Charles F. Howard
Encyclopedia
Charles F. Howard, known more commonly as Charlie Howard, is an American politician and has been a member of the Texas House of Representatives
since 1995. He is a member of the Republican Party
.
, a fast-growing suburb of Houston at the time, Charlie Howard became involved in the Sugar Land community, at one time serving as President of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, which is highly influential in Fort Bend County
and also of which he is a life member. He is also a founding director of the Fort Bend Economic Development Council and has served as President of The C. Howard Company, which specializes in real estate development. Prior experience included serving as Executive Vice President and Operating Officer of Sugarland Properties, which developed the First Colony master-planned community that now comprises most of the southern and southeastern areas of both Sugar Land and State House District 26. Additionally, Howard has been involved in numerous charitable, political, business, religious and educational organizations.
, against incumbent Republican Jim Tallas, who succeeded Tom DeLay
in 1984 after DeLay made a successful run for Congress. Howard made an issue of Tallas' resistance to term limits, which was exhibited when the latter (as chair of a subcommittee) struck down a measure calling for term limits in the Texas Legislature
. http://www.heritage.org/Research/GovernmentReform/BG994.cfm Using this issue as the centerpiece of his campaign, Howard defeated Tallas with 71 percent of the vote in the primary, which was considered the real contest in the heavily Republican district, which has not elected a Democrat since 1978. In fact, Howard has faced a Democratic challenger only once, in 2000, winning with 70% of the vote, and has, with the exception of 1996 (when he faced only a token third party candidate), won without opposition in other previous general election cycles.
Since being elected, Howard has developed a largely conservative voting record in the Texas Legislature, and has received awards from various conservative groups, including the Christian Coalition, the Eagle Forum, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Family Association, and Concerned Women of America. Additionally, he has also been recognized by various publications, including the Houston Chronicle
for his efforts in securing funds for the expansion of U.S. Highway 59, which runs through Sugar Land, and by the Republican Party of Texas for Howard's strong recognition of the party's values.
Because of his accomplishments in Austin, the ultra liberalTexas Monthly
named Charlie Howard among the "Worst Legislators" three times, ranking seventh worst in 1997 and fourth worst in 1999. In 2007, considered one of the worst legislative sessions in Texas history, Howard was named to the worst list for the third time in his seven sessions. http://www.texasmonthly.com/mag/bestworst.php. As a true conservative, Howard boasts of this record.
In 2006, Howard fended off a primary challenge, the first time such a scenario occurred in his political career, but faced no opposition in the general election. In 2008, Howard easily won reelection over his two Republican primary opponents, educator Paula Stansell and student Norm Ley with 63% of the vote.
In 2011, fearing a loss in the Republican primary to Sugar Land City Councilwoman Jacquie Chaumette, Howard, using the redistricting process, was able to eliminate Chaumette from the district through gerrymandering. The redistricting committee, breaking from the consistency within the district boundaries, withdrew the potential opponent's neighborhood from the district. However, as of April 21, the lines are yet to be made official. Howard ran on the pledge of serving only two terms, but has since been elected to eight.
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
since 1995. He is a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
.
Early life and career
After moving to Sugar Land, TexasSugar Land, Texas
Sugar Land is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area and Fort Bend County. Sugar Land is one of the most affluent and fastest-growing cities in Texas, having grown more than 158 percent in the last decade. In the time period of 2000–2007, Sugar Land also enjoyed a...
, a fast-growing suburb of Houston at the time, Charlie Howard became involved in the Sugar Land community, at one time serving as President of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, which is highly influential in Fort Bend County
Fort Bend County, Texas
Fort Bend County is a county located along the Gulf Coast region in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. In 2000 its population was 354,452, while the 2010 U.S...
and also of which he is a life member. He is also a founding director of the Fort Bend Economic Development Council and has served as President of The C. Howard Company, which specializes in real estate development. Prior experience included serving as Executive Vice President and Operating Officer of Sugarland Properties, which developed the First Colony master-planned community that now comprises most of the southern and southeastern areas of both Sugar Land and State House District 26. Additionally, Howard has been involved in numerous charitable, political, business, religious and educational organizations.
Political career
In 1994, Charlie Howard ran in the Republican primary for District 26 in the Texas House of Representatives, which is demographically dominated by Sugar LandSugar Land, Texas
Sugar Land is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area and Fort Bend County. Sugar Land is one of the most affluent and fastest-growing cities in Texas, having grown more than 158 percent in the last decade. In the time period of 2000–2007, Sugar Land also enjoyed a...
, against incumbent Republican Jim Tallas, who succeeded Tom DeLay
Tom DeLay
Thomas Dale "Tom" DeLay is a former member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Texas's 22nd congressional district from 1984 until 2006. He was Republican Party House Majority Leader from 2003 to 2005, when he resigned because of criminal money laundering charges in...
in 1984 after DeLay made a successful run for Congress. Howard made an issue of Tallas' resistance to term limits, which was exhibited when the latter (as chair of a subcommittee) struck down a measure calling for term limits in the Texas Legislature
Texas Legislature
The Legislature of the state of Texas is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The Legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin...
. http://www.heritage.org/Research/GovernmentReform/BG994.cfm Using this issue as the centerpiece of his campaign, Howard defeated Tallas with 71 percent of the vote in the primary, which was considered the real contest in the heavily Republican district, which has not elected a Democrat since 1978. In fact, Howard has faced a Democratic challenger only once, in 2000, winning with 70% of the vote, and has, with the exception of 1996 (when he faced only a token third party candidate), won without opposition in other previous general election cycles.
Since being elected, Howard has developed a largely conservative voting record in the Texas Legislature, and has received awards from various conservative groups, including the Christian Coalition, the Eagle Forum, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Family Association, and Concerned Women of America. Additionally, he has also been recognized by various publications, including the Houston Chronicle
Houston Chronicle
The Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...
for his efforts in securing funds for the expansion of U.S. Highway 59, which runs through Sugar Land, and by the Republican Party of Texas for Howard's strong recognition of the party's values.
Because of his accomplishments in Austin, the ultra liberalTexas Monthly
Texas Monthly
Texas Monthly is a monthly American magazine headquartered in Austin, Texas. Texas Monthly is published by Emmis Publishing, L.P. and was founded in 1973 by Michael R. Levy, Texas Monthly chronicles life in contemporary Texas, writing on politics, the environment, industry, and education...
named Charlie Howard among the "Worst Legislators" three times, ranking seventh worst in 1997 and fourth worst in 1999. In 2007, considered one of the worst legislative sessions in Texas history, Howard was named to the worst list for the third time in his seven sessions. http://www.texasmonthly.com/mag/bestworst.php. As a true conservative, Howard boasts of this record.
In 2006, Howard fended off a primary challenge, the first time such a scenario occurred in his political career, but faced no opposition in the general election. In 2008, Howard easily won reelection over his two Republican primary opponents, educator Paula Stansell and student Norm Ley with 63% of the vote.
In 2011, fearing a loss in the Republican primary to Sugar Land City Councilwoman Jacquie Chaumette, Howard, using the redistricting process, was able to eliminate Chaumette from the district through gerrymandering. The redistricting committee, breaking from the consistency within the district boundaries, withdrew the potential opponent's neighborhood from the district. However, as of April 21, the lines are yet to be made official. Howard ran on the pledge of serving only two terms, but has since been elected to eight.