Governor Profile
James Richard Perry, or Rick Perry
Republican Party
Governmental positions (“Rick Perry Fast Facts”)
- 1985-1991 – Member of the Texas House of Representatives as a Democrat from the 64th District.
- 1991-1999 – Commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture
- 1999-2000 – Lieutenant Governor of Texas.
Personal information (“Rick Perry Fast Facts.”) March 4, 1950.
Paint Creek, Texas
Texas A&M University, Bachelor’s degree
Gubernatorial Elections or assuming of office (“Rick Perry”)
In 2000 Perry had become a governor of Texas after George W. Bush resigns to take the post of the president of the United States.
In the 2002 general election, Perry earned 2,632,591 votes (57.80%) to Sanchez’s 1,819,798 (39.96 %).
In the 2006 November general election, Perry got 1,716,792 votes (39%) and defeated former Congressman Chris Bell who took 1,310,337 votes (29,8%).
Perry won re-election in 2010 (2,737,481 votes – 55%) by defeating ex-Houston Mayor Bill White (2,106,395 votes – 42.3%)
14 years
Article IV, section 2-3.
Vetoes
The bill was submitted to create a mechanism to mitigate the sentence of prisoners in certain circumstances. This bill suggested that if a prisoner had served two-thirds of his or her term and paid all the necessary fines, the sentence could be reflected in a class A misdemeanor instead of a felony. However, Perry vetoed this bill, as the current legislation already has a similar procedure, and the adoption of the new law will only complicate and reduce the effectiveness of the juridical system (House Research Organization).
Article IV, section 14.
The Speech of Governor Richard Perry
This speech was made by Governor Richard Perry in 2009 in support of the Omnibus Gang Bill 2009. Perry’s main point is to protect Texas residents from criminal gangs that cross the Mexican border and threaten the security of the state (“Gov. Perry Expresses Support”). The Governor argues that the problem of transnational gangs has intensified, so the Texas government and law enforcement agencies have to fight them more intensively and efficiently. For this reason, he supports Senator Caron’s bill because it can provide tools to deal with the threat. Next, Perry talks about the benefits of the law and its importance to the people of Texas. He considers useful the points of the bill that support the criminalization of online recruiting into gangs, as well as the possibility of parents pursuing civil suits against them.
The Governor also notes that while supporting the bill, he also asked lawmakers to provide additional funding for $135 million to use for paying law enforcement. These funds will cover the salaries of more officers and the equipment they need. In addition, Perry emphasizes the need to encourage collaboration between local, state, and federal agencies (“Gov. Perry Expresses Support”). The speech ends with a call and encouragement of the governor to other Texas by telling that all the measures and efforts of the government are the message for ultra-violent gangs to show that they will be stopped soon. He asks governments to raise all means and provide funds to fight criminals and to ensure the safety of the people of Texas.
Text of the Speech
” Good morning and thank you all for being here today. I want to thank the leaders of Texas law enforcement that are with us today as we band together to take a stand in defense of our citizens.
Gentlemen, as we discussed last fall when I visited your departments, Texas has a growing problem with transnational gangs, that is spreading to our communities, posing a threat to our citizens that must be met head-on.
I am here today to announce my support for the omnibus bill filed by Senator Carona, which provides some important tools for law enforcement personnel on the front lines of this conflict.
This legislation is an outgrowth of our efforts to secure the border, which have succeeded, first and foremost, because of our state’s willingness to put more boots on the ground, and equip them to succeed.
Because we have made such strides in securing the border, and the Mexican government is turning up the heat on the cartels, they are relying on these gangs to do their dirty work with increasing frequency.
Operating in foreign countries and in our prisons, these gangs have been radiating outward into our towns, schools, and neighborhoods, applying terror tactics to build their influence.
I agree it is time to act and believe we should devote the necessary resources, to properly address this gang threat head-on, in communities across the state.
No one has a better grasp of the situation on the ground than our law enforcement personnel: peace officers who patrol the neighborhoods, know the people and tackle the challenges of law enforcement every day.
In my budget proposal, I have asked lawmakers to allocate $135 million to continue our efforts to secure the border and tackle the transnational gang problem.
These funds would pay for more officers, provide better integration of multi-force investigations and increase prosecutions of gang leaders.
These funds will also go-to essential items like the collection, analysis, and sharing of intelligence among local, state, and federal agencies, improved equipment, and education programs designed to reduce gang recruitment.
I am encouraged by several key provisions of the legislation that Senator Carona is introducing. In particular, I support criminalizing online recruitment for gangs, so our children aren’t drawn into a life of crime while surfing the Internet. I also agree with allowing parents, communities, and government entities to pursue civil suits against gangs and their members.
Today, we are sending a message to those ultra-violent gangs like the Mexican Mafia, the Texas Syndicate, Barrio Azteca, and MS-13, to let them know that they are not welcome here in Texas, and we will do what it takes to drive them out of our state.
This fight will take time, resources, and perseverance, but we are committed to keeping Texans safe, no matter what it takes.”
Geil Collins’ article “Rick Perry, Uber Texan.”
Geil Collins, in her article, describes almost the entire life and career of Rick Perry to demonstrate his qualities as a governor and a possible presidential candidate. This article was written in 2011, that is, at the beginning of Perry’s latest term as Governor of Texas. The author begins the discussion by recalling the previous presidents of America, who were originally from Texas but had almost nothing in common with this, to emphasize that Perry himself is a real Texan. Collins also mentions Perry’s early years by noting that the future Governor spent all his childhood, youth, and college years on his staff, which later played a significant role in his political career. This feature shaped his politics and views, and also attracted his electorate.
Next, the author describes the various stages of Perry’s career, from the first posts of government to several terms as Governor. Collins mentions several brilliant Perry’s victories, among them 39 percent of the vote in the election of the Governor in which several candidates participated. The article also mentions Perry’s key accomplishments over his timelines, such as successfully opposing the removal of farmers from the fields before pesticide irrigation or the creation of a large number of jobs in the state.
In addition, the author notes that the last race and debate was especially difficult as he had to confront Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. According to Collins, Perry’s victory was brought because he spoke against the national government, instead of talking about his own merits. The interest of the electorate in the federal government, precisely people’s dislike for it, was beneficial for Perry, who, in this way, tried to represent the interests of his state. As an example, Collins cites a federal government-approved health insurance scheme, which left most Texans without insurance. However, in the last lines, the author criticizes Perry’s approach by hinting that the candidate cannot exercise freedom of work if he despises her.
Works Cited
“Gov. Perry Expresses Support for Omnibus Gang Bill.” 2009. Web.
“Rick Perry Fast Facts.“CNN. 2020. Web.
“Rick Perry.” Ballotpedia. Web.
Collins, Geil. “Rick Perry, Uber Texan.” The New York Times. 2011. Web.
House Research Organization. Modification of State-Jail Felony Record to Class A Misdemeanor HB 1790 by Longoria (Hinojosa). Legislative Reference Library of Texas, 2013. Web.