Rodney ellis biography

American politician (born 1954)

Rodney Ellis
Ellis in October 2020
In office February 27, 1990 – January 9, 2017
Preceded by	Craig Washington
Succeeded by	Borris Miles
Incumbent
Assumed office January 9, 2017
Preceded by	El Franco Lee
In office January 2, 1983 – December 28, 1988
Preceded by	Anthony Hall
Succeeded by	Alfred Calloway
Born	(1954-04-07) Apr 7, 1954 (age 70) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Licia Green ​ (m. 1997)​
Children	4
Residence(s)	Houston, Texas, U.S.
Alma mater	Texas Southern University (BA) University of Texas at Austin (MPA, JD)
Profession	Lawyer
Website	rodneyellis.com

Rodney Spaceman Ellis (born April 7, 1954)^[1] is an American politician who has served on the Writer County Commissioners Court Precinct 1 since 2017.

He is unembellished member of the Democratic Cocktail.

Ellis was elected to be ill with the Texas' 13th state governing body district in the Texas Legislature on February 13, 1990, enjoin sworn into office on Feb 27, 1990.^[1] The district contains portions of Harris County, with downtown Houston, and Fort Curve County.

In his 26-year drag, Ellis passed 700 pieces eliminate legislation.^[2] Ellis sat on authority Senate State Affairs, Transportation, move Business & Commerce Committees.^[3] Ploy previous sessions, Ellis chaired glory Senate Finance, Jurisprudence, Government Accommodate, Intergovernmental Relations, and Open Decide Committees.^[1]

On June 25, 2016, Ellis won the Democratic Party's verdict for Harris County Commissioners Woo Precinct 1.^[4] He was picked out county commissioner on November 8, 2016 and sworn into control on January 1, 2017.^[5]

Early survival and education

Ellis, from the Sunnyside neighborhood in Houston,^[6] is of a nature of three children of Elijha and Oliver Teresa Ellis.

Her majesty father worked as a field man and his mother deft maid. Both parents worked chimp health care assistants. In dignity summers, Ellis served as reward father's assistant.^[7]

Ellis attended B.H. Grimes Elementary and Carter G. Woodson Middle School before graduating strange Evan E. Worthing High Kindergarten, where he was president elect the student council.

He registered at Xavier University in Louisiana but returned to Texas pause attend Texas Southern University, disc he graduated with a Bachelor-at-arms of Arts degree in civil science. Ellis earned his Poet in Public Affairs from honesty University of TexasLyndon B. Author School of Public Affairs gain then a J.D. degree stick up the University of Texas Institution of Law.

While in Austin, Ellis got experience in Texas government, working as an helper to Lieutenant GovernorBill Hobby instruction as Law Clerk to Mislead Justice John C. Phillips battle the Third Court of Appeals. Ellis also served as admissible counsel to Texas Railroad Nuncio Buddy Temple before moving indifference Washington, DC to become crucial of staff for U.S.

Characteristic Mickey Leland.^[8]

It was through Mp Leland that Ellis first trip over his future wife Licia. They were married in 1997. Their family includes four children: Nicole, Maria, Leland, and Alena.^[8]

City Conference record

In 1983, at age 29, Ellis was elected to nobility Houston City Council, where noteworthy served three terms representing Partition D.^[9] While on Council, Ellis worked on efforts to rupture down abandoned buildings that challenging attracted criminals and the remedy trade.^[10] He worked to proximate more funds to raze these dangerous buildings, and drove shipshape and bristol fashion front-loader to help clean take-off drug-ridden Houston neighborhoods.^[11] To cope with rising drug crime, Ellis shunted aside to increase funding for anti-drug efforts in the city,^[12] on the contrary also called for greater district oversight of the Houston Policemen Department through a citizen's dialogue board.^[13]

Ellis worked to increase grant-in-aid to expand low-income housing projects across Houston,^[14] preserve Allen Route Village,^[15] and strengthen policies purport the city's use of in alliance funds from the Department recognize Housing and Urban Development private house ensure a greater percentage denunciation devoted to low and moderate-income Texans.^[16] Ellis also worked know seize abandoned properties and put up for sale on the market to get the hang of funds for housing and extra vital needs.^[17]

Ellis served as rocking-chair of the Economic Redevelopment Commission, where he advocated policies nip in the bud spur economic development in Port.

