Phil Wilson (Texas politician)
Encyclopedia
Samuel Philip "Phil" Wilson (born 1967) is the former Texas Secretary of State, the state's chief elections officer. He was appointed effective July 1, 2007, by Republican
Governor
Rick Perry
. Wilson was the 106th person to hold the position and the fifth individual to have served since Perry assumed the governorship in December 2000. On June 11, 2008, Wilson announced his resignation, effective July 6, to "pursue other opportunities."Wilson became senior vice president for public affairs for Luminant, an electric energy company.
Wilson was succeeded as secretary of state by San Antonio
businesswoman Esperanza "Hope" Andrade, a previous Perry appointee to the Texas Transportation Commission.
Wilson had succeeded John Roger Williams
of Weatherford
, who also stated in his resignation announcement that he intended to "pursue other opportunities". Wilson was previously Perry's deputy chief of staff. Perry personally swore Wilson into office as secretary of state.
In addition to handling election matters, the Secretary of State is the governor's liaison with Mexico
and the state's officer of protocol
. The office serves as the formal repository for official and business records, publishes government rules and regulations, and attests to the governor’s signature on official documents.
As secretary of state, Wilson continued to serve as Perry's designee on the Texas Enterprise Fund ($185 million) and the Emerging Technology Fund ($200 million). He also led the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and Tourism. "Phil’s new role will allow my office to coordinate with the Office of Secretary of State in a seamless way to expand trade, economic development, emerging technology initiatives in the private sector and higher education, and workforce development," Perry said in a 2007 press release.
As the deputy chief of staff, Wilson oversaw the governor’s initiatives in economic development, job creation, federal funding, military base realignment and closure, and policy development. Under Wilson's leadership, the Enterprise Fund leveraged $10 billion in capital investment, along with the creation of 45,000 jobs. Wilson also led public relations and media strategies for the $20 million annual Texas tourism
campaign.
Wilson was Perry's Director of Communications from 2002–2003. Prior to 2002, he was an aide for nearly a decade to Republican U.S. Senator William Philip "Phil" Gramm
. He was the East Texas Gramm director based in Tyler
and then the state director anchored in Dallas
. He also did a stint as communications director for former Republican Railroad Commissioner Charles Matthews.
Wilson grew up in Brownwood
, the seat of Brown County
in central Texas, where his father, Samuel Wilson, was a professor at the Douglas MacArthur
Academy of Freedom at Baptist
-affiliated Howard Payne University
. Wilson graduated in 1990 from Baptist-affiliated Hardin-Simmons University
in Abilene
, with a bachelor of arts
degree in political science
and history
. He thereafter received an MBA degree from the Cox School of Business
at Southern Methodist University
in Dallas
. At Hardin-Simmons, Wilson received the "Tomorrow's Leaders Today" Award and the George Skiles Anderson Award as the outstanding male graduate. He was also named to Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities and was a founding member of Theta Alpha Zeta.
Democratic
State Senator Kirk Watson
of Austin, an unsuccessful candidate for attorney general
in 2002, called Wilson "extremely competent. He works hard; he knows his business; he's a real straight shooter."
Wilson lives in Austin with his wife, the former Kristen Kincaid. They attend the Hill Country Bible
Church, pastored by Tim Hawks. Wilson has apparently recovered from two bouts of cancer
. He said that fighting the disease taught him never to give up on the implementation of his goals.
In addition to Williams and Wilson, previous secretaries of state under Governor Perry were Henry Cuellar
, Gwyn Shea
, and Geoff Connor
.
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...
Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
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...
. Wilson was the 106th person to hold the position and the fifth individual to have served since Perry assumed the governorship in December 2000. On June 11, 2008, Wilson announced his resignation, effective July 6, to "pursue other opportunities."Wilson became senior vice president for public affairs for Luminant, an electric energy company.
Wilson was succeeded as secretary of state by San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
businesswoman Esperanza "Hope" Andrade, a previous Perry appointee to the Texas Transportation Commission.
Wilson had succeeded John Roger Williams
Roger Williams (US politician)
John Roger Williams is the former Secretary of State of Texas, having served from November 2004 until his resignation effective July 1, 2007.-Early life and career:...
of Weatherford
Weatherford, Texas
Weatherford is a city in Parker County, Texas, United States, and a western suburb of Fort Worth. The population was 19,000 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Parker County and is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.-Geography:...
, who also stated in his resignation announcement that he intended to "pursue other opportunities". Wilson was previously Perry's deputy chief of staff. Perry personally swore Wilson into office as secretary of state.
In addition to handling election matters, the Secretary of State is the governor's liaison with Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and the state's officer of protocol
Protocol (diplomacy)
In international politics, protocol is the etiquette of diplomacy and affairs of state.A protocol is a rule which guides how an activity should be performed, especially in the field of diplomacy. In diplomatic services and governmental fields of endeavor protocols are often unwritten guidelines...
