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Talking Tamales (Thu Nov 12 at 11:12 AM)

Alan says: I am in favor of limiting the governor to two consecutive terms. But blacklisting someone after eight years altogether, regardless of how good or bad they did their job, can needlessly force an effective public official out of public service. Many state governors throughout history have served well over eight years without their constituents regretting it. I would point out that such a system is wholly unworkable in twenty-first century America: we live in the era of the permanent campaign and the 24-hour news cycle. A governor facing re-election every other year would essentially do nothing but fundraise (which is close to what most do anyway even with four-year terms). (November 19th, 2009 at 11:09pm)

The Best and Worst Legislators Since 1973

1973 | 1975 | 1977 | 1979 | 1981 | 1983 | 1985 | 1987 | 1989 | 1991 |
1993 | 1995 | 1997 | 1999 | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007

2007 "The Best and the Worst Legislators 2007"

BEST

Rafael Anchia, D, Dallas
Sen. John Carona, R, Dallas
Byron Cook, R, Corsicana
Sen. Bob Deuell, R, Mesquite
Scott Hochberg, D, Houston
Lois Kolkhorst, R, Brenham
Jerry Madden, R, Plano
Sen. Steve Ogden, R, Bryan
Sylvester Turner, D, Houston
Sen. Tommy Williams, R, The Woodlands

WORST

Lon Burnam, D, Fort Worth
Warren Chisum, R, Pampa
Speaker Tom Craddick, R, Midland
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, R
Sen. Troy Fraser, R, Marble Falls
Charlie Howard, R, Sugar Land
Sen. Eddie Lucio, D, Brownsville
Sen. Dan Patrick, R, Houston
Gov. Rick Perry, R
Debbie Riddle, R, Houston

2005 "The Best and the Worst Legislators 2005"

BEST

Dianne Delisi, (R, Temple)
Sen. Robert Duncan, (R, Lubbock)
Dan Gattis, (R, Georgetown)
Charlie Geren (R, Fort Worth)
Fred Hill (R, Richardson)
Sen. Steve Ogden (R, Bryan)
Jim Pitts (R, Waxahachie)
Mike Villarreal (D, San Antonio)
Sen. John Whitmire (D, Houston)
Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D, Laredo)

WORST

Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos (D, Austin)
Dwayne Bohac (R, Houston)
Mary Denny (R, Aubrey)
Al Edwards (D, Houston)
Sen. Mario Gallegos (D, Houston)
Kent Grusendorf (R, Arlington)
Sen. Chris Harris (R, Arlington)
Terry Keel (R, Austin)
Phil King (R, Weatherford)
Robert Talton (R, Pasadena)

2003 "The Best and the Worst Legislators 2003"

BEST

Teel Bivins, (R, Amarillo)
Dianne Delisi, (R, Temple)
David Dewhurst, (R, Leader)
Robert Duncan, (R, Lubbock)
Craig Eiland, (D, Galveston)
Irma Rangel, (D, Kingsville)
Bill Ratliff, (R, Mount Pleasant)
John Whitmire, (D, Houston)
Arlene Wohlgemuth, (R, Burleson)
Steve Wolens, (D, Dallas)

WORST

Lon Burnam, (D, Fort Worth)
Gabi Canales, (D, Alice)
Yvonne Davis, (D, Dallas)
Tom Delay, (R, Sugar Land)
Jim Dunnam, (D, Waco)
Troy Fraser, (R, Horseshoe Bay)
Eddie Lucio, (D, Brownsville)
Joe Nixon, (R, Houston)
Robert Talton, (R, Pasadena)
Beverly Woolley, (R, Houston)

2001 "The Best and the Worst Legislators"

BEST

1. Garnet Coleman (D, Houston)
2. Robert Duncan (R, Lubbock)
3. Jim Dunnam (D, Waco)
4. Rodney Ellis (D, Houston)
5. Juan Hinojosa (D, McAllen)
6. Bill Ratliff (R, Mount Pleasant)
7. Paul Sadler (D, Henderson)
8. Senfronia Thompson (D, Houston)
9. Arlene Wohlgemuth (R, Burleson)
10. Judith Zaffirini (D, Laredo)

WORST

1. John Carona (R, Dallas)
2. Gary Elkins (R, Houston)
3. Mario Gallegos (D, Houston)
4. Domingo Garcia (D, Dallas)
5. Rick Green (R, Dripping Springs)
6. Suzanna Gratia Hupp (R, Lampasas)
7. Chris Harris (R, Arlington)
8. Fred Hill (R, Richardson)
9. Mike Jackson (R, La Porte)
10. Carlos Truan (D, Corpus Christi)

1999 "The Best and the Worst Legislators 1999"