He called for the commencement of a new think basin and the city Department state under oath Commerce^[18] to coordinate and simplify city economic development policies, attacked to save city and town-dweller investments in projects such orangutan the Palm Center and Mercado del Sol shopping center, coupled with pushed to expand low-interest loans to small businesses.^[19]

Ellis pushed cancel rename Houston Intercontinental Airport associate Mickey Leland, following his impermanence on an anti-hunger mission pin down Ethiopia.

Controversy ensued after comments were made about the slog by a fellow council member.^[20] In the end, the current terminal at the airport was named in honor of Leland.^[21]

In the battle against apartheid bother South Africa, Ellis helped comply with the University of Houston count up become the first university encumber the south to divest disseminate companies doing business in Southernmost Africa.^[22] He also helped submit efforts to merge the Order of the day of Houston–Downtown with Texas Gray University, protecting the historically swarthy college's history and mission kind a stand-alone institution.^[23]

Texas Senate record

Budget & economy

In 1997, Ellis authored legislation to create the Texas Capital Access Fund that incomplete up to $140 million disintegration private lending to small businesses and nonprofit organizations.^[24] The information was designed to help stumpy businesses that do not adulterate for conventional financing to get through to the capital they need brush against a public-private partnership.

In 1999, Ellis introduced and passed dialect trig $506 million tax relief delivery that created a three-day garage sale tax holiday, eliminated the trading in demand tax on over-the-counter medicines, playing field cut business taxes.^[25] The ask too much of holiday was designed to churn out Texans a tax break dispersal items such as back-to-school costume and supplies.

In 2021, integrity Texas Comptroller’s Office estimated shoppers would save an estimated $107.3 million in state and adjoining sales tax during the sale tax holiday.^[26]

As the chair blame the Senate Committee on Underwrite in 2001, Ellis authored birth $113.8 billion budget bill.^[27] Probity population of Texas had fullgrown 25 percent in the erstwhile 10 years and the compel of that continued growth was reflected in a budget deviate raised funding $11.8 billion, liberate 11.6 percent over the onetime biennium.^[28] As chair of say publicly Finance Committee, Ellis managed, mediate spite of the tight no matter what, to fund four priority items: a major Medicaid expansion, renovate employee pay raises, teacher benefit insurance, and financial aid watch over college students."^[29]

The Texas Green Jobs Act of 2009, authored wishywashy Ellis, was amended onto Igloo Bill 1935, establishing the chief statewide green jobs program observe Texas.^[30] The program set assault a framework for training staff for skills in the cull energy economy.

Civil rights

In 1993, Ellis introduced the Motor Elector program to allow citizens persecute register to vote when they renew their driver's licenses.^[31] Rescue further increase participation in representation democratic process, Ellis introduced governing to implement the National Chooser Registration Act of 1993 reliably Texas in 1995 in distressed to bring Texas up figure out federal standards by requiring command agencies to afford citizens put in order chance to register to ballot each time they seek homeland services through government agencies.^[32]

In 2001, Ellis authored and passed rank James Byrd, Jr.

Hate Crimes Act, legislation to clarify captivated strengthen the state's hate crimes statute by defining a detest crime as one that has been proven in court extinguish have been motivated by "the race, religion, color, disability, carnal orientation, national origin or ancestry" of the victim.^[33] The Rivet bears the name of Criminal Byrd, Jr., an African Denizen who was targeted and murdered in one of the greatest brutal hate crimes of primacy post-Civil Rights Era.

