matters.[15]

Political career

City Council

Davis first ran for the Fort Worth city council in 1996.[4] She was defeated.[4] After her defeat Davis sued the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, American Broadcasting Company, and the Disney Company, which at the time owned the Star-Telegram and ABC.[4] The Texas Tribune stated that she alleged "that biased coverage led to her defeat and caused injury to her physical and mental health".[4] Her claims were rejected by the Texas courts, based upon the Star-Telegram's First Amendment free speech grounds.[4][16]

Davis was first elected to the Fort Worth city council in 1999. During her nine-year tenure as a Councilmember, Davis focused on transportation, economic development and neighborhood issues. She also worked on economic development projects, such as the Montgomery Plaza renovation, the Tower, Pier One and Radio Shack campuses.[15]

While serving on Fort Worth City Council, Davis voted in the Republican Party primaries. Davis has said she was Republican because she liked Republican Congresswoman Kay Granger and she wanted to vote on judicial nominees in Republican primaries.[11] She voted in the Republican primaries in 1996, 1998 and 2006 and she has given $1,500 to Granger.[17]

State Senate

Davis represents Texas Senate, District 10, which includes portions of Tarrant County, Texas. In 2008, she defeated Republican Kim Brimer for the seat.[18] She was re-elected in 2012, defeating a challenge from Mark Shelton, a Fort Worth pediatrician and Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives.[19] Davis is the Vice-Chair on the Senate Select Committee on Open Government. She is also a Member of the Senate Committee on Economic Development, the Senate Committee on Transportation, and the Veteran Affairs and Military Installations Committee. She previously served on the Senate Committee for Education and as Vice-Chair on the Senate Committee on International Relations and Trade.[20]

On May 29, 2011, Davis launched a filibuster of a budget bill that cut $4 billion from public education in the state, resulting in a special session called by Texas Gov. Rick Perry.[21]

Davis has been honored with awards and recognitions during her first term in the Texas Legislature, including the "Bold Woman Award" from Girls, Inc., "Freshman of the Year" from AARP, "Champion for Children Award" from the Equity Center, and "Texas Women's Health Champion Award" from the Texas Association of OB-GYNs. In 2009, Texas Monthly named her "Rookie of the Year".[22] She was also chosen by the readers of Fort Worth Weekly as the "Best Servant of the People".[13] In January 2012, Davis was listed among "12 State Legislators to Watch in 2012" by Governing Magazine[23] and was mentioned as a possible candidate for statewide races.[24]

Early in the 83rd Session, senators drew for terms in a post-redistricting, once-a-decade process. Davis drew a two-year term and will be up for re-election in November 2014.[25] In March 2013, she announced her intention to run for re-election to the Senate.[26] On October 3, 2013, she changed her mind and announced a candidacy for Texas Governor instead of re-election to the State Senate.

Upon examining Davis' voting record over her three terms in the Texas Senate, Mark P. Jones, the Chairman of the Department of Political Science at Rice University, found that Davis was the fourth-most liberal senator out of the 31 state senators (including Davis) that served in at least two of the three terms Davis had served in. Jones found that she was "significantly more liberal" than John Whitmire, Juan Hinojosa, Carlos Uresti, and Eddie Lucio, Jr., who represent the centrist wing of the Texas Senate Democrats, "significantly more conservative" than José R. Rodríguez, the most liberal Texas Senate Democrat, and "statistically indistinguishable" from the other six Texas Senate Democrats.[27]

