Richard Raymond

Candidate for State Representative

Texas - 42nd District

 

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Richard Raymond was born in Alice, Texas on October 27, 1960.

He was raised in Benavides, Texas (population approx. 1,600). As a young man, Richard became interested in public service as he joined his family’s efforts to fight corruption in politics. After Richard graduated from Benavides High School, he attended The University of Texas at Austin, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Government with a minor in History.

Richard, his wife, Michelle, and their three children live in Laredo.

Representing Laredo

After a vacancy was created when Republican Governor Rick Perry appointed State Rep. Henry Cuellar Secretary of State in 2001, Richard Raymond was elected by Laredo voters to serve District 42 in the Texas House of Representatives. Richard defeated three opponents without a runoff, amassing 55% of the vote. Richard was re-elected in 2002 and 2004 without opposition

Richard immediately went to work for Laredo, using experience he gained representing seven South Texas counties between Laredo and San Antonio from 1993 to 1999.

Richard’s House district is one of the most Hispanic districts in the state, and he made Hispanic representation a top priority.

As a Member of the Redistricting Committee, Richard championed Hispanic Voting Rights and led the fight against Tom DeLay’s partisan redistricting plan. Richard worked tirelessly in committee, on the House floor, and across the state to mobilize Texans Democrats against redistricting.

Ultimately, Richard’s efforts led the House Democrats to Ardmore, Oklahoma to stop a plan that would have denied Voting Rights to millions of Texans. Rep. Raymond is the only House Member to join the lawsuit challenging the redistricting plan. The lawsuit is currently before a three-judge panel.

Richard’s achievements include passing legislation that created the Texas Tomorrow Fund, a pre-paid college tuition program, as well as legislation to reduce diabetes, improve education and improving “Welfare to Work.”

Richard served six years on the powerful Appropriations Committee, as Chairman for Budget and Oversight for the Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee. He serves on the Committee on Civil Practices and the Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence.

A Career of Public Service

Growing up in Duval County, Richard Raymond’s family fought political corruption, an experience that motivated his lifelong interest in public service. As a young man, Richard worked for several respected political leaders, including United States Senators Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX) and Paul Simon (D-IL), Texas Railroad Commissioner Bob Krueger and Texas Land Commissioner Garry Mauro.

In 1992, Richard ran for public office for the first time, winning 67% of the vote and election to the Texas House of Representatives in a race against an incumbent. Raymond represented seven rural counties in South Texas between Laredo and San Antonio until January 1999.

In 1998, Richard won the Democratic nomination in a statewide race for Texas Land Commissioner. He received 1.5 million votes in a strong General Election campaign that was hampered by a Bush gubernatorial landslide at the top of the ticket. A few weeks later, Richard and his wife Michelle moved to Laredo, where Raymond family members have lived for more than 100 years.