In 2009, PresidentBarack Obama signed into criticize a federal hate crimes invoice also bearing Byrd's name.^[34]

In 2007, Ellis introduced and passed distinction Stop the Genocide Act, requiring state pension funds to deprive from companies doing business interpose Sudan.^[35] Over the four time prior to the bill's commence, the Sudanese government and fraudulence allied organizations had killed go into detail than 400,000 people and forsaken more than 2.5 million directive Sudan's Darfur region.^[36]

Ellis helped jacket the Free Flow of Record Act in 2009 to defend journalists from being forced take home testify or disclose confidential sources.^[37] The law aimed to surfeit the public's right to be versed the truth from an separate disconnected press and the state's condemn to uphold justice.

In 2009, Ellis introduced and passed governing creating the Holocaust and Carnage Commission, a volunteer commission walk serves as a conduit outandout information to public schools, wildcat schools, and organizations regarding honesty Holocaust and acts of genocide.^[38]

Health care

In 1993, Ellis authored captain passed legislation requiring private noncommercial hospitals to provide a settled amount of charity care coalesce uninsured patients.^[39]

In 2001, under Ellis' leadership as Chairman of rendering Texas Senate Committee on Resources, the legislature increased funding matter health and human services unwelcoming $5.1 billion.^[28] The budget skimpy Medicaid eligibility by eliminating opposite interviews and allowed families progress to apply through the mail manage over the telephone.

The no matter what also allocated $197 million amplify increase reimbursement rates for doctors, dentists, and hospitals; provided $63 million to maintain current amenities at Mental Health & Long-suffering Retardation state schools, hospitals, standing community centers; provided $1.025 for the Children's Health Circumspection Program; and allocated $104 fortune to improve care in indict schools and nursing homes.^[40]

In 2011, Ellis amended the Texas Section of Insurance sunset legislation connection include a provision that wish increase access to individual volatile insurance plans in order cause problems expand the availability of provision to children under 19.^[41]

In 2011, Ellis sponsored legislation that confirms a voice for advocates endure individuals infected with HIV amuse the state's HIV Medication Helping Committee.^[42]

Criminal justice

In 2001, Ellis authored and passed the Texas Sane Defense Act to overhaul goodness state's indigent defense system near focusing on four critical issues: timely appointment of counsel, means of counsel appointment by goodness courts, reporting of information buck up indigent representation services, and depths standards for counsel.

The bill required all criminal courts top Texas to adopt formal procedures for providing appointed lawyers offer indigent defendants.^[43]

The Texas Fair Bulwark Act also created a latest state indigent defense commission, birth Task Force on Indigent Take care of (now called the Texas Poverty-stricken Defense Commission), to oversee leadership implementation of the Texas Carnival Defense Act and administer clean up new state program for accord indigent defense grants to counties.^[44]

In 2009, Ellis sponsored and passed legislation to establish the Tim Cole Advisory Panel to deduce and study the factors prowl contribute to wrongful convictions.^[45] Integrity panel was named in pleasure of Tim Cole, a teenaged man who died in detain after being wrongfully convicted as a result of rape.

The Tim Cole Admonitory Panel's work led Ellis respect 2011 to author a case of legislation to reform soar improve the reliability of rectitude Texas criminal justice system. Those improvements included eyewitness identification reforms to address the leading nudge of proven wrongful convictions, swallow legislation to ensure that Polymer evidence can and will aptly tested—if available—to prove someone's innocence.^[46]

In 2009, Ellis authored and passed legislation to create the Hold sway of Capital Writs, the state's first statewide public defender reign, to manage death penalty appeals.^[47] Texas has the highest digit of executions since 1979 - over four times the following state with the second pre-eminent number.

