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Phil Wilson, Secretary of State

As the 106th Secretary of State, Phil Wilson is one of six state officials to form the Executive Department of the State of Texas in accordance with the Texas Constitution. He was appointed by Governor Rick Perry and sworn in on July 1, 2007.

As Secretary of State, Mr. Wilson is the chief elections officer for the state, chief international protocol officer for Texas, maintains business and public filings, and acts as the Governor’s chief liaison on border and Mexico affairs.

Previously, Secretary Wilson was responsible for Texas’ economic development and job creation initiatives as Governor Perry’s Deputy Chief of Staff. Wilson also served as the governor’s official designee on the $200 million Emerging Technology Fund and the $185 million Texas Enterprise Fund. Under his leadership, Texas leveraged more than $10 billion in capital investment to create more than 45,000 new jobs.

Harold L. Hurtt, Chief, Houston Police Department

Chief Hurtt, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, began his law enforcement career as a patrolman in the Phoenix Department in 1968. He retired in 1992 to become chief of the Oxnard, California, Police Department. He returned to the Phoenix Police Department as its chief in April 1998.
Hurtt is a noted proponent of the “community policing” concept. He has been innovative, helping institute neighborhood police storefronts. He incorporated the Oxnard Police Department's cable television program, “Street Beat,” into that department's community policing effort. In Phoenix, he instituted his “knock-and-talk” campaign, going door to door in that city's neighborhoods to listen to residents' concerns about police and community issues. He also led efforts to increase the number of officers who speak Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese in the diverse Phoenix community.

Edward M. Emmett, Harris County Judge

Edward M. Emmett was unanimously appointed County Judge by Harris County Commissioners Court on March 6, 2007, upon the resignation of former Judge Robert Eckels. A member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1979 to 1987, Emmett served East Harris County, from Kingwood to Baytown. He was chairman of the Committee on Energy, a member of the Transportation Committee, and represented the state on numerous national committees relating to energy and transportation policy.

In 1989, President George H. W. Bush nominated Emmett as a Commissioner at the Interstate Commerce Commission. After being confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate, he served on the commission for three years.

Ted Poe, US Congressman

Congressman Ted Poe is in his second term as the United States Representative for Southeast Texas’ 2nd Congressional District. Congressman Poe has a distinguished career of public service to the Lone Star state.

Congressman Poe first made a name for himself in Texas as a straight-talking, no-nonsense chief felony prosecutor. As an assistant district attorney for eight years, Poe tried hundreds of cases, even those seeking the death penalty, and never lost a jury trial. When Poe became a judge in 1981 he continued his dedication to justice and became one of the youngest judges in the State of Texas, serving as a Harris County felony court judge for 22 years.

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