Jonathan Stickland

Jonathan Spence Stickland
Texas State Representative from District 92 (part of Tarrant County)
Assumed office
January 8, 2013
Preceded by Todd Smith
Personal details
Born (1983-09-04) September 4, 1983
Plano, Collin County, Texas, USA
Nationality American
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Krissy Stickland (married 2006)
Children 2
Residence Bedford, Tarrant County
Texas
Alma mater

Tarrant County College

Parkland College
Occupation Businessman
Religion Southern Baptist

Jonathan Spence Stickland (born September 4, 1983)[1] is a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 92, which encompasses a portion of Tarrant County in suburban Fort Worth.[2] He is running for re-election in 2016.[3]

Background

In 1988, Stickland's parents moved the family from his native Plano in Collin County to Hurst in Tarrant County, where he attended W. A. Porter Elementary School and Smithfield Middle School. He enrolled for his freshman year at Richland High School and then for two years at the newly opened Birdville High School of the Birdville Independent School District, both in North Richland Hills in Tarrant County. Stickland ended up leaving high school between his junior and senior year and obtained his G.E.D.

Stickland entered the community college, Tarrant County College, and also Parkland College, in which he studied sales and marketing.[4]

After college study, Stickland went to work in the pest-control business. He took a full-time sales position with Truly Nolen Pest Control and then as manager of residential accounts for Prime Pest Management, both in Fort Worth. He obtained a pest control state technician license and launched his own consulting business, which he still operates.

Stickland and his wife, Krissy, met in church. The Sticklands have two daughters, Andie and Carlie.[5]

Political life

Elections and House committees

When the incumbent Republican Representative Todd Smith did not seek reelection in 2012, Stickland defeated Roger Fisher, 6,332 votes (60.2 percent) to 4,190 (39.8 percent) in the Republican primary election held on May 29, 2012.[6] In the general election on November 6, 2012, in conjunction with the U.S. presidential race, Stickland faced no Democratic opponent and defeated the Libertarian Party nominee, Sean D. Fatzinger (born c. 1978) of Fort Worth, 37,084 votes (80.7 percent) to 8,884 (19.3 percent).[7]

In the Republican primary election held on March 4, 2014, Stickland defeated challenger Andy Cargile (born 1946), a retired principal and school district trustee, 7,612 votes (65 percent) to 4,102 votes (35 percent).[8]

Stickland is a member of the House committees of (1) County Affairs and (2) Special Purpose Districts.[5]

Legislative positions

An anti-abortion legislator, Stickland supported in 2013 the ban on abortion after twenty weeks of gestation; the measure passed the House, 96-49. He co-sponsored companion legislation to increase medical and licensing requirements of abortion providers,[9] a law that the opponents claim could shut down many abortion clinics. These issues brought forth a filibuster in the Texas State Senate by Wendy R. Davis of Fort Worth.[10] The Texas Right to Life Committee rated Stickland 78 percent favorable,[11] presenting him with a "Former Fetus" wall plaque which was briefly displayed on the wall outside Stickland's office at the Capitol building.[12]

Stickland voted against the legislation to establish a taxpayer-funded breakfast program for public schools; the measure passed the House, 73-58. He co-sponsored legislation to provide marshals for school security as a separate law-enforcement entity. He voted for the extension of the franchise tax exemption to certain businesses, which passed the House 117-24. He voted against the adoption of the biennial 2013 state budget. He voted to require testing for narcotics of those individuals receiving unemployment compensation. Stickland voted against the "equal pay for women" measure, which nevertheless passed the House, 78-61.[9]

Stickland co-sponsored the measure to forbid the state from engaging in the enforcement of federal regulations of firearms. He also co-sponsored legislation to permit college and university officials to carry concealed weapons. He voted to reduce the time required to obtain a concealed-carry permit in Texas. He backed the redistricting bills for the state House and Senate and the United States House of Representatives. Stickland voted for term limits for certain state officials. He voted for legislation to forbid one individual from turning in multiple ballots.[9]

Conservative group ratings

In 2013, Phyllis Schlafly's Eagle Forum, managed in Texas by Cathie Adams, a former state chairman of the Texas Republican Party, rated Stickland 100 percent favorable; the Young Conservatives of Texas, 97 percent. The Texas League of Conservation Voters rated him 38 percent; a similar group Environment Texas rated him 12 percent. The interest group, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, founded by Michael Quinn Sullivan, rated him 100 percent. The National Rifle Association scored Stickland 92 percent.[11]

2016 re-election campaign

In the Republican primary on March 1, 2016, Stickland faced opposition in his bid for a third term from Scott Weston Fisher, the senior pastor since 2000 of the Metroplex Chapel in Euless, who carried the backing of former Governor Rick Perry, who in 2008 appointed Fisher to the Texas Youth Commission.[13] Stickland defeated Fisher in the primary election with 58% of the vote.[14]

In late December 2015, past comments Stickland had made on online forums generated controversy in the midst of his primary campaign against fellow Republican Scott Fisher. Stickland apologized for the online comments.[15]

References

  1. ↑ "Rep. Jonathan Stickland (R-TX 92nd District)". Texas Library Association.
  2. ↑ "Jonathan Stickland". Texas Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Jonathan Stickland | Texas State Representative Dist. 92". Jonathan Stickland | Texas State Representative Dist. 92. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
  4. ↑ "State Rep. Jonathan Stickland, District 92 (R-Bedford)". The Texas Tribune.
  5. 1 2 "Jonathan Stickland's Biography". votesmart.com. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Republican primary election returns, May 29, 2012 (House District 92)". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  7. ↑ "General election returns, November 6, 2012 (House District 92)". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Republican primary election returns, March 4, 2014 (House District 92)". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  9. 1 2 3 "Jonathan Stickland's Voting Records". votesmart.org. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  10. ↑ M. Fernandez (June 25, 2013). "Filibuster in Texas Senate Tries to Halt Abortion Bill". The New York Times. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  11. 1 2 "Jonathan Stickland's Ratings and Endorsements". votesmart.org. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  12. ↑ Patrick Svitek and Edgar Walters (March 11, 2015). ""Former Fetus" Signs Cause Stir at Capitol". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Scott W. Fisher (Senior Pastor)". metroplexchapel.org. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
  14. ↑ Tinsley, Anna (March 1, 2016). "Tarrant County legislative incumbents win primary election". Star-Telegram. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  15. ↑ "Stickland Race Heats Up Over Pot, Rape Comments". texastribune.com. Retrieved February 16, 2016.

External links

Texas House of Representatives
Preceded by
Todd Smith		 Texas State Representative from
District 92 (part of Tarrant County)

Jonathan Spence Stickland
2013–

Succeeded by
Incumbent
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