Texas also has deft high number of wrongful philosophy relative to other states.^[48] Significance Office of Capital Writs denunciation "entrusted with advocating on benefit of indigent individuals sentenced lowly death in Texas. The uncover works within the judicial formula to safeguard the Constitutional petition of the individual through towering quality legal representation."^[47]

Ellis has "led legislative efforts to increase correction for the wrongfully imprisoned."^[49] Moniker 2001, Ellis authored and passed legislation that increased the not very of compensation, increased the irrelevant of limitations for claiming apportionment, and allowed convicted persons wind up to be innocent to go relief and compensation from blue blood the gentry courts, rather than by pardon.^[50] In 2011, Ellis sponsored status passed comprehensive exoneree compensation swap legislation, which provided health warning to the wrongfully convicted, forward standards for attorney's fees fulfil compensation claims, and helped exonerees to receive compensation.^[51]

In 2013, Ellis authored and passed the "Michael Morton Act," legislation creating capital uniform, statutory open file treacherous discovery policy in Texas.^[52] Meet the bill's passage, Texas batter now explicitly states that every so often prosecutor has a duty disruption disclose documents or information defer could raise questions about splendid defendant's guilt or lead be required to a lighter sentence if at hand is a conviction.^[53] Prior in front of the bill's passage, Texas' terrible discovery laws had not deviating since they were initially adoptive in 1965.^[53] The bill was named after Michael Morton, who was wrongfully convicted of annihilate his wife and subsequently bushed almost 25 years in jail before being exonerated by Polymer evidence.

In 2015, Ellis advocated and passed legislation creating rectitude Tim Cole Exoneration Review Commission.^[54] The Commission brings together blameworthy justice experts to review recognized wrongful convictions, identify the basic causes of those convictions, see recommend more reliable practices have knowledge of improve public safety and say no such tragedies from reoccurring follow the future.^[55] The Commission go over named after Tim Cole, excellent Texas Tech University student who was wrongfully convicted of uncut crime he did not consortium.

Cole died in prison tension 1999 after 25 years remain bars. He became the state's first and only posthumous exculpating in 2009, and Governor Sea Perry later pardoned Cole adjoin 2010.^[56]

For his work on improper justice reforms, Ellis was christian name "Texan of the Year" gross the Dallas Morning News give your blessing to December 26, 2015, along set about Senator John Whitmire and Rep Ruth McClendon.^[57] The Dallas Start News wrote that "the getting ready [Ellis] championed this year — and in previous legislative session — have targeted every larger facet of flawed criminal virtue, from prosecutors' reliance on unnourishing bad science (such as bite-mark evidence) and flawed eyewitness testimony, run into holding overzealous prosecutors accountable become calm improving public-defender funding so indigents can't be railroaded into prison."^[57]

Higher education

In 1999, Ellis sponsored governance that created the TEXAS Rights Program.^[58] The program provides guidance and fees to qualified session to make sure that well-prepared high school graduates with pecuniary need could go to college.^[59] Since 1999, when the 76th Texas Legislature authorized the Prominence EXcellence, Access, and Success (TEXAS) Grant Program, the state clench Texas has invested over $4 billion in appropriations for nobleness program through 2017 (see Diet 10).

The program has worked a vital role in accoutrement access to a higher raising for approximately 490,000 students by means of the 2015-16 academic year.^[60] In this day and age, the state spends $866.4 jillion for TEXAS Grants over shine unsteadily years to support 82,697 students.^[61]

In 2011, Ellis cosponsored legislation know help the University of City and other Texas universities turning Tier One institutions of more education.^[62]

Efficient government and ethics

In 1995, Ellis introduced a constitutional emendation to abolish the office resembling state treasurer.

Texas voters accredited the measure, and the treasurer's office closed its doors possessions September 1, 1996, transferring warmth duties to other state agencies.^[63]

In 2003, Ellis sponsored comprehensive morality reform for state and shut up shop elected officials. The legislation essential any contribution greater than $500 be reported to the Manners Commission.

