Tan Parker
Encyclopedia
Tan Parker is a politician
and businessman who currently serves in the Texas House of Representatives
. He was elected as a Republican
to represent District 63
in 2006.
Parker was educated at the University of Dallas
, where he served as student body president and earned a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Political Philosophy
. He later earned a Master's Degree
from the London School of Economics
. Parker is married with two daughters.
intern
during the administration of George Herbert Walker Bush. In 2005, Parker was appointed by Governor
Rick Perry
to serve as Chairman of the Texas Industrial Development Corporation. Parker was also the driving force behind the University of Dallas' bid for the George W. Bush Presidential Library
.
Parker first ran for state office in 2006, facing four other opponents in the Republican primary (including Lewisville ISD board president Anne Lakusta, who received the Dallas Morning News endorsement). Parker surprisingly garnered the most votes in the primary election, but needed a runoff to defeat Lakusta. No other party fielded a candidate in the general election, so Parker's runoff election win earned him the seat.
In 2008, Parker would face two candidates, Democratic Party candidate Jesus Carrillo and Libertarian Party candidate John Turner, but defeated them 64,048 (72.97 percent) to Carrillo's 19,883 (22.65 percent) and Turner's 3,831 (4.36 percent).
In 2010, he faced no opposition in either the Republican primary or the general election.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and businessman who currently serves in 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...
. He was elected as a 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...
to represent District 63
Texas House of Representatives, District 63
District 63 is a district of the Texas House of Representatives that serves a portion of Denton County. The current representative for District 63 is Republican Tan Parker, who was elected in 2006.-District description:...
in 2006.
Parker was educated at the University of Dallas
University of Dallas
The University of Dallas is a private, independent Catholic regional university located in Irving, Texas, established in 1956, which is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. According to U.S...
, where he served as student body president and earned a 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...
degree in Political Philosophy
Political philosophy
Political philosophy is the study of such topics as liberty, justice, property, rights, law, and the enforcement of a legal code by authority: what they are, why they are needed, what, if anything, makes a government legitimate, what rights and freedoms it should protect and why, what form it...
. He later earned a Master's Degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. Parker is married with two daughters.
Political career
Parker volunteered for numerous Republican campaigns from the time he was a teenager. He chaired the College Republicans of Texas and was a White HouseWhite House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
intern
Intern
Internship is a system of onthejob training for white-collar jobs, similar to an apprenticeship. Interns are usually college or university students, but they can also be high school students or post graduate adults seeking skills for a new career. They may also be as young as middle school or in...
during the administration of George Herbert Walker Bush. In 2005, Parker was appointed by Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Rick Perry
Rick Perry
James Richard "Rick" Perry is the 47th and current Governor of Texas. A Republican, Perry was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1998 and assumed the governorship in December 2000 when then-governor George W. Bush resigned to become President of the United States. Perry was elected to full...
to serve as Chairman of the Texas Industrial Development Corporation. Parker was also the driving force behind the University of Dallas' bid for the George W. Bush Presidential Library
George W. Bush Presidential Library
The George W. Bush Presidential Center is a future complex that will include former President George W. Bush's presidential library and museum, the George W. Bush Policy Institute, and the offices of the George W. Bush Foundation. The facility will occupy roughly on the campus of Southern...
.
Parker first ran for state office in 2006, facing four other opponents in the Republican primary (including Lewisville ISD board president Anne Lakusta, who received the Dallas Morning News endorsement). Parker surprisingly garnered the most votes in the primary election, but needed a runoff to defeat Lakusta. No other party fielded a candidate in the general election, so Parker's runoff election win earned him the seat.
In 2008, Parker would face two candidates, Democratic Party candidate Jesus Carrillo and Libertarian Party candidate John Turner, but defeated them 64,048 (72.97 percent) to Carrillo's 19,883 (22.65 percent) and Turner's 3,831 (4.36 percent).
In 2010, he faced no opposition in either the Republican primary or the general election.