State Legislators With Unt Ties

[rcade]

One of the ways to improve UNT's lot in athletics is to get the state legislature to treat the school better. At all of the times we've talked about the state, I can't recall any discussion of encouraging UNT-affiliated legislators to step up. Here's the current Texas state legislators who graduated from the University of North Texas, according to my Google search:

Rep. Joe Driver: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist113/bio/driver.htm

Rep. Tony Goolsby: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist102/bio/goolsby.htm

Rep. Jim Jackson: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist115/bio/jackson.htm

Rep. Diane Patrick: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist94/bio/patrick.htm

Sen. Jane Nelson: http://www.nelson.senate.state.tx.us/

Here's two more who might take our calls:

Rep. Myra Crownover doesn't list a UNT affiliation, but her district includes UNT: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist6...o/crownover.htm

Sen. Royce West isn't a UNT grad, but he touts his creation of UNT-Dallas: http://www.west.senate.state.tx.us/

[JesseMartin]

They all have our backs already. SGA used to hold forums for them to visit with students...those who were available would give a quick rundown of what they were working on and then field questions.

Please, only call or email them with something specific. If the student vote passes, they will support it at the state level (Myra will probably write the House bill). They also push for funding every 2 years and were key in some of recent expansions. Tony Goolsby paid for a large portion of the chapel, hence "Goolsby Chapel".

Don't worry, they're already pushing for us. The key is to grow more leaders out of our student body so that we can compete with ATM and UT in Austin.

[rcade]

I don't think UNT fans should wait until we need something to be in contact with them. I think alumni should be supporting them as well. The more UNT grads in the Lege, the better.

[JesseMartin]

I think the best way to give them a "shout out" is a letter stating you're from UNT and thanking them for their continued support. Asking them to support a school they already support would be a bit redundant.

There are a few recent grads that would have a shot at the Legislature, including Mike McClendon and Dustee Tucker, who were SGA Pres/VP together. Mike's performance wasn't at its otherwise high level that year, and I heard Dustee had some difficulty in DC, but either one at their usual level of productivity would easily pull considerable numbers in an election. Ron Skillens is some type of VP at Frito-Lay when last I heard, and was/is on the Exes board-also a former SGA President. I'm not sure if Jesse Davis is back in Texas, and our plan to have every 5th SGA President named Jesse didn't work out, but he's top-notch. Troy Griffis is still around, but is insanely busy, so it may be a few years before he has the time to run for anything. Those are just a few people who you could support for the Legislature if they ever run. They all bleed green and would be great assets for the University in a political capacity.