Phil King (Texas politician)
Encyclopedia
Phillip Stephen "Phil" King (born February 29, 1956) is a Weatherford, Texas
, attorney
who has been a conservative Republican
member of the Texas House of Representatives
since 1999. He represents District 61, which encompasses Parker
and Wise
counties to the west of Fort Worth
.
(ALEC), a national bipartisan interest group of more than 2,400 state legislators committed to Jefferson
ian principles of limited government
, free enterprise
, federalism
, and individual liberty
.
, Ric Williamson
, did not seek re-election. In the general election
, King defeated the Democratic candidate, Brenda Brown Rotramble, 21,200 (64.6 percent) to 11,626 (35.4 percent). (At the time, the district included a portion of neighboring Cooke County
.)
King ran unopposed in 2000.
In 2002, King defeated the Democratic candidate Mack Dobbs, 25,525 (69 percent) to 11,475 (31 percent).
In 2004, King once again ran unopposed.
In 2006, King defeated the Libertarian
candidate Richard Forsythe, Jr., 27,470 (80.4 percent to 6,696 (19.6 percent), in the general election the Democratic Party did not field a candidate.
In 2008, King faced two opponents in the general election, Democratic candidate Charles William Randolph and (once again facing) Libertarian candidate Forsythe, defeating them 48,879 (72.52 percent) to Randolph's 16,308 (24.19 percent) and Forsythe's 2,205 (3.27 percent).
magazine
designated him "Rookie Legislator of the Year". He received the designation "Crime Fighter of the Year" from the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas.
In his second term, King was named a "Fighter for Free Enterprise" by the Texas Association of Business for his work on pro-business issues. He was cited by the Texas State Rifle
Association for legislation implementing a firearms safety program in public schools.
King was recognized as "Legislator of the Year" by the Texas Association of Builders for his work on HB 730, which was designed to reduce litigation costs for home builders and buyers, and has been utilized as model legislation in other states.
Staunchly anti-abortion
, King has supported legislation that would institute parental notification and parental consent. In 2006 he received the "Defender of Life" award from The Justice Foundation. He has been awarded the "Freedom and Family Award" by Texas Eagle Forum
, an interest group founded by Phyllis Schlafly
of Missouri
. He has also been recognized by the Free Market Foundation for his support of legislation they consider to be pro-family.
market to greater competition and increasing opportunities for technological investment in Texas. It was for leadership on SB 5, in particular, that ALEC named King a "Legislator of the Year". In a perk to telecommunications companies, a provision of the bill banned Texas cities from participating in projects that offer free wi-fi in airports and public spaces .
In the 2005 special session on school finance, King proposed a one-cent increase in the state sales tax (6.25 cents) in order to lower the property tax cap for school district funding. The "tax switch" failed and was opposed by many conservatives with whom King had been allied. Had the legislation cleared both houses of the legislature, it would have still required voter approval.
King has been involved in many other legislative matters, including tests for steroid
use by high school athletes, ways to prevent abortion clinics from circumventing the parental notification law, and the proposal that voters at the time of registration be able to furnish proof of U.S. citizenship. His opponents referred to the latter measure as King's "Voter Suppression Law" on the theory that it would discourage registration by the poor and downtrodden.
King was mentioned as a potential candidate for Speaker
of the House at the start of the 2007 legislative session, but he quickly deferred to Tom Craddick
of Midland
, who was elected to his third term as the presiding officer. Opposition broke out against Craddick during the 2007 session from a group of Democrats and disaffected Republicans.
obtained just fifteen of the U.S. House seats. The changes led to a temporary 21-11 Republican majority within the Texas delegation to the U.S. House. After the 2006 elections, however, that margin was reduced to 19-13 Republican. After 2008, it became 20-12 Republican.
in the Fort Worth Police
Department, an instructor at his alma mater, Dallas Baptist University
, and a Parker County justice of the peace
. He currently serves as an officer in the Texas State Guard.
King obtained his bachelor of arts
and MBA degrees from Dallas Baptist University in Dallas
. He procured the Juris Doctor
degree from Texas Wesleyan University
in Fort Worth. King and his wife, Terry, are active members of Trinity Bible
Church in Weatherford. The couple has six children and four grandchildren. Terry King is a direct descendant of Plymouth Colony
Governor William Bradford.
Weatherford, Texas
Weatherford is a city in Parker County, Texas, United States, and a western suburb of Fort Worth. The population was 19,000 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Parker County and is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.-Geography:...
, attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
who has been a conservative Republican
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...
member of the Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
since 1999. He represents District 61, which encompasses Parker
Parker County, Texas
As of the census of 2003, there were 98,495 people, 31,131 households, and 24,313 families residing in the county. The population density was 98 people per square mile . There were 34,084 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
and Wise
Wise County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 48,793 people, 17,178 households, and 13,467 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile . There were 19,242 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...
counties to the west of Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
.
Conservative legislator
King was named "Outstanding Legislator of the Year" by the Texas Alliance for Life. He has been cited by the American Legislative Exchange CouncilAmerican Legislative Exchange Council
The American Legislative Exchange Council is a politically conservative 501 non-profit Policy Organization, consisting of both state legislators and members of the private sector. ALEC's mission statement describes the organization's purpose as the advancement of free-market principles, limited...
(ALEC), a national bipartisan interest group of more than 2,400 state legislators committed to Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
ian principles of limited government
Limited government
Limited government is a government which anything more than minimal governmental intervention in personal liberties and the economy is generally disallowed by law, usually in a written constitution. It is written in the United States Constitution in Article 1, Section 8...
, free enterprise
Free enterprise
-Transport:* Free Enterprise I, a ferry in service with European Ferries between 1962 and 1980.* Free Enterprise II, a ferry in service with European Ferries between 1965 and 1982....
, federalism
Federalism
Federalism is a political concept in which a group of members are bound together by covenant with a governing representative head. The term "federalism" is also used to describe a system of the government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and...
, and individual liberty
Liberty
Liberty is a moral and political principle, or Right, that identifies the condition in which human beings are able to govern themselves, to behave according to their own free will, and take responsibility for their actions...
.
Election History
King was nominated without opposition in the 1998 Republican primary when the incumbentIncumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
, Ric Williamson
Ric Williamson
Richard F. Williamson was the chairman of the Texas Transportation Commission and a former Democrat-turned-Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives...
, did not seek re-election. In the general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
, King defeated the Democratic candidate, Brenda Brown Rotramble, 21,200 (64.6 percent) to 11,626 (35.4 percent). (At the time, the district included a portion of neighboring Cooke County
Cooke County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 36,363 people, 13,643 households, and 10,000 families residing in the county. The population density was 42 people per square mile . There were 15,061 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
.)
King ran unopposed in 2000.
In 2002, King defeated the Democratic candidate Mack Dobbs, 25,525 (69 percent) to 11,475 (31 percent).
In 2004, King once again ran unopposed.
In 2006, King defeated the Libertarian
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
candidate Richard Forsythe, Jr., 27,470 (80.4 percent to 6,696 (19.6 percent), in the general election the Democratic Party did not field a candidate.
In 2008, King faced two opponents in the general election, Democratic candidate Charles William Randolph and (once again facing) Libertarian candidate Forsythe, defeating them 48,879 (72.52 percent) to Randolph's 16,308 (24.19 percent) and Forsythe's 2,205 (3.27 percent).
Legislator of the Year
In 1999, King's colleagues named him "Freshman Legislator of the Year", and Texas MonthlyTexas Monthly
Texas Monthly is a monthly American magazine headquartered in Austin, Texas. Texas Monthly is published by Emmis Publishing, L.P. and was founded in 1973 by Michael R. Levy, Texas Monthly chronicles life in contemporary Texas, writing on politics, the environment, industry, and education...
magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
designated him "Rookie Legislator of the Year". He received the designation "Crime Fighter of the Year" from the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas.
In his second term, King was named a "Fighter for Free Enterprise" by the Texas Association of Business for his work on pro-business issues. He was cited by the Texas State Rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
Association for legislation implementing a firearms safety program in public schools.
King was recognized as "Legislator of the Year" by the Texas Association of Builders for his work on HB 730, which was designed to reduce litigation costs for home builders and buyers, and has been utilized as model legislation in other states.
Staunchly anti-abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
, King has supported legislation that would institute parental notification and parental consent. In 2006 he received the "Defender of Life" award from The Justice Foundation. He has been awarded the "Freedom and Family Award" by Texas Eagle Forum
Eagle Forum
Eagle Forum is a conservative interest group in the United States founded by Phyllis Schlafly in 1972 and is the parent organization that also includes the Eagle Forum Education and Legal Defense Fund and the Eagle Forum PAC. The Eagle Forum has been primarily focused on social issues; it describes...
