State Rep. Glenda Dawson of Pearland has died at the age of 65.
Dawson, 65, a Republican, served on three House committees: Higher Education, Administration and Public Health.
Speaker of the House Tom Craddick also expressed condolences.
“She was a wonderful colleague, a warm friend and a great representative to the people of District 29. She will be sorely missed by all,” he said.
In her 2002 campaign, Dawson was one of seven Republican candidates who received money at the center of a scandal that led to criminal charges against former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. The scheme allegedly funneled $190,000 in restricted corporate donations to a DeLay-founded political action committee to the Republican National Committee to the seven Texas candidates. Texas bans the use of corporate donations for direct campaign spending.
The scheme helped the GOP win a majority in the Texas Legislature.
Dawson received $40,000 of the money, but she was never accused of wrongdoing. She went on to beat veteran Democratic lawmaker Tom Uher, of Bay City, who had served since 1967.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether a special election would be held to fill Dawson’s seat and what would happen to her place on the ballot. Dr. Anthony A. Dinovo, of Pearland, is running for the seat as a Democrat.
My sincere condolences to the Dawson family. Rest in peace, Rep. Glenda Dawson.
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