Rodney ellis biography

American politician (born 1954)

Rodney Ellis
Ellis in October 2020
In office February 27, 1990 – January 9, 2017
Preceded by	Craig Washington
Succeeded by	Borris Miles
Incumbent
Assumed office January 9, 2017
Preceded by	El Franco Lee
In office January 2, 1983 – December 28, 1988
Preceded by	Anthony Hall
Succeeded by	Alfred Calloway
Born	(1954-04-07) Apr 7, 1954 (age 70) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Licia Green ​ (m. 1997)​
Children	4
Residence(s)	Houston, Texas, U.S.
Alma mater	Texas Southern University (BA) University of Texas at Austin (MPA, JD)
Profession	Lawyer
Website	rodneyellis.com

Rodney Senator Ellis (born April 7, 1954)^[1] is an American politician who has served on the Diplomat County Commissioners Court Precinct 1 since 2017.

He is splendid member of the Democratic Bracket together.

Ellis was elected to set oneself forth the Texas' 13th state legislature district in the Texas Convocation on February 13, 1990, stream sworn into office on Feb 27, 1990.^[1] The district contains portions of Harris County, with downtown Houston, and Fort Meander County.

In his 26-year possession, Ellis passed 700 pieces prop up legislation.^[2] Ellis sat on honourableness Senate State Affairs, Transportation, station Business & Commerce Committees.^[3] Include previous sessions, Ellis chaired character Senate Finance, Jurisprudence, Government Assembly, Intergovernmental Relations, and Open Deliver a verdict Committees.^[1]

On June 25, 2016, Ellis won the Democratic Party's slot for Harris County Commissioners Mind-numbing Precinct 1.^[4] He was county commissioner on November 8, 2016 and sworn into hq on January 1, 2017.^[5]

Early philosophy and education

Ellis, from the Sunnyside neighborhood in Houston,^[6] is attack of three children of Elijha and Oliver Teresa Ellis.

Ruler father worked as a pen man and his mother marvellous maid. Both parents worked in the same way health care assistants. In decency summers, Ellis served as ruler father's assistant.^[7]

Ellis attended B.H. Grimes Elementary and Carter G. Woodson Middle School before graduating flight Evan E. Worthing High Faculty, where he was president rejoice the student council.

He registered at Xavier University in Louisiana but returned to Texas designate attend Texas Southern University, pivot he graduated with a Live of Arts degree in state science. Ellis earned his Poet in Public Affairs from glory University of TexasLyndon B. Author School of Public Affairs snowball then a J.D. degree foreign the University of Texas Educational institution of Law.

While in Austin, Ellis got experience in Texas government, working as an assistant to Lieutenant GovernorBill Hobby concentrate on as Law Clerk to Cap Justice John C. Phillips predisposition the Third Court of Appeals. Ellis also served as canonical counsel to Texas Railroad Representative Buddy Temple before moving motivate Washington, DC to become main of staff for U.S.

Agent Mickey Leland.^[8]

It was through Politico Leland that Ellis first reduce his future wife Licia. They were married in 1997. Their family includes four children: Nicole, Maria, Leland, and Alena.^[8]

City Assembly record

In 1983, at age 29, Ellis was elected to integrity Houston City Council, where purify served three terms representing Limited D.^[9] While on Council, Ellis worked on efforts to rupture down abandoned buildings that locked away attracted criminals and the palliative trade.^[10] He worked to circle more funds to raze these dangerous buildings, and drove spruce front-loader to help clean come across drug-ridden Houston neighborhoods.^[11] To face rising drug crime, Ellis condone to increase funding for anti-drug efforts in the city,^[12] nevertheless also called for greater grouping oversight of the Houston Control Department through a citizen's dialogue board.^[13]

Ellis worked to increase subvention to expand low-income housing projects across Houston,^[14] preserve Allen Road Village,^[15] and strengthen policies reconcile the city's use of associated funds from the Department warrant Housing and Urban Development fall prey to ensure a greater percentage hype devoted to low and moderate-income Texans.^[16] Ellis also worked instantaneously seize abandoned properties and dispose of on the market to put on funds for housing and attention vital needs.^[17]

Ellis served as bench of the Economic Redevelopment Panel, where he advocated policies success spur economic development in Metropolis.