BEST

1. Pete Gallego (D, Alpine)
2. Patricia Gray (D, Galveston)
3. Scott Hochberg (D, Houston)
4. Rob Junell (D, San Angelo)
5. Bill Ratliff (R, Mount Pleasant)
6. Ken Marchant (R, Coppell)
7. Paul Sadler (D, Henderson)
8. David Sibley (R, Waco)
9. Royce West (D, Dallas)
10. Steve Wolens (D, Dallas)

WORST

1. Kevin Bailey (D, Houston)
2. Norma Chavez (D, El Paso)
3. Troy Fraser (R, Horseshoe Bay)
4. Charlie Howard (R, Sugar Land)
5. Jon Lindsay (R, Houston)
6. Drew Nixon (R, Carthage)
7. Rene Oliveira (D, Brownsville)
8. Florence Shapiro (R, Plano)
9. Sylvester Turner (D, Houston)
10. Arlene Wohlgemuth (R, Burleson)

1997 "The Best Worst Legislators 1997"

BEST

1. Hugo Berlanga (D, Corpus Christi)
2. Teel Bivins (R, Amarillo)
3. Toby Goodman (R, Arlington)
4. Allen Hightower (D, Huntsville)
5. Bill Ratliff (R, Mount Pleasant)
6. Paul Sadler (D, Henderson)
7. David Sibley (R, Waco)
8. Ron Wilson (D, Houston)
9. Steve Wolens (D, Dallas)
10. Judith Zaffirini (D, Laredo)

WORST

1. Kevin Bailey (D, Houston)
2. Frank Corte (R, San Antonio)
3. Charles Finnell (D, Holliday)
4. Michael Galloway (R, The Woodlands )
5. Drew Nixon (R, Carthage)
6. Kent Grusendorf (R, Arlington)
7. Charlie Howard (R, Sugar Land)
8. Eddie Lucio (D, Brownsville)
9. John Shields (R, San Antonio)
10. Arlene Wohlgemuth (R, Burleson)

1995 "The Best and the Worst Legislators 1995"

BEST

1. Hugo Berlanga (D, Corpus Christi)
2. Garnet Coleman (D, Houston)
3. Tom Craddick (R, Midland)
4. Rodney Ellis (D, Houston)
5. Patty Gray (D, Galveston)
6. Rob Junell (D, San Angelo)
7. John Montford (D, Lubbock)
8. Bill Ratliff (R, Mount Pleasant)
9. Paul Sadler (D, Henderson)
10. Sylvester Turner (D, Houston)

WORST

1. Gonzalo Barrientos (D, Austin)
2. Kim Brimer (R, Arlington)
3. Warren Chisum (D, Pampa)
4. Frank Corte (R, San Antonio)
5. Michael Galloway (R, The Woodlands)
6. Drew Nixon (R, Carthage)
7. Mike Krusee (R, Round Rock)
8. John Whitmire (D, Houston)
9. Doyle Willis (D, Fort Worth)

1993 "The Best and Worst Legislators 1993"

BEST

1. Ken Armbrister (D, Victoria)
2. Hugo Berlanga (D, Corpus Christi)
3. Elton Bomer (D, Montalba)
4. David Cain (D, Dallas)
5. Pete Laney (D, Hale Center)
6. Mike Martin (D, Galveston)
7. John Montford (D, Lubbock)
8. David Sibley (R, Waco)
9. John Whitmire (D, Houston)
10. Allen Hightower (D, Huntsville)
11. Allen Pace (D, Gatesville)
12. Steve Wolens (D, Dallas)

WORST

1. Steve Carriker (D, Roby)
2. Warren Chisum (D, Pampa)
3. David Counts (D, Knox City)
4. Betty Denton (D, Waco)
5. Al Edwards (D, Houston)
6. Ike Harris (R, Dallas)
7. Fred Hill (R, Richardson)
8. Ted Kamel (R, Tyler)
9. Glen Maxey (D, Austin)
10. Jane Nelson (R, Flower Mound)

1991 "The Ten Best and The Ten Worst Legislators"

BEST

1. Ken Armbrister (D, Victoria)
2. Robert Eckels (R, Houston)
3. Rob Junell (D, San Angelo)
4. Mike Martin (D, Galveston)
5. John Montford (D, Lubbock)
6. Carl Parker (D, Port Arthur)
7. Bill Ratliff (R, Mount Pleasant)
8. Jack Vowell (R, El Paso)
9. Ric Williamson (D, Weatherford)
10. Steve Wolens (D, Dallas)

WORST

1. Eddie Cavazos (D, Corpus Christi)
2. Temple Dickson (D, Sweetwater)
3. Charles Finnell (D, Holliday)
4. Ernestine Glossbrenner (D, Alice)
5. Gene Green (D, Houston)
6. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D, Dallas)
7. Glenn Repp (R, Duncanville)
8. Dalton Smith (R, Houston)
9. Jim Tallas (R, Sugar Land)
10. Carlos Truan (D, Corpus Christi)

