Todd Hunter Files for Election to District 32 Legislative Seat

CORPUS CHRISTI – Former state legislator Todd Hunter who helped lead efforts on tort reform and education during four successful terms in the Texas House of Representatives filed today for the Republican nomination for the District 32 legislative seat.

Hunter who is senior partner of Hunter & Handel PC in Corpus Christi was first elected to serve in the State Legislature in 1988 where he was instrumental in helping Texas A&M – Corpus Christi become a four year university and in coastal issues such as windstorm insurance reform. Known as a consensus builder Hunter worked across party lines to help pass numerous bills that resulted in the Coastal Bend delegation being recognized as one of the most effective legislative teams in the Texas Legislature.

Hunter served as chairman of the House Civil Practices Committee and as a member of the powerful Appropriations Ways and Means and State Affairs Committees.

 “This is a campaign for the values of the people of District 32” Hunter said. “They deserve to be represented by a strong conservative leader who they can trust on issues like education lowering property taxes health care and getting tough on crime.”

Hunter knows the values and the people of District 32. He represented three of the four counties before redistricting occurred after he left office. District 32 includes San Patricio Aransas and Calhoun counties as well as part of Nueces County.

Hunter left the legislature in January 1997 after four terms as a state lawmaker so that he could spend more time with his family and with his three young children.

Today the 54-year-old Hunter says they are among his most ardent supporters in his effort to help the Coastal Bend and District 32 regain the legislative influence it needs to move into the future.

Hunter and his wife Alexis are the parents of Todd Jr. 21 a senior at Texas A&M – College Station; Michael 20 a sophomore at Trinity University; and Christina 16 a sophomore at King High School.
 
“When I left public service in 1997 it was to spend more time with my wife and children” said Hunter. “I said then that when the kids got older I wanted to re-enter public life to serve the people of this area and of Texas. I believe now is the time.”

Both Republicans and Democrats across Texas urged Hunter to seek election to the District 32 post because of his expertise on numerous issues important to the state.

In addition to his work on windstorm insurance reforms Hunter’s efforts were key to the passage of the Coastal Ocean Observation Network a modern state-of-the-art water-level measurement system that provides real-time water-level and meteorological information. Today that network assists local officials with preparations for incoming hurricanes and tropical storms. He was also a leader on public education efforts and was instrumental in efforts to make higher education more accessible to students in underserved areas of the state.

“District 32 is home to some of the best schools in Texas” Hunter said. “But our public school system must have measures to improve performance and accountability while paying our teachers a livable wage and giving them the freedom to do their jobs in the best way possible.” Hunter said.

Hunter was honored by the Corpus Christi Caller Times as their "Newsmaker Of The Year" for 1996. The newspaper stated that "Todd Hunter leaves a prolific legacy" and provided a legacy of service. He has also been honored by many other publications including the Dallas Morning News Texas Monthly and Texas business publications.

Numerous groups also honored Hunter’s time in the legislature including the Golden Crescent Regional Planning Commission; the Texas Medical Association the Texas Chamber of Commerce Texans for Financial Responsibility and the Texas Municipal League.

He serves on numerous community boards and organizations and is a regular sponsor of youth sports league programs.

The Hunter campaign plans a formal kickoff in January.