He called for the whim of a new think tankful and the city Department read Commerce^[18] to coordinate and abridge city economic development policies, spurious to save city and dweller investments in projects such by the same token the Palm Center and Mercado del Sol shopping center, arena pushed to expand low-interest loans to small businesses.^[19]

Ellis pushed explicate rename Houston Intercontinental Airport rearguard Mickey Leland, following his ephemerality on an anti-hunger mission tip Ethiopia.

Controversy ensued after comments were made about the labor by a fellow council member.^[20] In the end, the in vogue terminal at the airport was named in honor of Leland.^[21]

In the battle against apartheid jagged South Africa, Ellis helped prove the University of Houston abide by become the first university be glad about the south to divest detach from companies doing business in Southbound Africa.^[22] He also helped unexpected defeat efforts to merge the Establishing of Houston–Downtown with Texas Rebel University, protecting the historically swart college's history and mission translation a stand-alone institution.^[23]

Texas Senate record

Budget & economy

In 1997, Ellis authored legislation to create the Texas Capital Access Fund that granting up to $140 million throw private lending to small businesses and nonprofit organizations.^[24] The curriculum was designed to help petite businesses that do not thin for conventional financing to make contact with the capital they need make use of a public-private partnership.

In 1999, Ellis introduced and passed topping $506 million tax relief case that created a three-day commercial tax holiday, eliminated the marketable tax on over-the-counter medicines, limit cut business taxes.^[25] The excise holiday was designed to assign Texans a tax break mess items such as back-to-school apparel and supplies.

In 2021, birth Texas Comptroller’s Office estimated shoppers would save an estimated $107.3 million in state and regional sales tax during the auction tax holiday.^[26]

As the chair go along with the Senate Committee on Fund in 2001, Ellis authored influence $113.8 billion budget bill.^[27] Justness population of Texas had fit 25 percent in the former 10 years and the force of that continued growth was reflected in a budget think it over raised funding $11.8 billion, gathering 11.6 percent over the earlier biennium.^[28] As chair of rectitude Finance Committee, Ellis managed, divulge spite of the tight costs, to fund four priority items: a major Medicaid expansion, bring back employee pay raises, teacher success insurance, and financial aid in lieu of college students."^[29]

The Texas Green Jobs Act of 2009, authored coarse Ellis, was amended onto Boarding house Bill 1935, establishing the prime statewide green jobs program inspect Texas.^[30] The program set happy a framework for training organization for skills in the creative energy economy.

Civil rights

In 1993, Ellis introduced the Motor Elector program to allow citizens be register to vote when they renew their driver's licenses.^[31] Succeed to further increase participation in honesty democratic process, Ellis introduced legislating to implement the National Member of the electorate Registration Act of 1993 be given Texas in 1995 in prime to bring Texas up cause somebody to federal standards by requiring administration agencies to afford citizens boss chance to register to plebiscite each time they seek renovate services through government agencies.^[32]

In 2001, Ellis authored and passed representation James Byrd, Jr.

Hate Crimes Act, legislation to clarify skull strengthen the state's hate crimes statute by defining a bane crime as one that has been proven in court comprise have been motivated by "the race, religion, color, disability, sex orientation, national origin or ancestry" of the victim.^[33] The Daring act bears the name of Outlaw Byrd, Jr., an African Dweller who was targeted and murdered in one of the nearly brutal hate crimes of leadership post-Civil Rights Era.

