ChrisBell.com provides legal advice & representation in the Houston, TX area
Title
Chris Bell for Texas Governor
Description
A true son of the Lone Star State, Chris Bell has lived his whole life in Texas. He was born in Abilene in 1959, the son of a decorated veteran. He grew up in Dallas, attending public schools. He went to the University of Texas at Austin, earning a journalism degree in 1982 and getting his first taste of politics when he led an effort to restore student government. After graduating, Chris worked as a successful television and radio journalist, being named "best radio reporter in the state" by the Texas Associated Press in 1990. He left journalism after receiving his law degree from South Texas College of Law in 1992 and beginning a successful litigation practice.
Chris Bell began his career in public service after being elected to the Houston City Council in 1997. He quickly earned a reputation as a hardnosed watchdog against fiscal mismanagement and corruption. He helped pass the city's first property tax rate rollback, fought to curb wasteful spending, and sponsored a number of customer service initiatives. At a time when city government was plagued by questionable practices, Chris took over as chairman of the council's Ethics Committee and succeeded in passing landmark campaign finance and ethics reform bills. Under Chris's leadership, the Ethics Committee limited soft money in municipal elections, required lobbyists to register, and drafted a "revolving door" policy that prevented city employees from cashing in on their insider connections. These efforts to make city government more transparent and more accountable drew widespread praise from colleagues and community leaders from all different political backgrounds.
After five years on the Houston City Council, Chris Bell was elected to Congress in November 2002 and quickly earned a reputation as an incredibly effective freshman. He was called a "rising star" in Roll Call, the leading Capitol Hill newspaper. He served as a Senior Whip on the Democratic leadership team, secured millions of dollars for local projects, and served on four standing committees. He also founded and chaired the Port Security Caucus, a bipartisan group of legislators who fought for federal resources to improve security at our nation's seaports.
Languages
English
