Charlie Geren

Background

The older of two sons of Preston Murdoch Geren, Jr., of Fort Worth, Charlie Geren obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Southern Methodist University in University Park near Dallas. His younger brother, Pete Geren, is a Democratic former member of the United States House of Representatives from Texas's 12th congressional district and was from 2007 to 2009 the United States Secretary of the Army in the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush.

Charlie Geren owns the Railhead Smokehouse restaurant and is affiliated with both the Texas and Fort Worth restaurant associations. He is president of the LGS Godly Ranch Corporation, which was organized by his father in 1965. A real estate broker, he is a past partner of Kelly, Geren, & Searcy Commercial Real Estate and a member of the Greater Fort Worth Association of Realtors. He is a trustee of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth and a vice president and executive committee member of the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show, commonly known as the "Fort Worth Rodeo". Geren is a former member of the Texas Water Development Board.

Geren is divorced from the former Antoinette "Toni" Margaret Ray (born c. 1962). He has a grown daughter Emily.

Geren lists his religion as Baptist.

Political

Geren was first elected to the state House in District 89 in 2000 to succeed the Republican Sue Palmer of Fort Worth, who did not seek a third term. He defeated his Democratic opponent, the attorney Nathan Butler Schattman (born c. 1970) of Fort Worth, 23,548 (62.6 percent) to 14,077 (37.4 percent).

In the 2002 general election, Geren defeated the Democratic lawyer Mimi Coffey (born c. 1968) of Fort Worth, 23,427 votes (68.9 percent) to 10,012 (29.4 percent). Another 1.66 percent was cast for the Libertarian Party nominee, Bobby E. Hearn, Jr. In 2006, Geren faced two primary opponents, Christopher "Chris" Hatley and Colby W. Brown (born c. 1973) but prevailed with 3,768 votes (54.9 percent). Hatley trailed with 2,867 votes (41.7 percent); Brown, with 234 (3.4 percent). In the 2008 primary, he defeated the Fort Worth optometrist Tom Annunziato (born c. 1947), 7,870 (58.1 percent) to 5,683 (41.9 percent).

In the general elections of both 2006 and 2008, he defeated Democratic opponent, Sheila Ford. Geren drew 22,906 votes (63.1 percent) in 2006 to Ford's 12,285 (33.8 percent). In 2008, he polled 46,254 (64.8 percent) to Ford's 23,135 (32.4 percent). In both cases, Libertarian candidates held the remaining approximately 3 percent of the vote.

Geren has faced no opponent since the Republican primary in 2010, when he defeated current colleague Matt Krause in District 93, 8,037 (57.6 percent) to 5,915 (42.4 percent)

Legislative positions

In 2013, Geren supported the ban on abortion in Texas after twenty weeks of gestation; the measure passed the House, 96-49. He supported companion legislation to increase medical and licensing requirements of abortion providers, a law that the opponents claim could shut down many abortion facilities. In 2011, Geren sponsored the bill which requires a woman procuring an abortion in Texas to undergo first a sonogram. The measure passed the House, 107-42. Supporters of the ultrasound legislation claim that a woman could change her mind about an abortion once she witnesses the development of the unborn child through the advanced technology. On another abortion restriction measure in 2011, the prohibition of state funding of agencies which perform abortions, Geren did not vote. The Texas Right to Life Committee rated Geren 67 percent favorable in 2013, 62 percent in 2011, and 63 percent in 2005. In 2003, his second legislative session, Right to Life had rated him only 17 percent.

Geren voted for the legislation to establish a taxpayer-funded breakfast program for public schools; the measure passed the House, 73-58. He co-sponsored legislation to provide marshals for school security as a separate law-enforcement entity. He voted to extend the franchise tax exemption to certain businesses; the measure passed the House 117-24. He voted for the adoption of the biennial state budget in both 2013 and 2011. He voted to require testing for narcotics of those individuals receiving unemployment compensation. Geren supported the "equal pay for women" measure, which passed the House, 78-61.

Geren voted to forbid the state from engaging in the enforcement of federal regulations of firearms. He co-sponsored related legislation to permit college and university officials to carry concealed weapons in the name of campus security. He voted to reduce the time required for one to obtain a concealed-carry permit in Texas. Geren voted against term limits for certain state officials. He voted to prohibit texting while driving. He voted for the redistricting bills for the state House and Senate and the United States House of Representatives.

In 2011, Geren voted to reduce funding for state agencies. He voted to establish eligibility standards for indigent health care. He voted for the institution of corporal punishment in public schools; the measure passed the House, 80-64. As a restaurant owner, he voted against the prohibition of smoking; the measure passed the House 73-66. in public places. He voted for the sales tax on Internet transactions; the measure passed the House, 125-20. He supported picture identification for voters casting a ballot in Texas, a measure which finally took effect in October 2013.

Interest group ratings

Phyllis Schlafly's Eagle Forum, managed in Texas by Cathie Adams, a former state chairman of the Texas Republican Party, rated Geren 70 percent favorable in 2013, 35 percent in 2011, and 63 percent in 2009. The Young Conservatives of Texas scored him a 56 percent lifetime score. The Texas League of Conservation Voters rated him 83 percent in 2013; the Sierra Club, 38 percent in 2011. The interest group, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, founded by Michael Quinn Sullivan, rated him 37 percent in 2013 and 50 percent in 2011, low scores for a Republican lawmaker. The Texas Association of Business gave him a cumulative score of 82 percent over his entire legislative career. The National Rifle Association scored Geren 100 percent in 2012 and "A" ratings for all previous House sessions. The Libertarian Party in 2007 rated Geren 53 percent on both economic issues and personal liberties. In his first legislative session in 2003, he was rated 100 percent by the interest group, Texans for Lawsuit Reform.

Geren, an ally of Joe Straus, the Moderate Republican Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives from San Antonio, faces Tea Party movement opposition in the Republican primary on March 1, 2016.