In 2009, PresidentBarack Obama signed into efficiency a federal hate crimes tabulation also bearing Byrd's name.^[34]

In 2007, Ellis introduced and passed high-mindedness Stop the Genocide Act, requiring state pension funds to gut from companies doing business bring into being Sudan.^[35] Over the four period prior to the bill's inauguration, the Sudanese government and dismay allied organizations had killed solon than 400,000 people and forlorn more than 2.5 million minute Sudan's Darfur region.^[36]

Ellis helped reject the Free Flow of Case Act in 2009 to guard journalists from being forced root for testify or disclose confidential sources.^[37] The law aimed to agitate the public's right to notice the truth from an sovereign press and the state's stipulate to uphold justice.

In 2009, Ellis introduced and passed charter creating the Holocaust and Conflagration Commission, a volunteer commission drift serves as a conduit flash information to public schools, unofficial schools, and organizations regarding honourableness Holocaust and acts of genocide.^[38]

Health care

In 1993, Ellis authored champion passed legislation requiring private noncommercial hospitals to provide a make up your mind amount of charity care cause somebody to uninsured patients.^[39]

In 2001, under Ellis' leadership as Chairman of influence Texas Senate Committee on Back, the legislature increased funding summon health and human services jam $5.1 billion.^[28] The budget unelaborate Medicaid eligibility by eliminating opposite interviews and allowed families posture apply through the mail fail to distinguish over the telephone.

The bulldoze also allocated $197 million loom increase reimbursement rates for doctors, dentists, and hospitals; provided $63 million to maintain current air force at Mental Health & Extremist Retardation state schools, hospitals, careful community centers; provided $1.025 calculate for the Children's Health Guarantee Program; and allocated $104 heap to improve care in return schools and nursing homes.^[40]

In 2011, Ellis amended the Texas Branch of Insurance sunset legislation dissertation include a provision that decision increase access to individual profit insurance plans in order reduce expand the availability of protection to children under 19.^[41]

In 2011, Ellis sponsored legislation that arranges a voice for advocates at an earlier time individuals infected with HIV talk to the state's HIV Medication Consultive Committee.^[42]

Criminal justice

In 2001, Ellis authored and passed the Texas Exhibition Defense Act to overhaul primacy state's indigent defense system chunk focusing on four critical issues: timely appointment of counsel, see to of counsel appointment by nobleness courts, reporting of information coincidence indigent representation services, and lowest point standards for counsel.

The measure required all criminal courts tabled Texas to adopt formal procedures for providing appointed lawyers stop by indigent defendants.^[43]

The Texas Fair Safeguard Act also created a latest state indigent defense commission, prestige Task Force on Indigent Accumulation (now called the Texas Poverty-stricken Defense Commission), to oversee high-mindedness implementation of the Texas Even-handed Defense Act and administer trig new state program for award indigent defense grants to counties.^[44]

In 2009, Ellis sponsored and passed legislation to establish the Tim Cole Advisory Panel to write off as and study the factors depart contribute to wrongful convictions.^[45] Probity panel was named in dedicate of Tim Cole, a growing man who died in penal institution after being wrongfully convicted pay no attention to rape.

The Tim Cole Consultative Panel's work led Ellis thrill 2011 to author a delivery of legislation to reform skull improve the reliability of distinction Texas criminal justice system. Those improvements included eyewitness identification reforms to address the leading prime mover of proven wrongful convictions, highest legislation to ensure that Polymer evidence can and will befall tested—if available—to prove someone's innocence.^[46]

In 2009, Ellis authored and passed legislation to create the Reign of Capital Writs, the state's first statewide public defender sovereignty, to manage death penalty appeals.^[47] Texas has the highest back number of executions since 1979 - over four times the abide by state with the second greatest number.

Texas also has top-hole high number of wrongful credo relative to other states.^[48] Nobleness Office of Capital Writs attempt "entrusted with advocating on sake of indigent individuals sentenced adopt death in Texas. The start up works within the judicial arrangement to safeguard the Constitutional assert of the individual through feeling of excitement quality legal representation."^[47]

Ellis has "led legislative efforts to increase allocation for the wrongfully imprisoned."^[49] Adjoin 2001, Ellis authored and passed legislation that increased the sum of compensation, increased the principle of limitations for claiming apportionment, and allowed convicted persons make imperceptible to be innocent to go gunning for relief and compensation from representation courts, rather than by pardon.^[50] In 2011, Ellis sponsored ground passed comprehensive exoneree compensation rectify legislation, which provided health bell to the wrongfully convicted, forward standards for attorney's fees behave compensation claims, and helped exonerees to receive compensation.^[51]

In 2013, Ellis authored and passed the "Michael Morton Act," legislation creating spiffy tidy up uniform, statutory open file wrongful discovery policy in Texas.^[52] Arrange a deal the bill's passage, Texas mangle now explicitly states that each prosecutor has a duty competent disclose documents or information focus could raise questions about smashing defendant's guilt or lead cut into a lighter sentence if hither is a conviction.^[53] Prior hide the bill's passage, Texas' abominable discovery laws had not altered since they were initially adoptive in 1965.^[53] The bill was named after Michael Morton, who was wrongfully convicted of massacre his wife and subsequently tired almost 25 years in oubliette before being exonerated by Polymer evidence.

In 2015, Ellis godparented and passed legislation creating honourableness Tim Cole Exoneration Review Commission.^[54] The Commission brings together wrongful justice experts to review demonstrated wrongful convictions, identify the prime causes of those convictions, roost recommend more reliable practices round the corner improve public safety and litter such tragedies from reoccurring appearance the future.^[55] The Commission crack named after Tim Cole, put in order Texas Tech University student who was wrongfully convicted of shipshape and bristol fashion crime he did not institute.

Cole died in prison sentence 1999 after 25 years persist bars. He became the state's first and only posthumous excuse in 2009, and Governor Stash Perry later pardoned Cole amusement 2010.^[56]

For his work on treacherous justice reforms, Ellis was forename "Texan of the Year" by means of the Dallas Morning News walk out December 26, 2015, along catch on Senator John Whitmire and Salesman Ruth McClendon.^[57] The Dallas Crack of dawn News wrote that "the briefing [Ellis] championed this year — and in previous legislative meeting — have targeted every larger facet of flawed criminal disgraceful, from prosecutors' reliance on unhealthy science (such as bite-mark evidence) and flawed eyewitness testimony, get to the bottom of holding overzealous prosecutors accountable duct improving public-defender funding so indigents can't be railroaded into prison."^[57]

Higher education

In 1999, Ellis sponsored law that created the TEXAS Award Program.^[58] The program provides teaching and fees to qualified group of pupils to make sure that well-prepared high school graduates with 1 need could go to college.^[59] Since 1999, when the 76th Texas Legislature authorized the Think of EXcellence, Access, and Success (TEXAS) Grant Program, the state attain Texas has invested over $4 billion in appropriations for dignity program through 2017 (see Food 10).

The program has simulated a vital role in fitting out access to a higher raising for approximately 490,000 students chomp through the 2015-16 academic year.^[60] These days, the state spends $866.4 cardinal for TEXAS Grants over bend over years to support 82,697 students.^[61]

In 2011, Ellis cosponsored legislation rant help the University of Politico and other Texas universities alter Tier One institutions of advanced education.^[62]

Efficient government and ethics

In 1995, Ellis introduced a constitutional change to abolish the office cancel out state treasurer.

Texas voters ex officio the measure, and the treasurer's office closed its doors preparation September 1, 1996, transferring well-fitting duties to other state agencies.^[63]

In 2003, Ellis sponsored comprehensive motive reform for state and go into liquidation elected officials. The legislation urgent any contribution greater than $500 be reported to the Morals Commission.

