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Texas Public Employees Association PAC Endorses Governor Rick Perry
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Chuck McDonald
(512) 708-8655
AUSTIN, Texas (June 22, 2002) – EMPACT, the political arm of Texas' largest state employee organization, Texas Public Employees Association (TPEA), today endorsed Rick Perry for Texas Governor in the November election.
Governor Perry was the keynote speaker at the 57th annual TPEA convention. The organization recognized Perry for his role in supporting a pay raise for state employees last legislative session.
"We want all state employees to understand that Governor Perry has a proven track record on our issues and deserves their vote in November," said Jim Zukowski, chairman of EMPACT. "Governor Perry has always been willing to listen to our concerns and has taken an active role in addressing issues important to state employees."
Perry gained experience as Lt. Governor, where he worked with legislators to pass a balanced state budget with record tax cuts and school funding increases. He also led efforts to enact a significant pay increase for the state's more experienced correctional officers. His ability to work with both parties has enabled Perry to take an active role in addressing state employees' concern about issues of high turnover rates, an increasing demand for public service and the threats to health and retirement benefits for state employees.
"As a former legislator, an elected agency head, and now as the state's Chief Executive, Governor Perry understands state government and the challenges state employee's face," said Gary Anderson, executive director of TPEA. "His record of leadership on these issues is impeccable. Beginning with his term as Lt. Governor, Perry has remained committed to improving state employee pay and benefits throughout the last legislative session."
Prior to being elected as Lt. Governor, Perry served two terms as Texas Commissioner of Agriculture. He served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1986 to 1991, representing a rural West Texas district. Governor Perry, a fifth generation Texan, graduated from Texas A&M University in 1972, and went on to serve in the United States Air Force.
Texas Public Employees Association is the state"s oldest and largest organization for state employees, representing the interests of all Texas state government employees and retirees since 1946.
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