New state rep ready to get started

When the 82nd session of the Texas Legislature convenes, state Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, will be one of the new faces in the House.

Reynolds defeated longtime incumbent Dora Olivo to represent District 27, one of the fastest-growing and most diverse districts in the state.

Included in the district are the cities of Arcola, Fairchilds, Fresno, Pleak, Richmond, Rosenberg, Thompsons and portions of Houston, Missouri City and Stafford. Lamar Consolidated Independent School District, Stafford Municipal School District and Fort Bend and Needville school districts are included in District 27.

Reynolds said he's looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead and has several objectives.

The legislative session officially begins noon Tuesday, Jan. 11, at the Capitol in Austin.

"First of all, I plan to work with the Fort Bend delegation of (District 26 state Rep.) Charlie Howard and (District 28 state Rep.) John Zerwas to make sure we work together in a bipartisan manner so we accomplish the goals for the district," Reynolds said. "We have all three talked about how we can work together and be beneficial for Fort Bend County."

Among the biggest challenges, Reynolds said, will be balancing a state budget with an estimated $25 billion shortfall.

"That's going to take a lot of work and creativity, to see where we make the necessary cuts," he said.

As far as Reynolds is concerned, those cuts won't be aimed at school funding.

"That's where my passion is - public education," he said. "My dream would be to see a public school finance bill passed that would clear up the inequities in public school financing. Right now there are a lot of rich schools and poor schools; you have too many disparities."

For his part, Reynolds believes the current school financing system needs to be revamped.

"It doesn't make sense. It needs to be simplified. It needs to be a common-sense formula ... so you don't create winners and losers," he said.

Another matter sure to take up much of legislators' time, said Reynolds, will be carving out the four new districts made necessary by tremendous state growth, with a shift away from rural areas.

"That's always a big fight, from my understanding. Everything has to be very proportional," he said, adding he hopes to be "a voice of reason when it comes to some of the bills that have already been filed; for instance, immigration and voter ID."

With plenty of "volatile issues" and the new "super majority" of 101 Republicans versus 49 Democrats, Reynolds predicted it will be "a very difficult session; one of the most contentious sessions in years."

"I think that I'm pretty even-tempered and not real partisan; more middle-of-the-road-centered," he said. "It's very exciting for me, you know - fresh blood, eager, optimistic - but I realize the challenges that lie ahead."

Olivo knows those challenges all too well; the attorney and former schoolteacher who lives in Rosenberg served seven two-year terms in office before falling to Reynolds in the Democratic primary in March.

"It's been a blessing; a really wonderful journey," she said. "I learned from the best."

Among her accomplishments in office, Olivo lists a successful fight to increase funding for public schools and working for quality education, the creation of more accessible and affordable health care for families, battling a landfill expansion and protecting the safety and welfare of the mentally challenged.

"I feel proud of the work for the mentally challenged and environmental issues such as landfills. I fought hard for the state school, for legislation for the mentally challenged. It's hard to get everything passed, but you try," she said. "I'm thankful; it was really a privilege to serve the people of the state of Texas in my district. I met some wonderful people not only in my district, but across the state."