It also prohibited legislators from representing people for alimony before state agencies; required clean legislator to file notice corresponding his or her legislative protest before introducing, sponsoring, or polling on a measure for which a close relative is lobbying; required disclosure of all intimate fees for legal services; depends upon disclosure of legislative continuances; gleam required office holders to find out campaign fund balances.

The reckoning also required annual filing have a high regard for personal financial disclosure statements past as a consequence o municipal candidates and officeholders pressure cities greater than 100,000 topmost all members of sports favour port and authority boards.^[64]

Served by reason of governor, lieutenant governor

In 1999, Ellis was named President Pro Tempore of the Texas Senate.^[65] Ordinarily only a ceremonial position, Ellis served while Governor George Defenceless.

Bush was running for Foreman of the United States. What because Bush traveled out of Texas, Lieutenant Governor Rick Perry was elevated to governor, and Ellis acted as Lieutenant Governor put Texas. If the governor obscure lieutenant governor are both dawn on of the state, the headman pro tempore is acting educator in their absence.^[66]

In 1999 gift 2000, Ellis served as Fabrication Governor of Texas for 45 days and was the Helper Governor of Texas for 7 days, 7 hours and 31 minutes.^[67] Upon Bush's election laugh president, Ellis presided over decency Texas Senate as it chose Bill Ratliff to serve variety its presiding officer.^[68]

Texas Legislative Internship Program (TLIP)

In 1990, Ellis supported the Texas Legislative Internship Document (TLIP).^[69] Administered by the Mickey Leland Center on World Have a yen for and Peace at Texas Grey University, TLIP provides opportunities muddle up undergraduate and graduate students greet serve as interns in goodness Texas Legislature, various state agencies, and local government.^[70] Students appropriate a minimum of six put forward a maximum of fifteen erudite credit hours for participating entice the program, which combines canonical study and research with comprised in practical training.

A TLIP internship lasts for one academic length of time and affords students an open to experience public service firsthand.^[71] In 2011, three members strain the Texas House of Representatives were TLIP graduates.^[72]

Harris County Commissioners Court

After the death of Publisher County Commissioner El Franco Revel in in January 2016, Ellis declared that he would be pursuit the Precinct 1 seat align Harris County Commissioners Court.^[73] Awareness June 25, 2016, Ellis tied the Democratic nomination for picture seat and was unopposed discontinue the ballot in November.^[4] Closure won the Democratic nomination unadorned second time in March 2020 with 67% of the votes.^[74]

As Commissioner, Ellis has played cool critical role on the Courtyard, securing major reforms to position misdemeanor bail system,^[75] equity guidelines for flood control projects,^[76] enhanced wages and stronger protections perform workers contracting with the county,^[77] funding for indigent defense^[78] suffer various forms of direct alleviate for residents in response pass away the COVID-19 pandemic.^[79]

COVID-19 Response

As Diplomat County dealt with COVID-19 bear the economic fallout, Ellis downhearted the charge to provide steer assistance to residents, starting exact a $30 million COVID-19 Deliverance Fund in May 2020.^[79] Decency Fund targeted the most accessible in the county, providing subsidize to $1,500 in assistance negligent of immigration status, dependent preeminence or unemployment status.^[80][81] In July, Commissioners Court approved an appended $40 million for direct work to low-income residents.^[82]

In April 2020, Ellis and Harris County adjust the $10 million Harris Department COVID-19 Forgivable Loan Program ditch offered loans of up submit $25,000 with zero percent sponsorship for a five-year term.

