Jason Villalba facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jason Villalba
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| Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 114th district |
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| In office January 8, 2013 – January 8, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Will Ford Hartnett |
| Succeeded by | John Turner |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 26, 1971 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Brooke Villalba |
| Children | 3 |
| Residences | Richardson, Texas |
| Alma mater | Baylor University (BA) University of Texas at Austin (JD) |
| Occupation | Attorney |
Jason Villalba (born March 26, 1971) is an American politician and attorney. He is a Republican who used to be a member of the Texas House of Representatives. He represented District 114 in Dallas County. He currently works for the law firm Frost Brown Todd.
In 2018, Jason Villalba lost the Republican primary election to Lisa Luby Ryan. She then lost the main election to Democrat John Turner.
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Early Life and Education
Jason Villalba is a fourth-generation Texan, meaning his family has lived in Texas for many generations. His family has Mexican roots. He went to South Grand Prairie High School in Grand Prairie.
He studied economics and finance at Baylor University. Later, he earned his law degree from The University of Texas School of Law in Austin.
Career Highlights
Jason Villalba has worked as a lawyer at several law firms. These include Haynes and Boone LLP, Gardere, and Foley and Lardner. He is currently a member of the Frost Brown Todd law firm in Dallas.
Political Journey
When Republican Representative Will Ford Hartnett decided not to run for re-election, Jason Villalba sought the Republican nomination for District 114. He won the nomination after a close second round of voting. His opponent was Bill Keffer. Villalba was supported by important political figures like Mitt Romney and U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.
In the main election, Villalba won against Democratic former Representative Carol Kent. He received 33,970 votes (54.2 percent) compared to Kent's 28,762 votes (45.8 percent).
Key Votes and Proposals
In 2013, Representative Villalba voted for new rules for clinics that provide certain healthcare services for women. These rules were very strict. He also supported a ban on these services after twenty weeks of pregnancy.
Early in his time as a legislator, Villalba faced disagreement from some conservative groups. This happened when he suggested that Texas should look at options for setting up state health insurance exchanges. This was after the U.S. Supreme Court decided that the federal healthcare law was constitutional.
In December 2014, Villalba proposed a change to the Texas Constitution. This change aimed to protect freedom of religion. However, it would also have removed certain laws that prevent unfair treatment in cities and counties across Texas. Many groups, including Democrats, Republicans, and business leaders, did not support this idea, and it was later withdrawn.
On March 10, 2015, Villalba introduced a bill about recording police officers. This bill would have made it illegal to photograph or record police officers from closer than 25 feet. If someone had a license to carry a hidden handgun, the distance would be 100 feet. Only official representatives from major news organizations would be allowed to record closer. This bill caused a lot of discussion. Many people felt it went against the right of citizens to record police actions, which had been supported by a court ruling in 2011.
Villalba was a political friend of Joe Straus. Straus was the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives from San Antonio. In 2014, Villalba mentioned that the Texas Senate would be very conservative. He thought that many bills from the Senate might not pass in the House, which was seen as more moderate.
Re-election and Later Campaigns
Villalba won his re-election in the Republican primary on March 1, 2016. He defeated challenger Dan Morenoff. He then won the general election on November 8, 2016, against Democrat Jim Burke.
In 2019, Villalba ran for Mayor of Dallas. However, he was not successful, receiving only 6% of the votes in the first round.
Personal Life
Jason Villalba lives in north Dallas with his wife, Brooke. They have three children. He is a member of the Methodist church.