, an interest group founded by Phyllis Schlafly
Phyllis Schlafly
Phyllis McAlpin Stewart Schlafly is a Constitutional lawyer and an American politically conservative activist and author who founded the Eagle Forum. She is known for her opposition to modern feminism ideas and for her campaign against the proposed Equal Rights Amendment...
of Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. He has also been recognized by the Free Market Foundation for his support of legislation they consider to be pro-family.
Other legislative initiatives
In 2005, King was the House sponsor of Senate Bill 5, which modernized Texas telecommunications laws. SB 5 has been hailed nationally for its groundbreaking provisions in opening the cable televisionCable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
market to greater competition and increasing opportunities for technological investment in Texas. It was for leadership on SB 5, in particular, that ALEC named King a "Legislator of the Year". In a perk to telecommunications companies, a provision of the bill banned Texas cities from participating in projects that offer free wi-fi in airports and public spaces .
In the 2005 special session on school finance, King proposed a one-cent increase in the state sales tax (6.25 cents) in order to lower the property tax cap for school district funding. The "tax switch" failed and was opposed by many conservatives with whom King had been allied. Had the legislation cleared both houses of the legislature, it would have still required voter approval.
King has been involved in many other legislative matters, including tests for steroid
Steroid
A steroid is a type of organic compound that contains a characteristic arrangement of four cycloalkane rings that are joined to each other. Examples of steroids include the dietary fat cholesterol, the sex hormones estradiol and testosterone, and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone.The core...
use by high school athletes, ways to prevent abortion clinics from circumventing the parental notification law, and the proposal that voters at the time of registration be able to furnish proof of U.S. citizenship. His opponents referred to the latter measure as King's "Voter Suppression Law" on the theory that it would discourage registration by the poor and downtrodden.
King was mentioned as a potential candidate for Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the House at the start of the 2007 legislative session, but he quickly deferred to Tom Craddick
Tom Craddick
Thomas Russell Craddick, known as Tom Craddick , was the first Republican to have served as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives since Reconstruction. Craddick wielded the Speaker's gavel from 2003-2009...
of Midland
Midland, Texas
Midland is a city in and the county seat of Midland County, Texas, United States, on the Southern Plains of the state's western area. A small portion of the city extends into Martin County. As of 2010, the population of Midland was 111,147. It is the principal city of the Midland, Texas...
, who was elected to his third term as the presiding officer. Opposition broke out against Craddick during the 2007 session from a group of Democrats and disaffected Republicans.
Congressional redistricting
In the regular and then the three special legislative sessions of 2003, King authored the congressional redistricting legislation favored by the Republican Party, which won more than 55 percent of the total votes cast in thirty-two separate congressional races in the 2002 midterm elections even though the Republican PartyRepublican 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...
obtained just fifteen of the U.S. House seats. The changes led to a temporary 21-11 Republican majority within the Texas delegation to the U.S. House. After the 2006 elections, however, that margin was reduced to 19-13 Republican. After 2008, it became 20-12 Republican.
Personal life
Prior to his legislative service, King was a captainPolice captain
- France :France uses the rank of capitaine for management duties in both uniformed and plain-clothed policing. The rank comes senior to lieutenant and junior to commandant....
in the Fort Worth Police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
Department, an instructor at his alma mater, Dallas Baptist University
Dallas Baptist University
Dallas Baptist University , formerly known as Dallas Baptist College, is a Christian liberal arts university located in Dallas, Texas. The main campus is located approximately fifteen miles southwest of downtown Dallas overlooking Mountain Creek Lake...
, and a Parker County justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
. He currently serves as an officer in the Texas State Guard.
King obtained his bachelor of arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and MBA degrees from Dallas Baptist University in Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. He procured the Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree from Texas Wesleyan University
Texas Wesleyan University
Texas Wesleyan University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university founded by the United Methodist Church in 1890. The main campus is located in the Polytechnic Heights Neighborhood of Fort Worth, Texas, with branch campuses in Burleson and downtown Fort Worth.-History:Texas Wesleyan...
in Fort Worth. King and his wife, Terry, are active members of Trinity Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
Church in Weatherford. The couple has six children and four grandchildren. Terry King is a direct descendant of Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement of the Plymouth Colony was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town...
Governor William Bradford.
External links
- Phil King
- http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe