Bill Flores
Encyclopedia
William H. "Bill" Flores (born February 25, 1954) is the U.S. Representative
for . The district, located in the middle of the state, includes Waco, College Station and Bryan
. He is a member of the Republican Party
and the former CEO of Phoenix Exploration Company, an oil
and natural gas
exploration company.
at the F.E. Warren Air Force Base, where his father was serving in the military, and grew up in Stratford, Texas
in the Texas Panhandle
.
He graduated Cum Laude
with a B.B.A. in accounting from Texas A&M University
in 1976. While there, he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, the Ross Volunteer Company, and Corps Staff. He also served as Student Body Vice-President of Finance during his senior year. He has been a licensed Certified Public Accountant
since 1978. He also received an M.B.A from Houston Baptist University
in 1985.
During his time with Marine Drilling he personally oversaw Bankruptcy
filings which resulted in a 7.5 million loss to the federal government.
In 2006, a group of five oil and gas industry executives, led by Flores as President and CEO, formed Phoenix Exploration Company with $350 million of capital commitments from a group of private equity firms. The company is engaged in oil and gas exploration along the Gulf Coast and the Gulf of Mexico
shelf utilizing regional 3-D seismic data
. Flores also served as a Director of that company from its formation until he retired in December 2009 to run for public office.
Flores is a former Commissioner of the Texas Real Estate Commission
, and a past Director and former Chairman of the Board of the Association of Former Students of Texas A&M University
. He has also served on boards of Phoenix Exploration Company, Marine Drilling Companies, Inc., FreeBirds, Inc., and The PARC, Inc, and The Alley Theater
of Houston.
He currently serves on the Board of the Private Enterprise Research Center of Texas A&M University and as a member of the Board of Trustees of Houston Baptist University
.
. Flores stated that his worries about the future of "the American dream" inspired him to run for Congress. Flores committed half a million dollars of his own money for the campaign.
In the Republican primary runoff on April 13, he had defeated Rob Curnock by a 64-36 percent margin. The size of his primary victory was a surprise to many political observers because Curnock was the 2008 nominee and he held Edwards' 2008 vote total close to 50 percent, despite being heavily outspent. During the Republican primary, Flores received the endorsement of former Republican U.S. Senator Phil Gramm
After the primary win, Flores was also endorsed by George H.W. Bush, John McCain
, Mitt Romney
, and Mike Huckabee
.
Through October 13, 2010, had spent $2.644 million overall.
On November 2, 2010, Flores trounced Edwards with 62 percent of the vote. This was the largest margin of defeat for a Democratic incumbent in the 2010 cycle.
abortion positions; and stronger enforcement at the U.S. Mexico border. Flores supports the building of new nuclear power plants to assist the U.S. in becoming energy self-sufficient. He also supports incentives for the development of solar and wind power. He is a member of the Conservative Republican Study Committee
and the Congressional Hispanic Conference
.
Flores formerly served as a member of the Mays Business School Advisory Board
, the Corps of Cadets Development Council, Corps of Cadets Association
, the Houston A&M Club, the Brazos County A&M Club, and other roles at Texas A&M University. In 2003, he was honored as an Outstanding Alumnus of the Mays Business School of Texas A&M University. In 2010, he was also named a Distinguished Alumnus by Texas A&M University.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for . The district, located in the middle of the state, includes Waco, College Station and Bryan
Bryan, Texas
Bryan is a city in Brazos County, Texas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 76,201. It is the county seat of Brazos County and is located in the heart of the Brazos Valley . It shares its border with the city of College Station, which lies to its south...
. He is a member of the Republican Party
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...
and the former CEO of Phoenix Exploration Company, an oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
and natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
exploration company.
Early life and education
Flores was born in Cheyenne, WyomingCheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Wyoming and the county seat of Laramie County. It is the principal city of the Cheyenne, Wyoming, Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Laramie County. The population is 59,466 at the 2010 census. Cheyenne is the...
at the F.E. Warren Air Force Base, where his father was serving in the military, and grew up in Stratford, Texas
Stratford, Texas
Stratford is a city in Sherman County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,991 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Sherman County...
in the Texas Panhandle
Texas Panhandle
The Texas Panhandle is a region of the U.S. state of Texas consisting of the northernmost 26 counties in the state. The panhandle is a rectangular area bordered by New Mexico to the west and Oklahoma to the north and east...
.
He graduated Cum Laude
Latin honors
Latin honors are Latin phrases used to indicate the level of academic distinction with which an academic degree was earned. This system is primarily used in the United States, Canada, and in many countries of continental Europe, though some institutions also use the English translation of these...
with a B.B.A. in accounting from Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
in 1976. While there, he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, the Ross Volunteer Company, and Corps Staff. He also served as Student Body Vice-President of Finance during his senior year. He has been a licensed Certified Public Accountant
Certified Public Accountant
Certified Public Accountant is the statutory title of qualified accountants in the United States who have passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and have met additional state education and experience requirements for certification as a CPA...
since 1978. He also received an M.B.A from Houston Baptist University
Houston Baptist University
Houston Baptist University is a private Baptist institution founded in 1960. It is located in Greater Sharpstown in Houston, Texas near the Southwest Freeway.- History :...
in 1985.
Business career
Flores served as CFO for two publicly traded energy service firms from 1990 through 1998. These companies included Marine Drilling Companies, Inc. (1990–1997) and Western Atlas Inc. (1997–1998). From 2002 to 2005, Flores was the Senior Vice President and CFO of Gryphon Exploration Company.During his time with Marine Drilling he personally oversaw Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
filings which resulted in a 7.5 million loss to the federal government.
