Changes

==Political life==

==Political life==

 

After seven years on the city council representing District 5 in the northwestern portion of Longview, Dean was elected in 2005 as the mayor of Longview, which like all Texas mayors is a nominally non-partisan position. He won a special election for a one-year unexpired term created by the resignation of Murray Moore, who left office after serving only two years of his first term. Dean then won three three-year terms in 2006, 2009, and 2012. In the 2005 runoff contest, Dean's only close election, he edged Dr. Andy Mack (born c. 1960) by 434 votes, 5,022 to 4,588. A decade later, Mack was elected to succeed Dean, who by then was term-limited under municipal law.<ref name=mayor>{{cite web|url=https://www.news-journal.com/news/2015/may/18/building-consensus-key-longview-mayor-jay-deans-su/|title=Building consensus key to Longview mayor Jay Dean’s success|author=Richard Yeakley|date=May 18, 2015|publisher=''Longview News-Journal''|accessdate=April 5, 2016}}</ref> 

After seven years on the city council representing District 5 in the northwestern portion of Longview, Dean was elected in 2005 as the mayor of Longview, which like all Texas mayors is a nominally non-partisan position. He won a special election for a one-year unexpired term created by the resignation of Murray Moore, who left office after serving only two years of his first term. Dean then won three three-year terms in 2006, 2009, and 2012. In the 2005 runoff contest, Dean's only close election, he edged Dr. Andy Mack (born c. 1960) by 434 votes, 5,022 to 4,588. A decade later, Mack was elected to succeed Dean, who by then was term-limited under municipal law.<ref name=mayor>{{cite web|url=https://www.news-journal.com/news/2015/may/18/building-consensus-key-longview-mayor-jay-deans-su/|title=Building consensus key to Longview mayor Jay Dean’s success|author=Richard Yeakley|date=May 18, 2015|publisher=''Longview News-Journal''|accessdate=April 5, 2016}}</ref> 

 

Dean recalled his task of uniting the city council when he first became mayor: “The first thing was the decorum. ... To understand that we are not always going to agree, but we are going to respect one another when we disagree. We are going to conduct ourselves in such a way that the community would be proud of us. I found that everyone had a general want to work together; they just hadn’t been guided.”<ref name=mayor/> Longview employs an appointed city manager who handles the daily supervision of city departments and hence frees the mayor to be leader of the council.

Dean recalled his task of uniting the city council when he first became mayor: “The first thing was the decorum. ... To understand that we are not always going to agree, but we are going to respect one another when we disagree. We are going to conduct ourselves in such a way that the community would be proud of us. I found that everyone had a general want to work together; they just hadn’t been guided.”<ref name=mayor/> Longview employs an appointed city manager who handles the daily supervision of city departments and hence frees the mayor to be leader of the council.

 

Dean pushed for Longview to become a "Certified Retirement Community" and a "Certified Local Government" community. He pushed for infrastructure projects, a new animal control and adoption center and street work through a $52.6 million bond program approved by voters in 2011.<ref name=mayor/>

Dean pushed for Longview to become a "Certified Retirement Community" and a "Certified Local Government" community. He pushed for infrastructure projects, a new animal control and adoption center and street work through a $52.6 million bond program approved by voters in 2011.<ref name=mayor/>

 

No longer mayor, Dean won the Republican nomination for the House in the [[primary election]] held on March 1, 2016. He defeated [[David Watts]] of Upshur County, 14,607 votes (58 percent) to 10,588 (42 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist273_state.htm|title=Election Returns|date=March 1, 2016|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=April 4, 2016}}</ref> A minister and [[conservative]] activist, Watts had also run unsuccessfully in the 2014 primary for Texas land commissioner against [[George P. Bush]], son of former Governor [[Jeb Bush]] of [[Florida]]. Dean was supported by House Speaker [[Joe Straus]], a [[Moderate Republican]] from [[San Antonio]] closely allied with the [[Democratic Party|Democrats]], but Watts said that he would have voted against the retention of Straus as Speaker. Straus was himself handily re-nominated in the same primary in a large victory over conservative activist Jeff Judson. Dean proclaims that he too is a conservative: "I have been watching what our conservative Texas legislature has been doing,. I am excited to have a chance to be part of it. Texas has become the place where conservative ideas are not only tried but succeed.  We are a role model for the nation."<ref name=gilmermirror/>