. The office serves as the formal repository for official and business records, publishes government rules and regulations, and attests to the governor’s signature on official documents.
As secretary of state, Wilson continued to serve as Perry's designee on the Texas Enterprise Fund ($185 million) and the Emerging Technology Fund ($200 million). He also led the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and Tourism. "Phil’s new role will allow my office to coordinate with the Office of Secretary of State in a seamless way to expand trade, economic development, emerging technology initiatives in the private sector and higher education, and workforce development," Perry said in a 2007 press release.
As the deputy chief of staff, Wilson oversaw the governor’s initiatives in economic development, job creation, federal funding, military base realignment and closure, and policy development. Under Wilson's leadership, the Enterprise Fund leveraged $10 billion in capital investment, along with the creation of 45,000 jobs. Wilson also led public relations and media strategies for the $20 million annual Texas tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
campaign.
Wilson was Perry's Director of Communications from 2002–2003. Prior to 2002, he was an aide for nearly a decade to Republican U.S. Senator William Philip "Phil" Gramm
Phil Gramm
William Philip "Phil" Gramm is an American economist and politician, who has served as a Democratic Congressman , a Republican Congressman and a Republican Senator from Texas...
. He was the East Texas Gramm director based in Tyler
Tyler, Texas
Tyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler . The city had a population of 109,000 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau...
and then the state director anchored in Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. He also did a stint as communications director for former Republican Railroad Commissioner Charles Matthews.
Wilson grew up in Brownwood
Brownwood, Texas
Brownwood is a city in and the county seat of Brown County, Texas, United States. The population was 18,813 at the 2000 census.-History:The original site of the Brown County seat of Brownwood was on the east of Pecan Bayou. A dispute arose over land and water rights, and the settlers were forced...
, the seat of Brown County
Brown County, Texas
Brown County is a county in West Central Texas. As of 2000, the population was 37,674. Its county seat is Brownwood. Brown is named for Henry Stevenson Brown, a commander at the Battle of Velasco...
in central Texas, where his father, Samuel Wilson, was a professor at the Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
Academy of Freedom at Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
-affiliated Howard Payne University
Howard Payne University
Howard Payne University is a four-year private university located in Brownwood, Texas.Currently the university enrolls 1,400 full-time students. Howard Payne is known for the Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom, its Music program and its Christian Studies program...
. Wilson graduated in 1990 from Baptist-affiliated Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin–Simmons University is a private Baptist university located in Abilene, Texas, United States.-History:Hardin–Simmons University was founded as Abilene Baptist College in 1891 by the Sweetwater Baptist Association and a group of cattlemen and pastors who sought to bring Christian higher...
in Abilene
Abilene, Texas
Abilene is a city in Taylor and Jones counties in west central Texas. The population was 117,063 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 158,063. It is the county seat of Taylor County...
, with a bachelor of arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. He thereafter received an MBA degree from the Cox School of Business
Cox School of Business
The Cox School of Business is a business school at Southern Methodist University offering a full range of business education programs.Degrees include , full-time Master of Business Administration , , , Master of Science in Management , Master of Science in Accounting , and a Master of Science in...
at Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
in Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. At Hardin-Simmons, Wilson received the "Tomorrow's Leaders Today" Award and the George Skiles Anderson Award as the outstanding male graduate. He was also named to Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities and was a founding member of Theta Alpha Zeta.
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...
State Senator Kirk Watson
Kirk Watson
Kirk Watson is a Texas attorney and Democratic politician from Austin. He served as Austin mayor from 1997 to 2001. He ran unsuccessfully for Texas Attorney General in the 2002 election, defeated by the Republican Greg Abbott...
of Austin, an unsuccessful candidate for attorney general
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
in 2002, called Wilson "extremely competent. He works hard; he knows his business; he's a real straight shooter."
Wilson lives in Austin with his wife, the former Kristen Kincaid. They attend the Hill Country Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
Church, pastored by Tim Hawks. Wilson has apparently recovered from two bouts of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. He said that fighting the disease taught him never to give up on the implementation of his goals.
In addition to Williams and Wilson, previous secretaries of state under Governor Perry were Henry Cuellar
Henry Cuellar
Henry Roberto Cuellar is the U.S Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district extends from the Rio Grande to the suburbs of San Antonio, including Guadalupe County and nearby Wilson County.Outside of politics, he has served as a professor at the...
, Gwyn Shea
Gwyn Shea
Gwyn Clarkston Shea is a former Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from suburban Irving in Dallas County, Texas, who served from 1983-1993...
, and Geoff Connor
Geoff Connor
Geoffrey Scott Connor is an American politician, attorney, and entrepreneur from the state of Texas. Connor has been an aide or appointee of several Republican Governors of Texas, including William P. Clements, Jr., George W. Bush, and Rick Perry. Most notably, Connor served as the 104th...
.