By J. Lyn Carl, GalleryWatch.com
Austin, TX – Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mount) today drew accolades from her fellow senators as she was elected President Pro Tempore of the Texas Senate.
"You honor me," said Nelson to members of the Senate after being administered the oath of office by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. "I am honored by this nomination and I will do my best to represent you well."
Sen. John Whitmire (D-Houston), dean of the Texas Senate, made the nominating speech and cited Nelson's long record of public service both at the local government level and after being elected to the Senate. "As the Senate composition has changed, Sen. Nelson has changed her style," he said, "As she's changed her style to be an effective state senator, she has not changed her philosophy."
Whitmire said Nelson, whose desk is next to his in the Senate, "talks about her constituents all day long," and that "she's a pretty good politician as well."
"You've got a very special daughter," Whitmire said to Nelson's father, who was on the Senate floor for the ceremony. "We're going to be very well served during Jane Nelson's administration. She's done an outstanding job, but I think the best is yet to come. She is a force in this body."
Seconding the nomination was Sen. Florence Shapiro (R-Plano). "We have become a family," she said of the members of the Senate. "We have become an extended family. We draw from one other on thoughts and ideas and feelings and concerns, in sad times as well as good. As we become family, the four of us - Senator Nelson, Sen. Zaffirini and Sen. Van de Putte - are sisters. There is something very special about my sister Jane Nelson."
"You start a new lineage for us," she said to Nelson. "You are about to embark on a new job and a new escapade that none of us in your class have done. I can't think of anyone who will do it with more class and more grace and more style than you will."
In his seconding speech, Sen. Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio) called Nelson "hard working, effective and unfailingly cheerful."
"To be successful in the arena we're all engaged in requires a lot of talent, but one thing that can be developed is a spirit, and Jane Nelson has a warm spirit," said Sen. Teel Bivins (R-Amarillo). He said Nelson also has an outstanding work ethic that led to her having such a successful session.
Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) said Nelson has served in the Senate with "honor and distinction" and lauded Nelson's dedication to championing health and human services causes. Sen. Bill Ratliff hailed Nelson as a "go-to" person he could always depend on.
"Fortitude" could have been Nelson's first name in addressing the needs of the people of the state, said Sen. Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio) in her seconding speech. She also praised Nelson for her leadership and for her commitment to family. Sen. Chris Harris (R-Arlington) said Nelson's "toughness is based on her firm stance on her beliefs and her unwavering devoting to her constituents."
Nelson was unanimously elected.