2013 filibuster

See also: Texas Senate Bill 5

On June 25, 2013, Davis began a filibuster to block the Senate Bill 5, "the bill would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, require abortion clinics to meet the same standards that hospital-style surgical centers do, and mandate that a doctor who performs abortions have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital."[28] She attempted to maintain the floor until midnight, when the Senate's special session ended, after which the state Senate would no longer be able to vote on the measure.[29] Following an 11-hour filibuster – three hours short of midnight – Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst ruled that Davis had gone off topic, forcing a vote on whether the filibuster could continue.[30] Despite Republican efforts, parliamentary inquiries from Leticia R. Van de Putte and others as well as raucous cheering and yelling from the political activists gathered in the Capitol carried on through midnight and the close of the special session.[31] Following the deadline, Republicans indicated that a vote had taken place and passed, while Democrats declared that the vote had taken place after midnight, making it void.[31] Dewhurst later conceded that the bill was dead.[32][33] On the 26th, Governor Rick Perry added the bill as part of three bills in a second special session to be debated again.[34][35] The bill was eventually passed by both the House and the Senate in the July 2013 second special session,[36][37][38] prompting one commentator to state that "Wendy Davis won the battle, but Rick Perry won the war."[39] The bill was signed by Gov. Rick Perry on July 18, 2013.[40]

The filibuster attracted national attention, including in The New York Times and The Washington Post.[41][42] National fundraising by and speculation about a gubernatorial run for Davis also followed.[43] Davis has been encouraged to run by groups like Battleground Texas and EMILY's List.[44]

Campaign for Governor of Texas

Main article: Texas gubernatorial election, 2014

Davis announced her intention to run for Governor of Texas in the 2014 election on October 3, 2013.

Electoral history

She lost her first race for Fort Worth City Council in 1996, but after her election in 1999 she served a nine-year tenure in the Fort Worth City Council. Davis ran unopposed in the 2001 and 2005 general elections. Her Texas State Senate career began after she unseated the Republican incumbent in 2008 and subsequently won reelection in 2012.

