State Representative Gary VanDeaver will seek re-election to the Texas House for District 1, which includes Bowie, Lamar, Franklin, and Red River counties. Since taking office in 2015, VanDeaver has served on the House Appropriations Committee as a state budget writer and the House Public Education Committee, where he worked to pass historic school finance reforms into law.
“Representing my northeast Texas home in the Texas House is an honor and a privilege. I am running for re-election to build on our accomplishments and continue fighting to keep our local communities and public schools strong, and to improve our region’s economy so that future generations can live, raise a family, and prosper here,” said Representative VanDeaver.
During the 2021 session of the Texas Legislature, VanDeaver played a leading role in ensuring that the promises made in reforming the school finance system were kept, that the Teacher Retirement System remained sound, and that resources were made available to local schools, counties, and cities to address the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19. He helped draft a financially responsible state budget that holds the line on spending while investing more in priorities like schools, border security, transportation, and rural broadband.
“As a retired teacher and superintendent, I know the importance of education to give every Texas daughter or son a solid foundation to succeed in life and to develop a strong workforce so that the Texas economy remains one of the greatest forces for economic progress in the world,” said Representative VanDeaver.
VanDeaver also worked to protect religious freedoms by making it clear that government agencies and local officials cannot abuse their power and shut down places of worship. He also co-sponsored SJR 27, which will be Proposition 3 on the November 2021 ballot. Proposition 3 will protect places of worship from governmental restrictions. VanDeaver also co-sponsored numerous bills that ensure the sanctity of human life, protect the rights of Texans under the second amendment, and strengthen the rights of property owners from unfair eminent domain practices.
“Together, we have achieved great things, but there is more work to do. I am eager to fight to preserve our Northeast Texas district as the legislature redraws district boundaries in the fall of 2021,” said Representative VanDeaver.
Dr. Gary VanDeaver is an active cattleman and retired school superintendent serving in his fourth term in the Texas House. He resides in New Boston with Pam, his wife of 38 years. They are members of the First Baptist Church, where Gary serves as a Deacon. The VanDeavers are proud parents to two daughters and even prouder grandparents to two granddaughters and a grandson expected in January.