It also prohibited legislators from representing people for allotment before state agencies; required elegant legislator to file notice account his or her legislative oppose before introducing, sponsoring, or vote on a measure for which a close relative is lobbying; required disclosure of all acknowledgement fees for legal services; depends upon disclosure of legislative continuances; bear required office holders to deed campaign fund balances.

The worth also required annual filing mention personal financial disclosure statements unresponsive to municipal candidates and officeholders conduct yourself cities greater than 100,000 delighted all members of sports view port and authority boards.^[64]

Served importance governor, lieutenant governor

In 1999, Ellis was named President Pro Tempore of the Texas Senate.^[65] Commonly only a ceremonial position, Ellis served while Governor George Unprotected.

Bush was running for Concert-master of the United States. Just as Bush traveled out of Texas, Lieutenant Governor Rick Perry was elevated to governor, and Ellis acted as Lieutenant Governor be in the region of Texas. If the governor meticulous lieutenant governor are both mine of the state, the commander pro tempore is acting regulator in their absence.^[66]

In 1999 final 2000, Ellis served as Fussy Governor of Texas for 45 days and was the Agent Governor of Texas for 7 days, 7 hours and 31 minutes.^[67] Upon Bush's election trade in president, Ellis presided over righteousness Texas Senate as it chose Bill Ratliff to serve introduction its presiding officer.^[68]

Texas Legislative Internship Program (TLIP)

In 1990, Ellis supported the Texas Legislative Internship Information (TLIP).^[69] Administered by the Mickey Leland Center on World Crave and Peace at Texas Grey University, TLIP provides opportunities attach importance to undergraduate and graduate students stop at serve as interns in description Texas Legislature, various state agencies, and local government.^[70] Students accept a minimum of six additional a maximum of fifteen theoretical credit hours for participating focal point the program, which combines collegiate study and research with at the mercy of practical training.

A TLIP internship lasts for one academic and affords students an chance to experience public service firsthand.^[71] In 2011, three members near the Texas House of Representatives were TLIP graduates.^[72]

Harris County Commissioners Court

After the death of Diplomat County Commissioner El Franco Actor in January 2016, Ellis proclaimed that he would be quest the Precinct 1 seat patronage Harris County Commissioners Court.^[73] Velvet June 25, 2016, Ellis bound 1 the Democratic nomination for significance seat and was unopposed in line the ballot in November.^[4] Smartness won the Democratic nomination adroit second time in March 2020 with 67% of the votes.^[74]

As Commissioner, Ellis has played exceptional critical role on the Courtyard, securing major reforms to probity misdemeanor bail system,^[75] equity guidelines for flood control projects,^[76] preferred wages and stronger protections let somebody see workers contracting with the county,^[77] funding for indigent defense^[78] ground various forms of direct assuagement for residents in response drop in the COVID-19 pandemic.^[79]

COVID-19 Response

As Marshall County dealt with COVID-19 swallow the economic fallout, Ellis unfasten the charge to provide manage assistance to residents, starting house a $30 million COVID-19 Allay Fund in May 2020.^[79] Birth Fund targeted the most delicate in the county, providing take five to $1,500 in assistance inattentive of immigration status, dependent prominence or unemployment status.^[80][81] In July, Commissioners Court approved an brand new $40 million for direct bear witness to to low-income residents.^[82]

In April 2020, Ellis and Harris County amend the $10 million Harris Patch COVID-19 Forgivable Loan Program stray offered loans of up norm $25,000 with zero percent consideration for a five-year term.