References

  1. ^ [1][dead link]
  2. ^ "Wendy Russell Davis's Salary".[dead link]
  3. ^ Walker, T. (June 28, 2013). "Wendy Davis: Single mother from trailer park who has become heroine of pro-choice movement". Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Root, Jay (September 1, 2013). "Spotlight on Davis, the Democrats' Big Hope". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  5. ^ a b McGraw, D. (August 31, 2011). "Wendy Davis stuck her neck out for schoolkids". Fort Worth Weekly. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  6. ^ Manny Fernandez (January 20, 2014). "Accused of Blurring Facts of Stirring Life Story, Texas Lawmaker Offers Chronology". New York Times. Retrieved January 21, 2014. Gardner Selby, W. (June 28, 2013). "Rick Perry says Wendy Davis is daughter of single mother and was a teenage mother herself". PolitiFact. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  7. ^ a b Crawford, Amanda J. & David Mildenberg (September 4, 2013). "Harvard Law Put Davis on Path From Teen Mom to Politician". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
  8. ^ a b Ramshaw, E. (June 4, 2011). "A Filibuster Creates an Overnight Celebrity". New York Times. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  9. ^ a b c d "Docket No. CA 11-1303" (PDF). United States District Court for the District of Columbia. January 20, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  10. ^ a b c d e f Killough, Ashley (January 20, 2014). "Report: Wendy Davis' life story more complicated than compelling narrative". CNN. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g Slater, Wayne (January 18, 2014). "As Wendy Davis touts life story in race for governor, key facts blurred". Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas: James M. Moroney III. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
  12. ^ a b Leahy, Michael Patrick. "Wendy Davis Testimony in Federal Trial: 'I Got Divorced by the Time I Was 19'". Brietbart.com. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
  13. ^ a b "Senator Wendy Davis: District 10". Texas State Senate. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  14. ^ Record, State Bar of Texas, Wendy Davis, at [2].
  15. ^ a b "Partners - Newby Davis, PLLC".
  16. ^ "Metro & Texas Digest", Fort Worth Star-Telegram, November 3, 2000
  17. ^ Root, Jay. Spotlight on Davis, the Democrats' Big Hope, Texas Tribune, September 1, 2013.
  18. ^ "Wendy Davis Defeats Sen. Kim Brimer". Quorum Report. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  19. ^ Ramshaw, E. (November 6, 2012). "Wendy Davis Clinches Re-election in SD-10". Texas Tribune. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  20. ^ "Texas Tribune - State Sen. Wendy Davis". Texas Tribune. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  21. ^ Ramshaw, E. (June 4, 2011). "A Filibuster Creates an Overnight Celebrity". New York Times. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  22. ^ Burka, P.; Hart, P. (July 2009). "The Best and Worst Legislators 2009". Texas Monthly. Retrieved July 1, 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  23. ^ Jacobson, L. (January 2012). "12 State Legislators to Watch in 2012". Governing Magazine. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  24. ^ Montgomery, D. (January 19, 2013). "Is Sen. Wendy Davis poised for statewide race?". Star-Telegraph. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  25. ^ Parker, K. (January 23, 2013). "Political futures at risk as Senators draw terms". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  26. ^ Montgomery, D. (March 31, 2013). "Davis re-states intention to run for Senate". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  27. ^ Jones, Mark P. (July 10, 2013). "How does Wendy Davis stack up ideologically among other Texas democrats?". Pegasus News. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
  28. ^ Fernandez, M. (June 25, 2013). "Filibuster in Texas Senate Tries to Halt Abortion Bill". New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  29. ^ Tomlinson, C.; Vertuno, J. (June 26, 2013). "Marathon filibuster: Overnight drama stalls Texas abortion vote". KHOU. Retrieved June 26, 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  30. ^ Sutton, J.; Smith, M. (June 25, 2013). "Lawmaker's filibuster to kill Texas abortion bill ends early". CNN. Retrieved June 25, 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  31. ^ a b King, Michael (June 26, 2013). "Yea or Nay?". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  32. ^ "Liveblog: Senators Trying to Determine if Abortion Bill Passed". The Texas Tribune. June 26, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  33. ^ Helen Davidson (June 26, 2013). "Wendy Davis filibuster and public protest defeat Texas abortion bill: Texas senator stages 11-hour filibuster to block bill • Vote derailed, lieutenant governor blames 'mob'". The Guardian. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  34. ^ "Texas Gov. Rick Perry calls 2nd special session to pass abortion bill". CBS News. June 26, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  35. ^ "Texas Gov. Perry calls second special session on abortion". Fox News. Associated Press. June 26, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  36. ^ Schwartz, John. Texas Senate Vote Puts Bill Restricting Abortion Over Final Hurdle, New York Times, July 2013.
  37. ^ Weiner, Rachel. Texas state Senate passes abortion restrictions, Washington Post, July 13, 2013.
  38. ^ MacLaggan, Corrie. Texas passes abortion restriction bill, governor certain to sign, Reuters, July 13, 2013.
  39. ^ Woodruff, Betsy. Texas: How Pro-Lifers Won, National Review, July 2013.
  40. ^ Luthra, Shefali. Perry Signs Abortion Bill into Law, Texas Tribune, July 18, 2013.
  41. ^ [3]
  42. ^ [4]
  43. ^ "Battleground Texas surpasses $1M", Politico, July 15, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  44. ^ Fikac, Peggy (August 13, 2013). "Drafting Wendy Davis for governor UPDATE". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  45. ^ "1999 Cumulative Election Report". City of Fort Worth. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
  46. ^ "2003 Cumulative Election Report". City of Fort Worth. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
  47. ^ "2007 Cumulative Election Report" (PDF). City of Fort Worth. p. 3. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
  48. ^ "Election Results". Secretary of State of Texas. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
  49. ^ "Election Results". Secretary of State of Texas. Retrieved November 19, 2012.[dead link]

3. http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/Decoder-Wire/2013/0805/Wendy-Davis-Ready-to-ride-for-governor-of-Texas

Texas Senate
Preceded by Member of the Texas Senate
from the 10th district
2009–present 		Incumbent

Template:Persondata

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