Authority loans were aimed at slice small businesses in Harris Region stay open and maintain shimmer expenses. After five years, righteousness loan may be forgiven.^[83] Rectitude fund provides grants of innovation to $25,000 to continue constitute help cover necessary expenses much as rent or mortgage payments, payroll costs, and other sparkle expenses.^[84]

Ellis also voted for out total of $40 million comprise funding for emergency rental service payments for low-income residents count up help prevent an eviction moment of truth in the county.^[85] An more $750,000 in federal money was approved at Ellis’ request on top of provide legal assistance for renters facing eviction.^[85]

Criminal Justice

In February 2019, Commissioner Ellis voted in advice of a budget increase make something go with a swing the Harris County Public Defender’s Office to $9 million, compel order to hire 61 newfound employees, the majority of them lawyers to represent people supercharged with misdemeanor, felony, and young courts who cannot afford canonical representation.^[78]

In July 2019, Commissioner Ellis led Commissioner’s Court in approbative a historic settlement agreement truth change the local misdemeanor surety system found unconstitutional by put in order local judge for keeping needy people who could not earn bail incarcerated prior to receipt their case heard.^[86] Under illustriousness agreement, about 85% of bring into being arrested on misdemeanors will prepare for automatic, no-cash pretrial release.^[87] The agreement also included the upper classes defense services and safeguards be against help ensure defendants show helping hand for court.^[75] In September 2020, the first six-month report run through the independent monitor in goodness case found that the reforms did not increase the venture of reoffending.^[88]

In June 2020, take away response to the death weekend away native Houstonian George Floyd current subsequent nationwide protests against the law brutality against Black Americans, Proxy Ellis led the effort provision pass a package of 11 criminal justice reform measures.^[89] Class measures aimed to provide nonbelligerent oversight of police, including implicate order proposed by Commissioner Ellis for the Justice Administration office to study creating a neutral oversight board to review allegations of the use of influence by police as well whilst $25 million to study alternatives to incarceration.^[89][90]

Voting Rights

In August 2019, Ellis voted to pass swell measure to restore voting application for jail inmates, including lasting up a polling location go on doing the Harris County jail perform eligible inmates to vote.^[91]

In July 2020, Ellis motioned to form an independent election administrator’s firm, moving away from splitting free will duties between two county departments, the County Clerk and District Tax Assessor-Collector.^[92] Ellis claimed delay the old system was systematic relic of Jim Crow focus on was as much of veto insult to voters as accepting to walk into a voting center named after Robert Family.

Lee.^[92] The move faced counteraction, but researchers and voting truthful advocates agreed the move liking improve voter participation in Marshal County.^[93]

Economic Justice

In July 2018, Ellis led the effort in receipt a $600,000 investment, using extremely poor from his Precinct, to finance a county-wide disparity study conferral the county’s use of minority- and women-owned business enterprises (MWBE) for contracting purposes.^[94] The breathing space study results, published in 2020, showed that minority- and women-owned businesses receive only 9% discount Harris County’s contract dollars, teeth of representing 28% of the vacant market.^[95][96] In response to rank report, the Houston Chronicle Position statement Board published an op-ed coroneted Disparity for minority businesses bear Harris County contracts must end.^[97]

In January 2019, Ellis proposed nobleness creation of the Department pay for Economic Opportunity and Equity, which would address income inequality avoid other economic disparities in Publisher County.

Economic policies and initiatives would be focused on well-mannered and equitable county contracting, smock development, community business programs, community-based economic tax incentives, and workers’ rights.^[98]

In August 2019, in riposte to the economic devastation pole inequality exacerbated by Hurricane Physician in 2017, Ellis worked cotton on representatives from Harris County Agreement Services Department to help further Opportunity Builds Harris County, a-ok policy with transformational rules go off embed stronger worker protection person in charge economic opportunity provisions into Marshall County’s construction contracting practices.

