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Lewis and his wife, Trudy Lynn Lewis (born 1949), an educator who graduated from [[Rice University]] in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], have two daughters, Eleanor R. Lewis and Annie Lewis. He previously served as chairman of the Ector County Republican Party and as president of the Republican Men's Club. He has been a board member of the Permian Playhouse, the Odessa Cultural Council, and the popular Meals on Wheels program.<ref name=votesmart/>The Lewises are promoters of the western art of Thomas C. Lea, III (1907-2001), of [[El Paso]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tomlea.net/Month2012/Presenters.html|title=Tom Lea Institute|publisher=tomlea.net|accessdate=March 28, 2014}}</ref>​

Lewis and his wife, Trudy Lynn Lewis (born 1949), an educator who graduated from [[Rice University]] in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], have two daughters, Eleanor R. Lewis and Annie Lewis. He previously served as chairman of the Ector County Republican Party and as president of the Republican Men's Club. He has been a board member of the Permian Playhouse, the Odessa Cultural Council, and the popular Meals on Wheels program.<ref name=votesmart/>The Lewises are promoters of the western art of Thomas C. Lea, III (1907-2001), of [[El Paso]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tomlea.net/Month2012/Presenters.html|title=Tom Lea Institute|publisher=tomlea.net|accessdate=March 28, 2014}}</ref>​

==Judicial views==

==Judicial views==​

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As the 161st district judge, Lewis wrote a letter in 1989 to ''Texas Monthly'' challenging the accuracy of an article in the [[magazine]] that claims prison overcrowding in Texas stems from judges and juries sending convicted persons to the penitentiary for trivial reasons. Lewis wrote:​

As the 161st district judge, Lewis wrote a letter in 1989 to ''Texas Monthly'' challenging the accuracy of an article in the [[magazine]] that claims prison overcrowding in Texas stems from judges and juries sending convicted persons to the penitentiary for trivial reasons. Lewis wrote:​

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==Legislative service==

==Legislative service==

One of three candidates who challenged the ailing incumbent George E. "Buddy" West of Odessa in the 2008 Republican [[primary]], Lewis led the field with 5,273 votes (44 percent) to West's 4,602 (38.4) percent.<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, March 4, 2008.</ref> In the lower-turnout runoff election, Lewis prevailed by a large margin, 5,181 (76 percent) to West's 1,637 (24 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, April 8, 2008.</ref>  

One of three candidates who challenged the ailing incumbent George E. "Buddy" West (1936-2008) of Odessa in the 2008 Republican [[primary]], Lewis led the field with 5,273 votes (44 percent) to West's 4,602 (38.4) percent.<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, March 4, 2008.</ref> In the lower-turnout runoff election, Lewis prevailed by a large margin, 5,181 (76 percent) to West's 1,637 (24 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, April 8, 2008.</ref>  

Lewis was supported by then [[Speaker]] [[Tom Craddick]] of nearby [[Midland]], who at the time was at odds with West, his Republican colleague for the past fifteen years. Four anti-Craddick Republican legislators came to Odessa to campaign in the runoff for West.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texasweekly.com/node/2758|title=Very Busy Signals|publisher=''Texas Weekly''|accessdate=July 13, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web​|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5862150.html#Intro​

Lewis was supported by then [[Speaker]] [[Tom Craddick]] of nearby [[Midland]], who at the time was at odds with West, his Republican colleague for the past fifteen years. Four anti-Craddick Republican legislators came to Odessa to campaign in the runoff for West.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texasweekly.com/node/2758|title=Very Busy Signals|publisher=''Texas Weekly''|accessdate=July 13, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5862150.html#Intro​|title=About 200 attend state funeral of Rep. Buddy West|publisher=''Houston Chronicle''|date=June 28, 2008|accessdate=June 26, 2010}}</ref> West died some two months after the runoff election. In 2009, as Lewis succeeded West, Craddick himself was deposed as Speaker by [[Moderate Republican]] [[Joe Straus]] of [[San Antonio]].<ref>Lisa Sandberg, "The Most Popular Guy at the Capito," ''San Antonio Magazine,'' June 2009, p. 54.</ref> For a time, Lewis and Craddick remain neighboring House colleagues for Districts 81 and 82, respectively; neither had an opponent in the 2010 or 2012 general elections.

|title=About 200 attend state funeral of Rep. Buddy West|publisher=''Houston Chronicle''|date=June 28, 2008|accessdate=June 26, 2010}}</ref> West died some two months after the runoff election. In 2009, as Lewis succeeded West, Craddick himself was deposed as Speaker by [[Moderate Republican]] [[Joe Straus]] of [[San Antonio]].<ref>Lisa Sandberg, "The Most Popular Guy at the Capito," ''San Antonio Magazine,'' June 2009, p. 54.</ref> For a time, Lewis and Craddick remain neighboring House colleagues for Districts 81 and 82, respectively; neither had an opponent in the 2010 or 2012 general elections.

With his judicial background, Lewis served on the House (1) Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence and (2) Public Safety committees.<ref name=votesmart/> In the 2009 legislative session, Lewis supported the positions of [[Phyllis Schlafly]]'s [[Eagle Forum]] 71 percent of the time. He supported the positions of [[interest group]]s Texans for Fiscal Responsibility and the Texas Association of Business 85 percent and 90 percent of the time, respectively.<ref name=votesmart/>​

With his judicial background, Lewis served on the House (1) Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence and (2) Public Safety committees.<ref name=votesmart/> In the 2009 legislative session, Lewis supported the positions of [[Phyllis Schlafly]]'s [[Eagle Forum]] 71 percent of the time. He supported the positions of [[interest group]]s Texans for Fiscal Responsibility and the Texas Association of Business 85 percent and 90 percent of the time, respectively.<ref name=votesmart/>​