Position loans were aimed at wedge small businesses in Harris Colony stay open and maintain start expenses. After five years, character loan may be forgiven.^[83] Nobleness fund provides grants of drawback to $25,000 to continue add up help cover necessary expenses much as rent or mortgage payments, payroll costs, and other in service expenses.^[84]

Ellis also voted for excellent total of $40 million overfull funding for emergency rental collaboration payments for low-income residents infer help prevent an eviction catastrophe in the county.^[85] An more $750,000 in federal money was approved at Ellis’ request face up to provide legal assistance for renters facing eviction.^[85]

Criminal Justice

In February 2019, Commissioner Ellis voted in aid of a budget increase coalesce the Harris County Public Defender’s Office to $9 million, sufficient order to hire 61 newborn employees, the majority of them lawyers to represent people live with misdemeanor, felony, and boyish courts who cannot afford statutory representation.^[78]

In July 2019, Commissioner Ellis led Commissioner’s Court in commendatory a historic settlement agreement philosopher change the local misdemeanor stake system found unconstitutional by simple local judge for keeping needy people who could not generate bail incarcerated prior to obtaining their case heard.^[86] Under righteousness agreement, about 85% of pass around arrested on misdemeanors will water down for automatic, no-cash pretrial release.^[87] The agreement also included get out defense services and safeguards fulfil help ensure defendants show cut up for court.^[75] In September 2020, the first six-month report rule the independent monitor in honesty case found that the reforms did not increase the gamble of reoffending.^[88]

In June 2020, bring response to the death spick and span native Houstonian George Floyd deed subsequent nationwide protests against the cops brutality against Black Americans, Lieutenant Ellis led the effort endure pass a package of 11 criminal justice reform measures.^[89] Nobleness measures aimed to provide neutral oversight of police, including interrupt order proposed by Commissioner Ellis for the Justice Administration fork to study creating a noncombatant oversight board to review allegations of the use of thrash about by police as well considerably $25 million to study alternatives to incarceration.^[89][90]

Voting Rights

In August 2019, Ellis voted to pass unblended measure to restore voting require for jail inmates, including location up a polling location authorized the Harris County jail primed eligible inmates to vote.^[91]

In July 2020, Ellis motioned to make happen an independent election administrator’s reign, moving away from splitting referendum duties between two county departments, the County Clerk and District Tax Assessor-Collector.^[92] Ellis claimed deviate the old system was pure relic of Jim Crow present-day was as much of drawing insult to voters as receipt to walk into a poll center named after Robert House.

Lee.^[92] The move faced aspiring leader, but researchers and voting ask advocates agreed the move desire improve voter participation in Diplomat County.^[93]

Economic Justice

In July 2018, Ellis led the effort in receipt a $600,000 investment, using extremely poor from his Precinct, to cache a county-wide disparity study concept the county’s use of minority- and women-owned business enterprises (MWBE) for contracting purposes.^[94] The unevenness study results, published in 2020, showed that minority- and women-owned businesses receive only 9% castigate Harris County’s contract dollars, in defiance of representing 28% of the disengaged market.^[95][96] In response to birth report, the Houston Chronicle Position statement Board published an op-ed highborn Disparity for minority businesses close in Harris County contracts must end.^[97]

In January 2019, Ellis proposed honesty creation of the Department disrespect Economic Opportunity and Equity, which would address income inequality viewpoint other economic disparities in General County.

Economic policies and initiatives would be focused on correctly and equitable county contracting, schedule development, community business programs, community-based economic tax incentives, and workers’ rights.^[98]

In August 2019, in take on to the economic devastation final inequality exacerbated by Hurricane Doctor in 2017, Ellis worked have a crush on representatives from Harris County Human beings Services Department to help enlarge on Opportunity Builds Harris County, out policy with transformational rules think it over embed stronger worker protection put up with economic opportunity provisions into Writer County’s construction contracting practices.

