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Former Rep. Elvira Reyna Backs Latham in HD 101 Primary

Reyna lost tight primary battle to Latham in 2006 but now says incumbent is the choice to stand for conservative principles.

State Rep. Thomas Latham (R-Sunnyvale) has gained the endorsement of the woman he beat to enter the Texas House two years ago — Elvira Reyna.

Latham edged Reyna by 65 votes in one of the closest primary races of the cycle. He is being challenged in this year's GOP primary by former Mesquite Mayor Mike Anderson who has the endorsement of Sen. John Carona (R-Dallas).

In endorsing Latham, Reyna said that the incumbent "is the only candidate in this race I trust to stand tall for our conservative principles ... That's why I encourage all Republicans to reelect a tough, intelligent and energetic State Representative like Thomas Latham."

The Latham campaign added that Reyna is scheduled to appear with Latham in the district at a Families for Latham Fun Day on Feb. 10.

© Copyright January 30, 2008 by Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved.

ATPE names Latham region's top legislator
January 9, 2008

Rep. Thomas Latham (R-Sunnyvale) has been selected from among 27 possible state representatives and nine senators by the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) as the Region 10 Legislature of the Year.

Latham represents District 101, which encompasses Balch Springs, Mesquite and Sunnyvale.

The award is presented annually to one member of the state legislature who has demonstrated a record of supporting public school education.

“We do this with a purpose in mind to give recognition to legislators who support educational issues,” said Jerry Bonham, ATPE vice-president. “It is a non-partisan award and is all issue driven. We felt many legislators go unrecognized for the work they do with education.”

The award will officially be presented February 16, during the ATPE convention at the Mesquite Convention Center. ATPE is 111,000 members strong, and Tuesday representatives from both Region 10 and state ATPE representatives announced Latham had earned the award.

“This is a tremendous honor,” Latham said. “It is a special honor to me with the members of my family that are in education.” Latham has a law-enforcement background, but his wife, daughter and two sister-in-laws are in education. He also says it means a great deal based on his father, who did not advance out of elementary school education but who inspired Latham to continue his education and graduate.

“He always believed in education,” Latham said.

Latham, a 1967 graduate of Mesquite High School, will be opposed by former Mesquite Mayor Mike Anderson in the District 101 Republican primary in March.

He becomes the second freshman legislature to earn the honor. Legislatures are nominated for the award, and voting records are evaluated based on their support of educational issues before one legislator is named to win the award.

The ATPE points to several efforts by Latham which led to their decision to select him for the award. He co-authored Jessica’s Law, increasing penalties for child predators. He also co-authored a bill preventing fraudulent use of a child’s personal directory information, a bill to increase the penalty for graffiti, a bill preventing the governor from mandating every girl receive papillomavirus vaccination, a bill to make it unlawful to use or exhibit firearms in school parking lots or buses, and a bill to renew the Texas Tomorrow Fund.

He also authored a bill providing continuing education opportunities for truancy magistrates and another bill closing a loophole in public education law that had required municipalities to release certain personal information of minors involved in city programs, an issue raised by the city of Mesquite. He also fought to increase teacher pay and pass the largest tax cut in Texas history. Also, his family began Friends of Texas Public Schools to promote positive successes of public schools.

“Education for me is No. 1,” Latham said. “We have barely fixed teacher retirement. We have only approved one 13th check. We need to pass a cost of living increase and teacher pay again is lagging. These people work extremely hard. They need a reputable wage for what they do. They are dealing with the future of Texas.”