Jerry Patterson
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Jerry Patterson (born November 15, 1946) is only the second Republican since Reconstruction to serve as land commissioner of Texas.
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[edit] Election and job responsibilities
He was first elected in November 2002 to succeed fellow Republican David Dewhurst, who gave up the post to become lieutenant governor. Patterson polled 2,331,700 votes (53.16 percent) to Democrat David Bernsen's 1,819,365 (41.48 percent). Two minor candidates shared the remaining 5.36 percent. Both Patterson and Bernsen were state senators at the time they contested the land commissioner's position. Patterson represented District 11 in Houston, and Bernsen represented a Democratic district in Southeast Texas.
The land commissioner oversees the General Land Office, which manages nearly 21 million acres (85,000 km²) of public lands and coastal areas, some 12 percent of the total area in Texas. The Land Office leases oil and gas drilling rights on these public lands to help pay for public education.
[edit] Background
Patterson is a native of Houston, Texas. He and his wife Jennifer reside in Austin. Patterson has four children: twins Samantha and Cole, born in 2004, and, from a previous marriage, Emily Patterson and Travis Patterson. Emily Patterson is a graduate of the South Texas College of Law and works for the OSCE as a Human Rights Officer in Kosovo. Travis Patterson graduated from Texas A&M University, where he was commissioned a Marine lieutenant. He has served on active duty as a Marine attack helicopter pilot.
Prior to becoming land commissioner, Patterson served six years in the Texas state senate. His major legislative successes included passage of the concealed handgun law of 1995, a constitutional amendment allowing home equity lending in 1998, the state coastal management plan, and the creation of the Texas State Veterans Home Program. He has been an advocate of individual freedom and constitutional rights. Patterson also works for veterans causes, having himself been a U.S. marine for more than twenty years.
Patterson graduated from Texas A&M University in College Station in 1969. In 1972, he volunteered for duty in Vietnam. He was later designated a naval flight officer in Pensacola, Florida, and he served in Marine fighter squadrons until his retirement from the Marine Corps Reserve as a lieutenant colonel in 1993.
Patterson has often worked in the political arena for conservative causes and candidates. In 2004, he headed the Texas state campaign for the re-election of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney as president and vice president.
[edit] Reelection as land commissioner
Patterson defeated Democrat VaLinda Hathcox in his bid for a second term as land commissioner in the November 7, 2006 general election. Hathcox, a Sulphur Springs native, was the first woman to have been elected county attorney in Hopkins County. She was also previously on the staff of former Texas Democratic Attorney General James "Jim" Mattox. Both Patterson and Hathcox were unopposed in their March 7 primaries. Patterson polled 551,490 votes, and Hathcox secured 402,786 ballots. Patterson hence led by nearly 150,000 votes on primary day.
The final results were as follows: 2,314,965 (55 percent) for Patterson, 1,720,985 (41 percent) for Hathcox, and 166,965 (4 percent) for Michael A. French, nominee of the Libertarian Party.