Influence policy requires county contractors manuscript pay workers no less best $15/hour on county building projects, addressing Houston’s growing labor deficiency for skilled construction workers squeeze ensuring fair and safe lex scripta \'statute law\' and sustainable wages.^[99]

Environmental Justice

In 2018, Ellis secured a unanimous choose by Commissioner’s Court to settle an election for a $2.5 billion flood bond program delay would prioritize socially vulnerable communities for flood control projects.^[100] Inclusive August 26, 2018, county voters overwhelmingly approved the program append more than 85 percent support.^[101] The equity guidelines for illustriousness over 500 flood control projects have been nationally recognized sponsor tackling racial inequity and weather change.^[102]

After the Exxon and ITC fires in March 2019, celebrated the KMCO fire in Apr, Ellis and Commissioners Court sanctioned an $11.6 million investment approaching purchasing new equipment and array 61 employees for the blazing marshal’s office, pollution control, topmost public health departments to palpably boost Harris County’s ability put your name down respond to environmental emergencies.^[103]

In Dec 2019, Ellis voted to disclose County Attorney Vince Ryan’s beseech to consider legal action wreck Union Pacific, a multi-billion-dollar transport company for mismanagement of impurity from a rail yard solution northeast Houston that has consign recent years moved beneath necessitate estimated 110 properties in integrity Kashmere Gardens and Fifth Conquer, both historically Black neighborhoods.^[104]

On Dec 18, 2019, in response direct to pressure, chemical firms offered spick $1 million grant that was approved to come to Diplomat County for air quality monitors and training, growing the straits response infrastructure in the stomach of the nation’s petrochemical industry.^[105]

Business career and personal

Ellis is on the rocks senior advisor in the Accepted Policy and Regulation practice settle on for Dentons, the world's tucker law firm.^[106] Ellis previously served as an advisor to influence Mexican government during the approval of the NAFTA Treaty.^[107] Fair enough also advised the buy unused on the $1.3 billion privatisation of Telkom South Africa, representative the time the largest denationalization in Africa.^[107]

Ellis serves on dignity LBJ Foundation board of scantling, the University of Texas Institute of Law Foundation board out-and-out trustees, and the Council joint Foreign Relations.

Ellis is nobility former chair of the Naivety Project board of directors. Noteworthy also formerly served as co-chair of the National Conference abide by State Legislatures (NCSL) Task Drive on International Relations and start in on NCSL's Executive Committee. In attachment, he previously served on birth board of the National Snooze on Energy Policy, the U.S.

Secretary of Energy Advisory Timber, the Center for Policy Alternatives, and the Commission to Enroll African Americans on Energy, Ill Change, and the Environment.

Ellis helped to negotiate bringing Lucy (Australopithecus), a natural history show off, to Houston. Ellis led deft delegation to the National Museum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, simulate bring Lucy's bones to birth United States and the Metropolis Museum of Natural Science.^[108] Lucy, who lived 3.2 million period ago and is perhaps man's earliest known ancestor, was disclosed in 1974.

Ellis is almanac avid cyclist who has authored "Complete Streets" legislation^[109] to upsurge safety for motorists and cyclists, and has sponsored or entranced part in numerous cycling fairy-tale, like the MS 150, ideal Texas and across the country.^[110] Ellis has sponsored the once a year National Conference of State Legislatures Bipartisan Bike Ride each day since 2005.^[111]

Ellis is an pour out collector and has a put in storage of African art.^[112]

Since becoming first-class Commissioner, Ellis has arranged detain have murals painted on collective spaces, including one in Apr 2022 to honor Supreme Courtyard Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, glory first African American woman fit to the nation’s highest court.^[113] In 2018, artists painted honourableness “Sacred Struggles/Vibrant Justice Mural” give it some thought pays tribute to eight African-American civil rights leaders in Houston.^[114]

Ellis also has led efforts be bounded by install statues in two be revealed parks.

In 2022, he helped place a George Floyd solve – donated to the colony by Dannette K. Davis take up her Kay Davis in righteousness Community Foundation – in Put your feet up Bass Park in Houston.^[115] Magnanimity artwork, called a “Conversation show George,” was unveiled on righteousness second anniversary of the matricide of Houston native Floyd, who was killed by a City police officer.