1989 "The Best and the Worst Legislators 1989"

BEST

1. Kent Caperton (D, Bryan)
2. Bruce Gibson (D, Godley)
3. Lena Guerrero (D, Austin)
4. Bill Hammond (R, Dallas)
5. Bill Hobby (D, Houston)
6. Mike McKinney (D, Centerville)
7. John Montford (D, Lubbock)
8. Jim Rudd (D, Brownfield)
9. Ric Williamson (D, Weatherford)
10. Stan Schlueter (D, Killeen)

WORST

1. Kenneth Armbrister (D, Victoria)
2. Al Edwards (D, Houston)
3. Bob Glasgow (D, Stephenville)
4. Talmadge Heflin (R, Houston)
5. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D, Dallas)
6. Al Luna (D, Houston)
7. Bob Richardson (R, Austin)
8. Dalton Smith (R, Houston)
9. Carlos Truan (D, Corpus Christi)
10."Symbolic vacancy" on worst because Stan Schlueter was on the line

1987 "The Best and the Worst Legislators"

BEST

1. Kent Caperton (D, Bryan)
2. Eddie Cavazos (D, Corpus Christi)
3. Ray Farabee (D, Wichita Falls)
4. Bruce Gibson (D, Godley)
5. Bob Glasgow (D, Stephenville)
6. Juan Hinojosa (D, McAllen)
7. Jim Parker (D, Comanche)
8. Richard Smith (R, Bryan)
9. Terral Smith (R, Austin)
10. Jack Vowell (R, El Paso)

WORST

1. Betty Denton (D, Waco)
2. Ted Lyon (D, Rocwall)
3. Jim McWilliams (D, Hallsville)
4. Bob Melton (D, Gatesville)
5. Pete Patterson (D, Brookston)
6. Al Price (D, Beaumont)
7. Craig Washington (D, Houston)
8. Bill Clements (R, Dallas)
9. Bill Hobby (D, Houston)
10. Gib Lewis (D, Fort Worth)

1985 "The Ten Best and [Groan] The Ten Worst Legislators"

BEST

1. Paul Colbert (D, Houston)
2. Chet Edwards (D, Duncanville)
3. Charles Evans (D, Hurst)
4. Ray Farabee (D, Wichita Falls)
5. Bob McFarland (R, Arlington)
6. Bill Messer (D, Belton)
7. Hugh Parmer (D, Fort Worth)
8. Jim Rudd (D, Brownfield)
9. Mike Toomey (R, Houston)
10. Tom Uher (D, Bay City)

WORST

1. Chet Brooks (D, Pasadena)
2. Bill Ceverha (R, Richardson)
3. Jerry Clark (D, Buna)
4. Gerald Geistweidt (R, Mason)
5. Glenn Kothmann (D, San Antonio)
6. Jan McKenna (R, Arlington)
7. Robert Saunders (D, La Grange)
8. Ralph Wallace (D, Houston)
9. Ron Wilson (D, Houston)
10. Craig Washington (D, Houston)

1983 "The Ten Best and The Ten Worst Legislators"

BEST

1. Kent Caperton (D, Bryan)
2. Bill Coody (D, Weatherford)
3. Ray Farabee (D, Wichita Falls)
4. Jay Gibson (D, Odessa)
5. Gerald Hill (D, Austin)
6. Lee Jackson (R, Dallas)
7. Ray Keller (R, Duncanville)
8. Bob McFarland (R, Arlington)
9. Bill Messer (D, Belton)
10. Steve Wolens (D, Dallas)

WORST

1. Al Edwards (D, Houston)
2. Frank Eikenburg (R, Plano)
3. Bill Hollowell (D, Grand Saline)
4. Sam Hudson (D, Dallas)
5. Glenn Kothmann (D, San Antonio)
6. Jan McKenna (R, Arlington)
7. Randy Pennington (R, Houston)
8. Carlyle Smith (D, Grand Prairie)
9. Mark Stiles (D, Beaumont)
10. Bob Vale (D, San Antonio)

1981 "The Ten Best and The Ten Worst Legislators"

BEST

1. Billy Clayton (D, Springlake)
2. Ronald Coleman (D, El Paso)
3. Lloyd Doggett (D, Austin)
4. Ray Farabee (D, Wichita Falls)
5. Susan McBee (D, Del Rio)
6. Bob McFarland (R, Arlington)
7. Bill Messer (D, Belton)
8. Pete Snelson (D, Midland)
9. Craig Washington (D, Houston)
10. William Wayne Justice (D, Tyler)

