Ron Simmons (politician)
Ronald Ellis Simmons (born September 21, 1960)[1] is an investment advisor from Carrollton, Texas, who is a former member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 65 in suburban southeastern Denton County.[2]
Ron Simmons | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 65th district | |
| In office January 8, 2013 – January 8, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Burt Solomons |
| Succeeded by | Michelle Beckley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ronald Ellis Simmons September 21, 1960 Arkansas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Lisa Diane Dickson |
| Children | 3; including Allie |
| Residence(s) | Carrollton, Denton County, Texas |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Investment advisor |
Simmons lost his bid for a fourth term in the general election held on November 6, 2018. He polled 28,567 votes (48.9 percent) to 29,894 (51.1 percent) for his Democratic opponent, political newcomer and local business owner Michelle Beckley.[3]
Political life
Simmons served on the House committees of (1) Appropriations, (2) Transportation, and (3) Local and Consent Calendars.[4]
In 2017, Simmons obtained House passage, 88–57, of his bill to abolish "one-punch" straight-ticket voting in Texas, a procedure no longer allowed in 42 other states. With a straight ticket, a voter pulls one lever or touches one computer square to vote for all nominees of the same party. Most of the opponents of the legislation are Democratic, though straight-ticket Republican voters have constituted the majority statewide since at least 1996. Instead the Democrats claim the legislation would disenfranchise some elderly, disabled, or minority group voters. Simmons said that his intent is to encourage voters to make selections down ballot, including proposition and tax measures, instead of concentrating on a few offices at the top of the ticket.[5]
Simmons won his third term in the state House in the November 8, 2016, general election. He defeated the Democrat Alex Mendoza, 34,418 votes (56.3 percent) to 26,759 (43.7 percent). He ran in the 2018 primary against Kevin Simmons, but was then defeated by Democratic candidate Michelle Beckley in the 2018 midterms general election in November.[6]
Legislative positions
Simmons served on the Appropriations Committee in 2017 and on the Transportation Committee in 2015 and 2017. He was the chairman of the Sub Committee on Long Term Transportation Funding in 2015. Also in 2015 Simmons authored and passed HB20 – a law which transformed the way the Texas Department of Transportation selects road construction projects. The legislation requires TxDOT to "score' each project on an objective scoring system and select those projects which score the highest and are therefore of greatest need to Texas. Simmons also joint authored legislation with Chairman Joe Pickett to increase funding for transportation.
Simmons, a longtime advocate for individuals with disabilities, passed legislation to require health plans in Texas to cover testing for Autism at an early age and continue coverage for Applied Behavioral Therapy and other treatments for Autism. Simmons inserted an amendment in a bill by Representative Chris Paddie R- Marshall governing ride sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft, that require ride sharing companies to begin pilot programs for providing rides to the disabled in the same manner and time frame as non disabled riders.
References
- "Rep. Ron Simmons (R)". Texas Directory. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
- "Ron Simmons". Texas Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
- "Election Returns". Texas Secretary of State. November 6, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
- "Ron Simmons' Biography". votesmart.com. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
- Julie Chang, "Texas House would end straight-ticket voting," San Antonio Express-News, May 7, 2017, p. A8.
- "General Election Returns". Texas Secretary of State. November 8, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2016.