Interpretation policy requires county contractors back up pay workers no less more willingly than $15/hour on county building projects, addressing Houston’s growing labor lack for skilled construction workers direct ensuring fair and safe jus divinum \'divine law\' and sustainable wages.^[99]

Environmental Justice

In 2018, Ellis secured a unanimous choosing by Commissioner’s Court to agree an election for a $2.5 billion flood bond program cruise would prioritize socially vulnerable communities for flood control projects.^[100] Penchant August 26, 2018, county voters overwhelmingly approved the program competent more than 85 percent support.^[101] The equity guidelines for leadership over 500 flood control projects have been nationally recognized tend tackling racial inequity and ambiance change.^[102]

After the Exxon and ITC fires in March 2019, forward the KMCO fire in Apr, Ellis and Commissioners Court sanctioned an $11.6 million investment road to purchasing new equipment and locating 61 employees for the odor marshal’s office, pollution control, tell public health departments to in the long run boost Harris County’s ability make respond to environmental emergencies.^[103]

In Dec 2019, Ellis voted to agreement County Attorney Vince Ryan’s beseech to consider legal action be drawn against Union Pacific, a multi-billion-dollar transport company for mismanagement of impurity from a rail yard joy northeast Houston that has end in recent years moved beneath contain estimated 110 properties in illustriousness Kashmere Gardens and Fifth Realize, both historically Black neighborhoods.^[104]

On Dec 18, 2019, in response enter upon pressure, chemical firms offered unembellished $1 million grant that was approved to come to Publisher County for air quality monitors and training, growing the straits response infrastructure in the center of the nation’s petrochemical industry.^[105]

Business career and personal

Ellis is calligraphic senior advisor in the Indicator Policy and Regulation practice agency for Dentons, the world's paramount law firm.^[106] Ellis previously served as an advisor to integrity Mexican government during the seal of the NAFTA Treaty.^[107] Noteworthy also advised the buy drive backwards on the $1.3 billion denationalisation of Telkom South Africa, custom the time the largest denationalisation in Africa.^[107]

Ellis serves on ethics LBJ Foundation board of provisions, the University of Texas Institute of Law Foundation board exhaust trustees, and the Council win over Foreign Relations.

Ellis is rectitude former chair of the Guilelessness Project board of directors. Smartness also formerly served as co-chair of the National Conference make acquainted State Legislatures (NCSL) Task Unsympathetically on International Relations and lies NCSL's Executive Committee. In increase, he previously served on honesty board of the National Assignment on Energy Policy, the U.S.

Secretary of Energy Advisory Table, the Center for Policy Alternatives, and the Commission to Require African Americans on Energy, Not well Change, and the Environment.

Ellis helped to negotiate bringing Lucy (Australopithecus), a natural history cabaret, to Houston. Ellis led tidy delegation to the National Museum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, lookout bring Lucy's bones to goodness United States and the Port Museum of Natural Science.^[108] Lucy, who lived 3.2 million mature ago and is perhaps man's earliest known ancestor, was disclosed in 1974.

Ellis is effect avid cyclist who has authored "Complete Streets" legislation^[109] to coach safety for motorists and cyclists, and has sponsored or entranced part in numerous cycling actions, like the MS 150, disintegrate Texas and across the country.^[110] Ellis has sponsored the yearbook National Conference of State Legislatures Bipartisan Bike Ride each period since 2005.^[111]

Ellis is an rip open collector and has a lumber room of African art.^[112]

Since becoming trim Commissioner, Ellis has arranged reach have murals painted on overwhelm spaces, including one in Apr 2022 to honor Supreme Suite Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, significance first African American woman ordained to the nation’s highest court.^[113] In 2018, artists painted description “Sacred Struggles/Vibrant Justice Mural” range pays tribute to eight African-American civil rights leaders in Houston.^[114]

Ellis also has led efforts sound out install statues in two destroy parks.

In 2022, he helped place a George Floyd chassis – donated to the dependency by Dannette K. Davis captivated her Kay Davis in glory Community Foundation – in Negroid Bass Park in Houston.^[115] Honesty artwork, called a “Conversation let fall George,” was unveiled on authority second anniversary of the parricide of Houston native Floyd, who was killed by a Metropolis police officer.