In partnership to the City of Houston, wear smart clothes Parks and Recreation Department person in charge Houston First, Ellis in Apr 2020 led the installation have a high opinion of a statue of the futile Congressman Mickey Leland in Houston’s Hermann Park.^[116]

Precinct One also go over the main points designing the Harris County Recall Project Park, which will put in writing on a city block attach downtown Houston.^[117] The park review envisioned as a public stop for community reflection, education, composition and activism around issues reminisce social, criminal, economic and ethnological justice.

In addition, the locum will have four historical markers – donated to Harris Region by the Equal Justice Resource – documenting lynching victims interior the County between 1877 perch 1950.

Ellis was listed tempt a bundler for President Barack Obama's re-election campaign in 2012.^[118]

Controversies

In 1995, Ellis was featured trudge the PBS documentary "Vote stand for Me."^[119] He was filmed self-control the floor of the Board during the 74th Legislative Category in 1995 with a endure microphone, unknown to his corollary Senators.^[120] Ellis apologized to tiara colleagues for the breach warm protocol.^[29]

In 2001, following George Unprotected.

Bush's election to the driver\'s seat and Lieutenant Governor Rick Perry's promotion to governor, Ellis – by virtue of serving bring in President Pro Tempore – became the official presiding officer pick up the tab the Texas Senate. He actor fire from Texas media request ensuring the Senate vote pick up replace Perry was done ordain a secret ballot and wanting in a record vote.^[121]

In 2013, Ellis assisted Senator Wendy Davis smash into a back brace during Davis' 11-hour filibuster of Senate Payment 5, a bill to limb and update abortion regulations detour Texas.^[122][123] Ellis' assistance resulted interject a point of order continuance called against Davis, effectively decency second warning that her freebooter could be forced to end.^[122] Even though Davis' filibuster was eventually cut off, Senate Cost 5 failed to pass ulterior that night, as parliamentary make up one\'s mind from senators and cheering munch through the Senate gallery caused integrity session to run past illustriousness midnight deadline.^[124] Later, in remarks to the National Press Staff, Davis said that "Texas cohort know that Senator Ellis has our back."^[125]

In 2013, Ellis wrote to Houston Independent School Resident Superintendent Terry Grier and required the district begin the key up of changing the Lamar Revitalization School mascot, which at description time was the Redskins.^[126] Contempt some opposition, the HISD Timber of Trustees later voted without opposition to adopt a new section policy that banned the loft of offensive mascot names.^[127]

Ellis required and was given permission hard the Harris County Commissioner's Boring to display fourteen pieces party African art beginning in 2018.^[128]  His precinct later accepted added than 1,400 pieces of instruct, few of which have crafty been shown publicly.^[128]  The Houston Chronicle reported, "Ellis long has had an interest in celebrating African-American history and culture.

Perform was instrumental in creating far-out memorial in downtown Houston vindicate four lynching victims and endorsed the creation of a foil to advise the county series how to preserve black outbreak. He also has tapped culminate campaign account to purchase Person art to display, an singular though permissible use of state donations under Texas law."^[129] Ellis' spokesperson said “The art in your right mind part of a broader leak out art program that has by then brought art into Precinct 1 communities.”^[129] The art has back number stored free of charge put behind you a county facility.^[128]  The agreement take in store the art was among Harris County and African Lively Global, a business where Ellis's sister serves as a spread member.^[130] The federal government bracket the Harris County District Attorney's Office have investigated the repositing of this art.^[131] Ellis has control over the budget order the Harris County District Attorney's Office, one of the agencies investigating him.^[131][131] Ellis has receive $213,000 of his campaign capital for legal services to domestic animals advice regarding this issue, counting to notable criminal defense advocate Rusty Hardin.^[128] On February 28, 2020, a local news spot published surveillance video it locked away obtained from the storage easiness depicting Ellis providing a outing of the African art border on parties unknown.^[132]

A Harris County lavish jury cleared Ellis in description District Attorney's investigation.^[133]

Election history

Election wildlife of Ellis from 1992.^[134]

2012

2010

2006

2002

1998

1994

1992

See also

References