Ed Thompson (Texas politician)

Edward Lynn Thompson (born November 24, 1950) is an American politician and insurance agent who has served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives since 2013. Thompson represents the 29th district, based in Brazoria County, which covers much of suburban Houston.[1]

Ed Thompson
Member of the
Texas House of Representatives
from the 29th district
Assumed office
January 2013
Preceded byRandy Weber
Member of the Pearland City Council, District 5
In office
2010–2012
Succeeded byGreg Hill
Personal details
Born (1950-11-24) November 24, 1950
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Frederica Anne Harrison
Children2
ResidencePearland, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Houston (BBA)

Early life and education

Thompson was born on November 24, 1950 and attended La Porte High School in La Porte, Texas.[2] He received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Houston.

Career

Thompson is a former trustee of the Pearland Independent School District. He referees high school football in the Houston area. Thompson and his family are members of Sagemont Church in Houston.[3]

Thompson is affiliated with the Chamber of Commerce and is a past president of the Pearland Economic Development Corporation. Thompson held the District 5 seat on the Pearland City Council from 2010 to 2012. During that time, his council colleagues named him mayor pro tempore, a position which he vacated in order to run for state representative.[4][5]

In 2012, Republican Representative Randy Weber left the state House after two terms to run successfully for the United States House of Representatives. To fill the state vacancy, Thompson defeated businesswoman Debra A. Rosenthal-Ritter for the Republican nomination. He polled 7,544 votes (67 percent) to her 3,707 (33 percent).[6] Thompson then won the general election over Democrat Doug Martin Blatt of Alvin, Texas, 40,642 votes (65.5 percent) to 21,388 (34.5 percent).[7]

Texas House

Thompson serves on the House Environmental Regulation and Special Purpose Districts committees.[2]

In the 2013 legislative session, Thompson supported a ban on abortion after twenty weeks of gestation; the bill passed the House, 96-49. He co-sponsored companion legislation to increase medical and licensing requirements of abortion providers.[8] Texas Right to Life rated him 78 percent favorable.[9]

Thompson voted against the taxpayer-funded breakfast program for public schools, which nevertheless passed the House, 73-58. He co-sponsored legislation to provide marshals for school security as a separate law-enforcement entity. He opposed the requirement of immunization of minors without parental consent, a measure which the House approved, 71-61. He voted for the bill to extend the franchise tax exemption to certain businesses. Thompson voted to prohibit texting while driving. He voted to require testing for narcotics of those receiving unemployment compensation. He voted against the "equal pay for women" measure, which passed the House, 78-61. Thompson co-sponsored the measure to forbid the state from engaging in the enforcement of federal regulations of firearms. He voted to allow college and university officials to carry concealed weapons in the name of campus security. He co-sponsored legislation to reduce the time required to obtain a concealed-carry permit. He voted for the redistricting bills for the state House, the Texas Senate, and the United States House of Representatives. Thompson voted to establish term limits for certain state officials.[8]

In 2013, Phyllis Schlafly's Eagle Forum, managed in Texas by Cathie Adams, a former state chairman of the Texas Republican Party, rated Thompson 98 percent favorable; the Young Conservatives of Texas, 73 percent. The Texas League of Conservation Voters rated him 71 percent. The interest group, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, founded by Michael Quinn Sullivan, rated him 80 percent. The Texas Association of Business rated him 87 percent. The National Rifle Association rated him 92 percent.[9]

Thompson ran unopposed for the Republican nomination for the District 29 state representative in 2014, 2016, and 2018.

Personal life

Thompson and his wife, the former Frederica Anne Harrison (born c. 1957), known as Freddie Thompson, have two children and four grandchildren.[4][10]

gollark: Well, probably, it's a chicken with a slightly rude code.
gollark: I did put up my egg on marri's trade, yes.
gollark: ***X E N O W Y R M S*** myself.
gollark: I'd like to be overburdened with people *giving* me IOUs, like Icon of Salt. That sounds like a good position.
gollark: Shame it's a valentine one, though, I like the halloweeny ones more.

References
  1. "Texas House Member: Rep. Thompson, Ed (District 29)". house.state.tx.us. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  2. "Ed Thompson's Biography". votesmart.org. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  3. "Kim Kyle Morgan, "Paid in full: Sagemont opens worship center", June 7, 2012". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  4. "State Rep. Ed Thompson Distrrict 29 (R-Pearland)". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  5. "Garrett Bryce, Pearland Special Runoff Election, January 16, 2012". guidrynews.com. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  6. "2012 Republican primary election returns (House District 29)". elections.sos.state.tx.us. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  7. "2012 General election returns (House District 29)". elections.sos.state.tx.us. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  8. "Ed Thompson's Voting Records". votesmart.org. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  9. "Ed Thompson's Ratings and Endorsements". votesmart.org. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  10. "Frederica Thompson". intelius.com. Missing or empty |url= (help)
Texas House of Representatives
Preceded by
Randy Weber		 Texas State Representative from District 29 (Brazoria County)
2013–		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
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