In 2006, a group of five oil and gas industry executives, led by Flores as President and CEO, formed Phoenix Exploration Company with $350 million of capital commitments from a group of private equity firms. The company is engaged in oil and gas exploration along the Gulf Coast and the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
shelf utilizing regional 3-D seismic data
Reflection seismology
Reflection seismology is a method of exploration geophysics that uses the principles of seismology to estimate the properties of the Earth's subsurface from reflected seismic waves. The method requires a controlled seismic source of energy, such as dynamite/Tovex, a specialized air gun or a...
. Flores also served as a Director of that company from its formation until he retired in December 2009 to run for public office.
Flores is a former Commissioner of the Texas Real Estate Commission
Texas Real Estate Commission
The Texas Real Estate Commission is the state agency that governs real estate practices in the state of Texas. The agency is headquartered at 1101 Camino La Costa in Austin....
, and a past Director and former Chairman of the Board of the Association of Former Students of Texas A&M University
The Association of Former Students
The Association of Former Students is the official alumni association of Texas A&M University. The Association attracts over 400,000 members and has 242 clubs worldwide...
. He has also served on boards of Phoenix Exploration Company, Marine Drilling Companies, Inc., FreeBirds, Inc., and The PARC, Inc, and The Alley Theater
Alley Theater
A traverse stage is a form of theatrical stage in which the audience is predominantly on two sides of the stage, facing towards each other.They can see using "Proscenium arc", named after the mirrors used in Proscenium staging...
of Houston.
He currently serves on the Board of the Private Enterprise Research Center of Texas A&M University and as a member of the Board of Trustees of Houston Baptist University
Houston Baptist University
Houston Baptist University is a private Baptist institution founded in 1960. It is located in Greater Sharpstown in Houston, Texas near the Southwest Freeway.- History :...
.
2010 election
In late 2009 Flores entered the Republican primary for the 17th District, held by 10-term Democratic incumbent Chet EdwardsChet Edwards
Thomas Chester "Chet" Edwards is a former member of the United States House of Representatives from Texas. He represented a district based in Waco, Texas from 1991 to 2011, and served in the Texas Senate from 1983 until 1990. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
. Flores stated that his worries about the future of "the American dream" inspired him to run for Congress. Flores committed half a million dollars of his own money for the campaign.
In the Republican primary runoff on April 13, he had defeated Rob Curnock by a 64-36 percent margin. The size of his primary victory was a surprise to many political observers because Curnock was the 2008 nominee and he held Edwards' 2008 vote total close to 50 percent, despite being heavily outspent. During the Republican primary, Flores received the endorsement of former Republican U.S. Senator 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...
After the primary win, Flores was also endorsed by George H.W. Bush, John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
, Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
, and Mike Huckabee
Mike Huckabee
Michael "Mike" Dale Huckabee is an American politician who served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He was a candidate in the 2008 United States Republican presidential primaries, finishing second in delegate count and third in both popular vote and number of states won . He won...
.
Through October 13, 2010, had spent $2.644 million overall.
On November 2, 2010, Flores trounced Edwards with 62 percent of the vote. This was the largest margin of defeat for a Democratic incumbent in the 2010 cycle.
Tenure
Upon his swearing-in, Flores became the first Republican to represent Waco in Congress since Reconstruction. A staunch conservative, Flores supports limited government and lower taxes; an end to the spending of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act; making the Bush-era tax cuts permanent; pro-lifePro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
abortion positions; and stronger enforcement at the U.S. Mexico border. Flores supports the building of new nuclear power plants to assist the U.S. in becoming energy self-sufficient. He also supports incentives for the development of solar and wind power. He is a member of the Conservative Republican Study Committee
Republican Study Committee
The Republican Study Committee [RSC] is a caucus of over 170 conservative members of the Republican Party in the United States House of Representatives...
and the Congressional Hispanic Conference
Congressional Hispanic Conference
The Congressional Hispanic Conference is a Republican Party-controlled caucus in the United States Congress. The CHC was formed in 2003, with the stated goal of promoting policy outcomes of importance to Americans of Hispanic or Latino and Portuguese descent. These priorities included support of...
.
Committee assignments
- Committee on the BudgetUnited States House Committee on the BudgetThe U.S. House Committee on the Budget, commonly known as the House Budget Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress...
- Committee on Natural Resources
- Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral ResourcesUnited States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral ResourcesThe United States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources is one of the five subcommittees within the House Natural Resources Committee-Members, 112th Congress:-External links:*...
- Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs
- Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
- Committee on Veterans' AffairsUnited States House Committee on Veterans' AffairsThe standing Committee on Veterans' Affairs in the United States House of Representatives oversees agencies, reviews current legislation, and recommends new bills or amendments concerning veterans. Jurisdiction includes retiring and disability pensions, life insurance, education , vocational...
- Subcommittee on Oversight and InvestigationsUnited States House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and InvestigationsThe United States Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations is one of the four subcommittees within the House Veterans' Affairs Committee.-Jurisdiction:...
- Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Personal life
Flores is married to Gina, whom he met in high school. They have two sons.Flores formerly served as a member of the Mays Business School Advisory Board
Mays Business School
Mays Business School is the business school at Texas A&M University. The school educates over 4,500 students in undergraduate and postgraduate programs and consistently ranks among the top public business schools in the nation....
, the Corps of Cadets Development Council, Corps of Cadets Association
Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets
The Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets is a student military organization at Texas A&M University...
, the Houston A&M Club, the Brazos County A&M Club, and other roles at Texas A&M University. In 2003, he was honored as an Outstanding Alumnus of the Mays Business School of Texas A&M University. In 2010, he was also named a Distinguished Alumnus by Texas A&M University.
Electoral history
External links
- Congressman Bill Flores official U.S. House site
- Bill Flores for Congress official campaign site
- Campaign contributions by Bill Flores at FundRace