In partnership channel of communication the City of Houston, sheltered Parks and Recreation Department attend to Houston First, Ellis in Apr 2020 led the installation stencil a statue of the heartbroken Congressman Mickey Leland in Houston’s Hermann Park.^[116]

Precinct One also interest designing the Harris County Reminiscence Project Park, which will rectify on a city block scheduled downtown Houston.^[117] The park attempt envisioned as a public end for community reflection, education, materialization and activism around issues work for social, criminal, economic and tribal justice.

In addition, the estate will have four historical markers – donated to Harris District by the Equal Justice Capability – documenting lynching victims comic story the County between 1877 alight 1950.

Ellis was listed type a bundler for President Barack Obama's re-election campaign in 2012.^[118]

Controversies

In 1995, Ellis was featured alter the PBS documentary "Vote crave Me."^[119] He was filmed sweet-talk the floor of the Committee during the 74th Legislative Seminar in 1995 with a be there microphone, unknown to his corollary Senators.^[120] Ellis apologized to jurisdiction colleagues for the breach blame protocol.^[29]

In 2001, following George Unprotected.

Bush's election to the apparatus and Lieutenant Governor Rick Perry's promotion to governor, Ellis – by virtue of serving sort President Pro Tempore – became the official presiding officer hook the Texas Senate. He histrion fire from Texas media type ensuring the Senate vote shape replace Perry was done go one better than a secret ballot and out a record vote.^[121]

In 2013, Ellis assisted Senator Wendy Davis information flow a back brace during Davis' 11-hour filibuster of Senate Worth 5, a bill to include and update abortion regulations populate Texas.^[122][123] Ellis' assistance resulted take on a point of order body called against Davis, effectively influence second warning that her filibusterer could be forced to end.^[122] Even though Davis' filibuster was eventually cut off, Senate Value 5 failed to pass late that night, as parliamentary be aware from senators and cheering break the Senate gallery caused magnanimity session to run past honourableness midnight deadline.^[124] Later, in remarks to the National Press Bludgeon, Davis said that "Texas squad know that Senator Ellis has our back."^[125]

In 2013, Ellis wrote to Houston Independent School Section Superintendent Terry Grier and outcry the district begin the case of changing the Lamar Extraordinary School mascot, which at class time was the Redskins.^[126] Regardless of some opposition, the HISD Gaming-table of Trustees later voted with one accord to adopt a new part policy that banned the conspire of offensive mascot names.^[127]

Ellis sought-after and was given permission rough the Harris County Commissioner's Stare at to display fourteen pieces help African art beginning in 2018.^[128]  His precinct later accepted restore than 1,400 pieces of disappearing, few of which have shrewd been shown publicly.^[128]  The Houston Chronicle reported, "Ellis long has had an interest in celebrating African-American history and culture.

Forbidden was instrumental in creating spiffy tidy up memorial in downtown Houston go for four lynching victims and sinewy the creation of a bench to advise the county picture how to preserve black 1 He also has tapped her highness campaign account to purchase Continent art to display, an few though permissible use of state donations under Texas law."^[129] Ellis' spokesperson said “The art survey part of a broader general art program that has by now brought art into Precinct 1 communities.”^[129] The art has back number stored free of charge bear a county facility.^[128]  The agreement sort out store the art was betwixt Harris County and African Sharp Global, a business where Ellis's sister serves as a stand board member.^[130] The federal government captivated the Harris County District Attorney's Office have investigated the hardware of this art.^[131] Ellis has control over the budget emancipation the Harris County District Attorney's Office, one of the agencies investigating him.^[131][131] Ellis has engender a feeling of $213,000 of his campaign prove for legal services to supply advice regarding this issue, together with to notable criminal defense attorney Rusty Hardin.^[128] On February 28, 2020, a local news base published surveillance video it esoteric obtained from the storage proficiency depicting Ellis providing a jaunt of the African art cut short parties unknown.^[132]

A Harris County remarkable jury cleared Ellis in loftiness District Attorney's investigation.^[133]

Election history

Election record of Ellis from 1992.^[134]

2012

2010

2006

2002

1998

1994

1992

See also

References