TML PRESENTS AWARDS TO FIVE LAWMAKERS
During the 2007 Texas Municipal League Annual Conference in Dallas, the League recognized five lawmakers who have consistently supported cities and defended municipal authority.
Representative Fred Hill (R-Richardson) was inducted into the TML Legislative
Hall of Honor for his outstanding work during his years in the Texas Legislature.
He is the fourth inductee, joining former representative Mark Stiles, former
senator and lieutenant governor Bill Ratliff, and former state representative
and now federal district judge Rob Junell.
First elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1988, Representative Hill has chaired both the Urban Affairs Committee and the Local Government Ways and Means Committee. He has carried numerous TML priority bills over the years and has been a persistent defender of local control. Representative Hill has received numerous awards from TML, including the TML Distinguished Legislative Service Award in 1993 and 1995 and the TML Legislator of the Year award in 1997 and 2003. He will not seek re-election in 2008 but will serve out the remainder of his term.
Senator Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler) and Representative Harvey Hilderbran (R-Kerrville) each received a Legislator-of-the-Year Award for their efforts during the 80th session of the Texas Legislature.
First elected to the Texas Senate in 2004, Senator Eltife serves as vice chair of the Senate Nominations Committee and is a member of the Senate committees on Business and Commerce, Finance, and Natural Resources. Prior to being elected to the Senate, Senator Eltife served on the Tyler City Council for three terms before serving as mayor of Tyler for three additional terms. During the 2007 Legislative Session, he was a strong supporter of cities and vigorously opposed legislation that would have placed unnecessary property tax revenue caps on cities.
Representative Harvey Hilderbran was first elected in 1988. He is the chairman of the Culture, Recreation and Tourism Committee and is a member of the Natural Resources Committee. During the 2007 Legislative Session, he was a tireless advocate for state and local parks and authored legislation that was instrumental in infusing $15.5 million into the state’s local park system.
The League also presented Distinguished Legislative Service Awards to Senator Kirk Watson (D-Austin) and Representative Joe Heflin (D-Crosbyton) for their service to Texas cities during the 80th session of the Texas Legislature.
Elected to the Texas Senate in 2006, Senator Kirk Watson is vice chair of the Transportation and Homeland Security Committee and is a member of the Senate committees on Business and Commerce, Jurisprudence, Nominations, and the Subcommittee on Emerging Technologies and Economic Development. He is the former mayor of Austin, a past member of the TML Board of Directors, and a past chairman of the Austin Chamber of Commerce. During the 2007 Legislative Session, he played a key role in defending municipal authority and was a critical opponent of legislation that would have placed unnecessary property tax revenue caps on cities. Senator Watson was selected by Texas Monthly as “Rookie of the Year” for his exceptional work during the session.
Serving in his first term in the Texas House of Representatives, Representative Joe Heflin is a member of the Agriculture and Livestock Committee and the County Affairs Committee. He is a former city alderman of Crosbyton and a former county judge of Crosby County. During the 2007 Legislative Session, Representative Heflin authored legislation that clarified the authority of a city’s governing body to fill a vacancy in the office of mayor. Throughout the session, he played a key role in defending and protecting municipal authority.
We hope that city leaders across Texas will express their appreciation to these outstanding leaders for their dedication to Texas cities.