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'''Charles L. "Chuck" Hopson, II''' (born September 18, 1941) is a pharmacist and businessman in Jacksonville, [[Texas]], who has been since 2001 a member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 11, which includes Cherokee, Houston, Panola and Rusk counties in the northeastern portion of his state.<ref> Houston County includes the city of Crockett, Texas, not populous Houston, the seat of Harris County.</ref>

'''Charles L. "Chuck" Hopson, II''' (born September 18, 1941) is a [[pharmacist]] and businessman in Jacksonville, [[Texas]], who is a departing [[Republican]] member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 11, which encompasses Cherokee, Houston, Panola and Rusk counties in the northeastern portion of his state.<ref> Houston County includes the city of Crockett, Texas, not populous [[Houston]], the seat of Harris County.</ref>  

 

==Background==

==Background==

Hopson and his wife, the former Billie L. Smith, a retired educator and school counselor of more than three decades of experience, have three children and as of 2011 seven grandchildren. He is also active in the National Rifle Association and the Texas State Rifle Association. In 1999, Hopson was named "Businessman of the Year" by the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce. In 2002, he was designated the "Best Elected Official" by readers of the newspaper, the Jacksonville Daily Progress, as well as "Citizen of the Year" by the Jacksonville Chamber. In 2004, he was honored for "Continued Commitment to Law Enforcement" by the Jacksonville police lodge. He was also honored that year by the interest group Texans for Lawsuit Reform and by his alma mater as a "Distinguished Alumnus."<ref name="hopson"/>

 

Hopson and his wife, the former Billie L. Smith, a retired educator and school counselor of more than three decades of experience, have three children and as of 2011 seven grandchildren. He is also active in the [[National Rifle Association]] and the Texas State Rifle Association. In 1999, Hopson was named "Businessman of the Year" by the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce. In 2002, he was designated the "Best Elected Official" by readers of the newspaper, the Jacksonville Daily Progress, as well as "Citizen of the Year" by the Jacksonville Chamber. In 2004, he was honored for "Continued Commitment to Law Enforcement" by the Jacksonville police lodge. He was also honored that year by the interest group Texans for Lawsuit Reform and by his alma mater as a "Distinguished Alumnus."<ref name="hopson"/>

 

==Election history==

==Election history==

In 2000, Republican State Representative Todd Staples, now the Texas Agriculture Commissioner, was elected to the District 3 seat in the Texas State Senate. Hopson, as a Democrat was elected to succeed Staples. Nine years later on November 6, 2009, Hopson switched to GOP affiliation. He then secured his sixth term and his first as a Republican in 2010. His defection in 2009 made him the 77th Republican representative, then a majority by two seats. In January 2011, Hopson became one of 101 members of the GOP delegation, as the party gained a two-thirds majority in the 2010 general election.<ref>[http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/legeLeaders/members/memberDisplay.cfm?memberID=183&searchparams=chamber=~city=~countyID=0~district=~first=~gender=~last=HOpson~leaderNote=~leg=~party=~roleDesc=~Committee Chuck Hopson at the Legislative Reference Library of Texas] lrl.state.tx.us, retrieved September 25, 2011.</ref>

In 2000, Republican State Representative Todd Staples, now the Texas Agriculture Commissioner, was elected to the District 3 seat in the Texas State Senate. As a [[Democrat]], Hopson was elected in 2000 to succeed Staples. Nine years later on November 6, 2009, Hopson switched to GOP affiliation. He then secured his sixth term and his first as a Republican in 2010. His defection in 2009 made him the 77th Republican representative, then a majority by two seats. In January 2011, Hopson became one of 101 members of the GOP delegation, as the party gained a two-thirds majority in the 2010 general election.<ref>[http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/legeLeaders/members/memberDisplay.cfm?memberID=183&searchparams=chamber=~city=~countyID=0~district=~first=~gender=~last=HOpson~leaderNote=~leg=~party=~roleDesc=~Committee Chuck Hopson at the Legislative Reference Library of Texas] lrl.state.tx.us, retrieved September 25, 2011.</ref>

   

   

In explaining his party switch, Hopson said that his East Texas district does not share the philosophy of U.S. President [[Barack H. Obama]]. The lawmaker said, "I believe in democracy and respect its process." Texas State Democratic Chairman Boyd Ritchie, an attorney from Young County, replied to Hopson: "It takes strength and integrity to stand against the special interest. And while some members have that strength, others like Chuck Hopson, apparently do not." [[Joe Straus]] of San Antonio, the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, described Hopson as an "outstanding public servant who fights hard for his East Texas constituents."<ref>[http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/11/democrat-chuck-hopson-joins-go.html Democrat Chuck Hopson joins GOP] Gromer Jeffers, Jr., Dallas ''Morning News'', November 6, 2009, dallasnews.com, retrieved September 30, 2011</ref>

In explaining his party switch, Hopson said that his East Texas district does not share the philosophy of U.S. President [[Barack H. Obama]]. The lawmaker said, "I believe in democracy and respect its process." Texas State Democratic Chairman Boyd Ritchie, an attorney from Young County, replied to Hopson: "It takes strength and integrity to stand against the special interest. And while some members have that strength, others like Chuck Hopson, apparently do not." [[Joe Straus]] of San Antonio, the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, described Hopson as an "outstanding public servant who fights hard for his East Texas constituents."<ref>[http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/11/democrat-chuck-hopson-joins-go.html Democrat Chuck Hopson joins GOP] Gromer Jeffers, Jr., Dallas ''Morning News'', November 6, 2009, dallasnews.com, retrieved September 30, 2011</ref>

Hopson is chairman of the House Ethics Committee and a member of the committees on (1) Public Health and (2) Pensions, Investments, and Financial Services as well as the Rural Caucus. According to his Internet biography, Hopson is committed to working with legislators in both parties to promote economic development, to fund public education, to lower property taxes, and to provide healthcare access. Former Lieutenant Governor Bill Ratliff of Mount Pleasant, who served from 2001 to 2003, describes Hopson's record as that of an "independent conservative philosophy."<ref name="hopson"/>

Hopson is chairman of the House Ethics Committee and a member of the committees on (1) Public Health and (2) Pensions, Investments, and Financial Services as well as the Rural Caucus. According to his Internet biography, Hopson is committed to working with legislators in both parties to promote economic development, to fund public education, to lower property taxes, and to provide healthcare access. Former Lieutenant Governor Bill Ratliff of Mount Pleasant, who served from 2001 to 2003, describes Hopson's record as that of an "independent conservative philosophy."<ref name="hopson"/>

==References==

==References==

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