Joan Huffman
Encyclopedia
Joan J. Huffman is a former felony
court judge
in Houston
, Texas
, and an incoming Republican
member of the 31-member Texas State Senate from District 17, which includes a portion of populous Harris County
. Huffman will also be the sixth currently serving female member of the chamber. Only one in five voters participated in the special election held on December 16, 2008, Huffman defeated her Democratic
opponent, Chris Bell
, a former one-term member of the United States House of Representatives
, 24,431 (56 percent) to 19,104 (44 percent). Bell was his party's unsuccessful Democratic gubernatorial nominee in 2006, having lost in a five-candidate general election
to Republican Governor Rick Perry
, 39-30 percent.
Bell had led in the initial balloting on November 4, when the first round of the special election was held in conjunction with the presidential and congressional elections. He obtained 38 percent of the vote to Huffman's 26 percent. Bell and a second Democratic contender, Stephanie Simmons, had a combined 52 percent in the first round. The runoff contest, however, allowed Huffman to consolidate supporters of three other Republican candidates, Austen H. Furse (born 1960), Kenneth R. Sherman (born 1962), and Grant P. Harpold (born 1963), who trailed in the first balloting. Huffman's term extends to January 2011. She succeeds Senator Kyle Janek
, a Republican physician
who resigned earlier this year for business reasons. She faces Republican primary voters on March 2, 2010, and, if nominated, all voters on November 2, 2010.
Huffman lives in the West University section of Houston
with her husband, Keith Lawyer. She began her career as a secretary in the office of the Harris County district attorney
and thereafter procured legal credentials from the South Texas College of Law
in Houston and rose to the position of county prosecutor. Voters twice elected her as a criminal district court judge, having served for six-and-a-half years. Huffman spent $750,000 of her own money in the Senate campaign, what she calls "an investment in Texas." Bob Perry of Perry Homes in Houston, no relation to Governor Perry, gave Huffman $125,000. Bell received a million dollars for Texas trial lawyers, and the state Democratic Party sent a busload of activists to the district to conduct door-to-door solicitation.
As a judge, Huffman has sentenced offenders to life imprisonment
and even death. Before she ran for the state Senate, she reviewed her court decisions and declared the process "a bit overwhelming. Every story was a tragedy." Huffman ran as a conservative and supporter of right-to-life, with her key issues being United States-Mexican border security, education, and skyrocketing property tax
es. She supports both a physical and virtual fence to stop the flow of illegal immigrants.
In addition to Harris County, Senate District 17, said to resemble a crowbar, includes portions of Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend
, Galveston
, and Jefferson
counties.From 1981 to 2002, the seat with a different configuration was held by the attorney J. E. "Buster" Brown
, then of Lake Jackson
, and later a lobbyist in Austin
.
Felony
A felony is a serious crime in the common law countries. The term originates from English common law where felonies were originally crimes which involved the confiscation of a convicted person's land and goods; other crimes were called misdemeanors...
court judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
in Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and an incoming Republican
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...
member of the 31-member Texas State Senate from District 17, which includes a portion of populous Harris County
Harris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
. Huffman will also be the sixth currently serving female member of the chamber. Only one in five voters participated in the special election held on December 16, 2008, Huffman defeated her Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
opponent, Chris Bell
Chris Bell (politician)
Robert Christopher "Chris" Bell is a Democratic Party politician. He last served as a one-term congressman in the United States House of Representatives from Texas's 25th congressional district in Houston from 2003 to 2005 before being defeated in the Democratic primary by Justice of the Peace Al...
, a former one-term member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, 24,431 (56 percent) to 19,104 (44 percent). Bell was his party's unsuccessful Democratic gubernatorial nominee in 2006, having lost in a five-candidate general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
to Republican Governor Rick Perry
Rick Perry
James Richard "Rick" Perry is the 47th and current Governor of Texas. A Republican, Perry was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1998 and assumed the governorship in December 2000 when then-governor George W. Bush resigned to become President of the United States. Perry was elected to full...
, 39-30 percent.
Bell had led in the initial balloting on November 4, when the first round of the special election was held in conjunction with the presidential and congressional elections. He obtained 38 percent of the vote to Huffman's 26 percent. Bell and a second Democratic contender, Stephanie Simmons, had a combined 52 percent in the first round. The runoff contest, however, allowed Huffman to consolidate supporters of three other Republican candidates, Austen H. Furse (born 1960), Kenneth R. Sherman (born 1962), and Grant P. Harpold (born 1963), who trailed in the first balloting. Huffman's term extends to January 2011. She succeeds Senator Kyle Janek
Kyle Janek
Kyle Janek, M.D. ,is a former Republican member of the Texas Senate, having represented District 17 from 2003 until June 2, 2008. The district includes portions of Harris, Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, and Jefferson counties...
, a Republican physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
who resigned earlier this year for business reasons. She faces Republican primary voters on March 2, 2010, and, if nominated, all voters on November 2, 2010.
Huffman lives in the West University section of Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
with her husband, Keith Lawyer. She began her career as a secretary in the office of the Harris County district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
and thereafter procured legal credentials from the South Texas College of Law
South Texas College of Law
South Texas College of Law is a private American Bar Association accredited law school and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools...
in Houston and rose to the position of county prosecutor. Voters twice elected her as a criminal district court judge, having served for six-and-a-half years. Huffman spent $750,000 of her own money in the Senate campaign, what she calls "an investment in Texas." Bob Perry of Perry Homes in Houston, no relation to Governor Perry, gave Huffman $125,000. Bell received a million dollars for Texas trial lawyers, and the state Democratic Party sent a busload of activists to the district to conduct door-to-door solicitation.
As a judge, Huffman has sentenced offenders to life imprisonment
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
and even death. Before she ran for the state Senate, she reviewed her court decisions and declared the process "a bit overwhelming. Every story was a tragedy." Huffman ran as a conservative and supporter of right-to-life, with her key issues being United States-Mexican border security, education, and skyrocketing property tax
Property tax
A property tax is an ad valorem levy on the value of property that the owner is required to pay. The tax is levied by the governing authority of the jurisdiction in which the property is located; it may be paid to a national government, a federated state or a municipality...
es. She supports both a physical and virtual fence to stop the flow of illegal immigrants.
In addition to Harris County, Senate District 17, said to resemble a crowbar, includes portions of Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend
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...
, Galveston
Galveston County, Texas
Galveston County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population was 291,309. Its county seat is Galveston. League City is the largest city in Galveston County in terms of population; between...
, and Jefferson
Jefferson County, Texas
Jefferson County is a county located in the state of Texas, United States. As of 2000, the population was 252,051. Its county seat is Beaumont, and it is named for the former U.S...
counties.From 1981 to 2002, the seat with a different configuration was held by the attorney J. E. "Buster" Brown
J. E. "Buster" Brown
James Edward Brown, known as J. E. "Buster" Brown , is an attorney and lobbyist in Austin, Texas, who served from 1981 to 2002 as a Republican member of the Texas State Senate from District 17, based in Brazoria, Fort Bend, and part of Harris counties, south and west of Houston...
, then of Lake Jackson
Lake Jackson, Texas
Lake Jackson is a city in Brazoria County, Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. As of a 2006 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city population was 27,614....
, and later a lobbyist in Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
.