James Frank
| James Boisfeuillet Frank | |
|---|---|
| Texas State Representative for District 69 (Archer, Baylor, Clay, Foard, Knox, and Wichita counties) | |
|
Assumed office January 8, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Lanham Lyne |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
1966 Place of birth missing |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Alisha Frank |
| Children | Glen, Jerod, Jonathan, and Hixon Frank |
| Residence | Wichita Falls, Texas |
| Alma mater | Texas A&M University |
| Occupation | Banker and Businessman |
| Religion | Southern Baptist |
James Boisfeuillet Frank (born 1966)[1] is a businessman from Wichita Falls, Texas, who is the Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 69, which encompasses Archer, Baylor, Clay, Foard, Knox, and Wichita counties in North Texas.[2]
Background
Frank was reared in Wichita Falls and graduated from S. H. Rider High School, a public institution. He obtained a degree in finance from Texas A&M University in College Station. After college he was employed in Fort Worth.[3]
Since 2000, Frank has owned the Sharp Iron Group, a 130-employee company in Wichita Falls involved in sheet metal and the manufacturing of electrical controls. In 2007, he purchased the Transland Company of California and moved its operations to Texas. Transland manufacturers equipment for crop dusting and aerial firefighting.
He is the vice-chairman of the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Frank is a board member of the Lalani Center for Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise located at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls.[3]
Frank is a deacon at First Baptist Church in Wichita Falls. He and his wife, Alisha, have four sons, Glen and Jerod, who are in college in 2013, and Jonathan, and Hixon, who are home schooled. He is president of Home Educators Around Texoma.[3]
Political life
When Lanham Lyne, the one-term Republican state representative in District 69, who had been mayor of Wichita Falls from 2005 to 2010, declined to seek reelection to the House, Frank ran unopposed for the Republican nomination in 2012. In the general election on November 6, 2012, Frank defeated a Libertarian opponent, Richard Brown, 87-13 percent.[4]
In February 2013, newly inaugurated Representative Frank was elected by his colleagues to the House Republican Caucus Policy Committee as the West Texas representative on the panel.[5]
A pro-life legislator, Frank in his initial session voted with the legislative majority of both houses to increase safety standards in clinics performing abortions and to forbid the practice itself after the twentieth week of gestation. He voted to require narcotics testing of those receiving unemployment compensation. He voted against a free breakfast program for pupils in public schools.[1]
Frank voted against House Bill 950, which would have required Texas to establish state standards of equal pay for equal work regardless of sex. Such requirements were passed nationally through the Equal Pay Act of 1963. The House vote for passage was 78 to 61, but the bill, after approval in the Texas Senate, was vetoed by Governor Rick Perry.[6]
Frank voted to enact term limits for the statewide constitutional officers, including the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the attorney general, but the measure died, 61-80, in the House.[7] Term limits are allowed in Texas at the municipal level under home-rule charters.[8]
Frank voted to forbid the use of state funds to enforce national gun-control laws. He voted to reduce the required hours for concealed handgun training courses. He supported the authorization of concealed handguns on college campuses.[1] The National Rifle Association rated Frank 83 percent.[9]
In other legislative votes, Frank opposed a bill, not yet enacted, to forbid texting while driving. He supported the extension of the exemption of certain businesses from the franchise tax.[1]
In the 2015 legislative session, Frank said that he will focus on issues of transportation and property tax relief.[10]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Representative James Frank's Political Summary". votesmart.org. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
- ↑ "James Frank". lrl.state.tx.us. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
- 1 2 3 "James Frank, Republican for State Representative". votejamesfrank.com. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
- ↑ "Texas general election returns, November 6, 2012". elections.sos.state.tx.us. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
- ↑ "Representative James Frank Elected to House Republican Caucus Policy Committee, February 12, 2013". votejamesfrank.com. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
- ↑ "Texas HB 950". votesmart.org. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
- ↑ "Texas SJR 13". votesmart.org. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
- ↑ Lyle C. Brown et al, Practicing Texas Politics (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2008), p. 105
- ↑ "Representative James Frank's Ratings and Endorsements". votesmart.org. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
- ↑ "Week 1: Report from the Texas Capitol", Austin Report, January 2015, p. 3; Gary Gates, president.
| Texas House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Lanham Lyne |
Texas State Representative for District 69 (Archer, Baylor, Clay, Foard, Knox, and Wichita counties)
James Boisfeuillet Frank |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