No longer mayor, Dean won the Republican nomination for the House in the [[primary election]] held on March 1, 2016. He defeated [[David Watts]] of Upshur County, 14,607 votes (58 percent) to 10,588 (42 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist273_state.htm|title=Election Returns|date=March 1, 2016|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=April 4, 2016}}</ref> A minister and [[conservative]] activist, Watts had also run unsuccessfully in the 2014 primary for Texas land commissioner against [[George P. Bush]], son of former Governor [[Jeb Bush]] of [[Florida]]. Dean was supported by House Speaker [[Joe Straus]], a [[Moderate Republican]] from [[San Antonio]] closely allied with the [[Democratic Party|Democrats]], but Watts said that he would have voted against the retention of Straus as Speaker. Straus was himself handily re-nominated in the same primary in a large victory over conservative activist Jeff Judson. Dean proclaims that he too is a conservative: "I have been watching what our conservative Texas legislature has been doing,. I am excited to have a chance to be part of it. Texas has become the place where conservative ideas are not only tried but succeed.  We are a role model for the nation."<ref name=gilmermirror/>

 

As representative, Dean said that he will focus on issues related to East Texas: "I want people to see what we have going on here. It's important that we get a seat at the table, so when opportunities come about, they don't miss Longview." Dean noted that the [[oil]] and [[natural gas]] slump has depressed [[sales tax]] revenues at the municipal level and will in time impact the state budget as well.

As representative, Dean said that he will focus on issues related to East Texas: "I want people to see what we have going on here. It's important that we get a seat at the table, so when opportunities come about, they don't miss Longview." Dean noted that the [[oil]] and [[natural gas]] slump has depressed [[sales tax]] revenues at the municipal level and will in time impact the state budget as well.

Dean claims that the status of public education in Texas, which he described as poor, has damaged the ability to attract new industries. Dean said that as a supporter of the [[Second Amendment]], he has observed that a weakened economy in his area has prompted many gun owners to sell their weapons to dealers for personal economic reasons.<ref name=lnj/>

Dean claims that the status of public education in Texas, which he described as poor, has damaged the ability to attract new industries. Dean said that as a supporter of the [[Second Amendment]], he has observed that a weakened economy in his area has prompted many gun owners to sell their weapons to dealers for personal economic reasons.<ref name=lnj/>

 

Dean said that his campaign against Watts taught him that many voters are apathetic toward politics: "I really believe in the importance of engaging the public." Dean said border security seemed to be the issue most in the district believes to be addressed.  He questioned outside groups, such as Empower Texans established by Michael Quinn Sullivan, being heavily involved in the Texas primaries. The group spent $1.4 million in the primary but failed to nominate a single conservative it supported. "We don't need outsiders from [[Austin]], [[Dallas]], [[Midland]]-[[Odessa, Texas|Odessa]], or [[Houston, Texas|Houston]] coming into our elections and telling us who we need. You have the right to vote. You know what you want," said Dean.<ref name=lnj>{{cite web|url=https://www.news-journal.com/news/2016/mar/22/as-representative-jay-dean-hopes-to-give-voice-to-/|title=As representative, Jay Dean hopes to give voice to East Texas|publisher=''Longview News-Journal''|author=Glenn Evans|date=March 22, 2016|accessdate=April 3, 2016}}</ref>  

Dean said that his campaign against Watts taught him that many voters are apathetic toward politics: "I really believe in the importance of engaging the public." Dean said border security seemed to be the issue most in the district believes to be addressed.  He questioned outside groups, such as Empower Texans established by Michael Quinn Sullivan, being heavily involved in the Texas primaries. The group spent $1.4 million in the primary but failed to nominate a single conservative it supported. "We don't need outsiders from [[Austin]], [[Dallas]], [[Midland]]-[[Odessa, Texas|Odessa]], or [[Houston, Texas|Houston]] coming into our elections and telling us who we need. You have the right to vote. You know what you want," said Dean.<ref name=lnj>{{cite web|url=https://www.news-journal.com/news/2016/mar/22/as-representative-jay-dean-hopes-to-give-voice-to-/|title=As representative, Jay Dean hopes to give voice to East Texas|publisher=''Longview News-Journal''|author=Glenn Evans|date=March 22, 2016|accessdate=April 3, 2016}}</ref>

 

With no Democratic opponent in the [[general election]] on November 8, Dean was automatically elected ito the state House. 

With no Democratic opponent in the [[general election]] on November 8, Dean was automatically elected ito the state House.