WORST

1. Larry Browder (D, Coldspring)
2. Lanell Cofer (D, Dallas)
3. Buck Florence (D, Hughes Springs)
4. Bill Heatly (D, Paducah)
5. John Leedom (R, Dallas)
6. Mike Martin (R, Longview)
7. Ken Riley (R, Corpus Christi)
8. Chris Semos (D, Dallas)
9. E.L. Short (D, Tahoka)
10. Carlos Truan (D, Corpus Christi)

1979 "The Ten Best and The Ten Worst Legislators"

BEST

1. John Bryant (D, Dallas)
2. Ronald Coleman (D, El Paso)
3. Bob Davis (R, Irving)
4. Lloyd Doggett (D, Austin)
5. Jerry "Nub" Donaldson (D, Gatesville)
6. Grant Jones (D, Abilene)
7. Lance Lalor (D, Houston)
8. Bob McFarland (R, Arlington)
9. Aaron R. "Babe" Schwartz (D, Galveston)
10. Craig Washington (D, Houston)

WORST

1. Betty Andujar (R, Fort Worth)
2. Arnold Gonzales (D, Corpus Christi)
3. Forrest Green (D, Corsicana)
4. Bill Hollowell (D, Grand Saline)
5. Tom Massey (D, San Angelo)
6. Bill Meier (D, Euless)
7. Bob Price (R, Pampa)
8. Senfronia Thompson (D, Houston)
9. Bob Ware (R, Fort Worth)
10. John Whitmire (D, Houston)

1977 "The Ten Best and the The Ten Worst Legislators"

BEST

1. John Bryant (D, Dallas)
2. Ronald Coleman (D, El Paso)
3. Ray Farabee (D, Wichita Falls)
4. Lance Lalor (D, Houston)
5. Lynn Nabors (D, Brownwood)
6. Jim Nugent (D, Kerrville)
7. Wayne Peveto (D, Orange)
8. Aaron R. "Babe" Schwartz (D, Galveston)
9. Max Sherman (D, Amarillo)
10. John Wilson (D, La Grange)

WORST

1. Tom Creighton (D, Mineral Wells)
2. Bob Davis (R, Irving)
3. Charles Evans (D, Hurst)
4. DeWitt Hale (D, Corpus Christi)
5. Glenn Kothmann (D, San Antonio)
6. Tom Massey (D, San Angelo)
7. Chris Miller (D, Fort Worth)
8. Bill Presnal (D, Bryan)
9. Joe Tom Robbins (R, Lubbock)
10. Clay Smothers (D, Dallas)

1975 "The Ten Best and (Sigh)…The Ten Worst Legislators"

BEST

1. Neil Caldwell (D, Alvin)
2. Ray Hutchison (R, Dallas)
3. Grant Jones (D, Abilene)
4. Jim Mattox (D, Dallas)
5. Wayne Peveto (D, Orange)
6. Aaron R. "Babe" Schwartz (D, Galveston)
7. Max Sherman (D, Amarillo)
8. Bill Sullivant (D, Gainesville)
9. Sarah Weddington (D, Austin)
10. John Wilson (D, La Grange)

WORST

1. O.H. "Ike" Harris (R, Dallas)
2. Fred Head (D, Athens)
3. Al Korioth (R, Dallas)
4. Glenn Kothmann (D, San Antonio)
5. Mike McKinnon (D, Corpus Christi)
6. Tom Schieffer (D, Fort Worth)
7. G.J. Sutton (D, San Antonio)
8. Tom Uher (D, Bay City)
9. Larry Vick (R, Houston)
10. Doyle Willis (D, Fort Worth)

1973 "The Ten Best (And, Sigh, The Ten Worst) Legislators"

BEST

1. Neil Caldwell (D, Alvin)
2. DeWitt Hale (D, Corpus Christi)
3. Ray Hutchison (R, Dallas)
4. Dan Kubiak (D, Rockdale)
5. Bill Meier (D, Euless)
6. Hawkins Menefee (D, Houston)
7. Aaron R. "Babe" Schwartz (D, Galveston)
8. Max Sherman (D, Amarillo)
9. Jim Wallace (D, Houston)
10. Craig Washington (D, Houston)

WORST

1. "Jumbo" Ben Atwell (D, Dallas)
2. Charles Finnell (D, Holliday)
3. Glenn Kothmann (D, San Antonio)
4. Mike McKinnon (D, Corpus Christi)
5. James Nugent (D, Kerrville)
6. Lindsey Rodriguez (D, Hidalgo)
7. Henry Sanchez (D, Brownsville)
8. Wayland Simmons (D, San Antonio)
9. Tim Von Dohlen (D, Goliad)
10. Doyle Willis (D, Fort Worth)

SPECIAL BEST AND WORST AWARD

Bill Moore (Bryan)

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