GOP hopefuls vie for G'town House seat

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Four Republicans are vying for their party's nomination for the Texas House District 20 seat in the primary March 2 - a Georgetown seat that is wide open after the current rep announced retirement.

Milton Rister, Charles Schwertner, Stephen Thomas and Patsy Williams all seek to head to the general election following the primary, if they do not have a run-off. The current officeholder is Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown, who is not seeking re-election.

The district is historically Republican.

Texas House District 20 includes all of Milam County and half of Williamson County in Central Texas, with an average of nearly 3 people per household , according to the 2000 U.S. Census.

Though the population has increased significantly since 2000 in this fast-growth area, the Census reported the total district population at 139, 226 – or 0.7 percent of the state’s population.

Most of the district is made up of people between 18 and 64 years old. The district has a dense urban population that is well educated, with more than 97 percent of its population employed.

About 31 percent of the district’s population has earned a bachelor’s degree or higher . More than half the population earns an annual household income of $50,000 or more.

Williamson County cities:

• Bartlett*
• Brushy Creek*
• Cedar Park *
• Florence
• Georgetown *
• Granger
• Leander
• Liberty Hill
• Round Rock*
• Schwertner
• Serenada
• Weir

Milam County cities:

• Buckholts
• Cameron
• Milano
• Rockdale
• Thorndale

School districts represented in District 20 :

• Bartlett ISD*
• Buckholts ISD
• Cameron ISD
• Florence ISD*
• Gause ISD
• Georgetown ISD*
• Granger ISD
• Holland ISD*
• Jarrell ISD
• Leander ISD*
• Lexington ISD*
• Liberty Hill ISD
• Milano ISD
• Rockdale ISD
• Rogers ISD*
• Rosebud-Lott ISD*
• Round Rock ISD*
• Thorndale ISD*

*denotes part of city/district

Primary race candidate information
 

Milton Rister

• Birthdate: 04-03-1951
• Occupation: Left Texas Legislative Council head position in June to run for Texas House
• Education: Attended University of Texas
• Spouse: Nancy
• Religion: Baptist
• Church: Crestview Baptist Church in Georgetown
• Web site

Charles Schwertner

• Occupation: Managing partner and practicing physician of Georgetown Orthopedics, LLC
• Education: Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy; University of Texas at Austin
• Spouse: Belinda
• Religion: Catholic
• Church: St. Helen’s Catholic Church in Georgetown
• Web site

Stephen Thomas

• Birthdate: 02-21-1961
• Occupation: Texas Facilities Commission and also an adjunct professor at Austin Community College
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology; Master’s degree in management and administrative sciences from the University of Texas at Dallas
• Spouse: Nancy
• Religion: Methodist
• Church: Bethany United Methodist Church in Cedar Park
• Web site

Patsy Williams

• Occupation: Tax consultant

Current officeholder
Dan Gattis

• Birthdate: 12-01-1967
• Occupation: Attorney and rancher
• Education: B.S., Texas A&M University; J.D., South Texas College of Law
• Spouse: Shana
• Religion: Baptist
• Church: First Baptist Church of Georgetown
• Web site