Conservative Featured Voice: Dan Branch

Representative Dan Branch serves as a member of the Texas House of Representatives from Dallas (Dist. 108). Elected in 2002, as a Republican, he represents downtown, uptown and near east Dallas, as well as the Town of Highland Park and the City of University Park.

Rep. Branch is the Chairman of the House Committee on Higher Education, a member of the Legislative Budget Board, and serves on the Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee as well as the House Select Committee on Federal Legislation. Last year, he was elected by his House colleagues in North Texas to lead the Dallas Area Legislative Delegation. Prior to the 81st session, he chaired a select committee on education finance, and served on the House Appropriations, Public Education and Calendars Committees.

During the 81st session, Branch led the successful efforts to develop more Tier One universities in Texas, reform the Top 10% college admissions law, and provide more interactive technology in public school classrooms. His legislative efforts earned him high marks from many groups, including The Dallas Morning News and Austin American-Statesman; both Texas Monthly and Capitol Inside listed Branch among their Best of the Texas Legislature.

In addition to his service in the Legislature, Branch is a corporate lawyer and shareholder of Winstead PC. He is a former judicial clerk to Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Jack Pope and a former aide to the late U.S. Senator John Tower. Branch is a member of the bars of Texas, New York and the District of Columbia.

Beyond his professional service, Branch is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City, a former president of The Dallas Assembly, an Ex-Officio member of the DowntownDallas Inc. Board of Directors and a former Chairman of the Texas Public Finance Authority, appointed by Governor George W. Bush. Last year, Branch was elected to serve on the board of the Texas Education Reform Foundation and was appointed to serve on the Southern Regional Education Boards Legislative Advisory Committee by Governor Rick Perry. Branch is a Fellow of the Aspen Institutes Rodel program, Class of 2008. In addition, he is the chairman of SMUs John Tower Center for Political Studies.

Branch is a graduate of the SMU School of Law, and attended the Institute on Comparative Political & Economic Systems at Georgetown University. He holds two undergraduate degrees from Oklahoma Christian University.

Dan and his wife, Stacey, live in Dallas. They have five children.

Source: www.house.state.tx.us

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"In a 21st century economy, there is no more important infrastructure than an educated workforce."

View an interview with Dan Branch from the Republican Party of Texas 2010 Convention: