STATE REPRESENTATIVE JIM DUNNAM

Representative Jim Dunnam was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives in November 1996. His district has been composed of part of McLennan and all of Falls, Leon, Madison and Robertson counties since 2001.
 
Jim currently serves as the Chairman of the Select Committee on Federal Economic Stabilization - the committee charged with ensuring that the stimulus dollars are spent with accountability and transparency in Texas - and sits on the Committees on Transportation and Environmental Regulation. He is also a member of the Legislative Study Group and the Veterans', Rural and Mexican-American Legislative Caucuses, and has been elected by his colleagues as the House Democratic Leader for four terms. During the most recent session, Jim carried legislation on topics ranging from environmental protection to governmental ethics reform to pre-kindergarten expansion to funding for community improvement projects.
 
During his seven sessions in office, Jim has passed a wide variety of legislation, including bills to improve emergency services to rural areas, protect local drinking water, ensure smaller class sizes for elementary students, strengthen laws against drunk driving and clean up Texas' troubled charter schools. He has served on the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, which is responsible for evaluating and streamlining state agencies, and as the Speaker's appointment to the Texas Supreme Court Rules Advisory Committee, the Chairman of the Interim Committee on Charter Schools, the Vice-Chairman of the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence, and a member of the House Committees on Public Education, Redistricting, Corrections, Higher Education, Economic Development and Culture, Recreation and Tourism. Over the years, Jim has received awards and praise from groups as diverse as news reporting websites, teacher associations, law enforcement coalitions and health groups. Among the many recognitions are:
  • Named one of "The Most Influential Lawmakers of 2009" by the Associated Press
  • Called "The Third Most Powerful Member of the Texas House in 2009" by Capitol Inside Online Magazine
  • Honored as one of the 2007 "Ten Best Legislators" by Capitol Inside Online Magazine
  • Designated as a 2007 "Honorable Mention" by Texas Monthly Magazine
  • Received the 2007 "Smart on Crime Award" from the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition
  • Named one of the 2005 "Ten Best Legislators" by Capitol Inside Online Magazine
  • Named one of the 2003 "Ten Best Legislators" by Capitol Inside Online Magazine
  • Named one of the 2003 "Top Five in the House" by GalleryWatch  
  • Called a 2003 "Legislative Star" by the Texas Classroom Teachers Association
  • Named one of the 2001 "Ten Best Legislators" by Texas Monthly Magazine
  • Named one of the 2001 "Top Five in the House" by GalleryWatch
  • Called "The 2001 Star of Texas" by Common Cause Texas
  • Designated as the "Statewide 2001 Texas PTA Legislator of the Year" by Texas PTA
  • Recognized as a 2001 "Heart of Honor" by the American Heart Association
  • Called a 2001 "Friend of Education" by the Texas Classroom Teachers Association
  • Recognized as the 2002 "Champion for Children" by the Equity Center
  • Received the 2001 Legislative Leadership Award from the National Associations of Allstate, State Farm and United Farmers Agents
  • Recognized as a "Comer" in the 1999 Texas Monthly - Best Legislators Edition
  • Received the 1999 "Golden Apple Award" from Texas Mid-Size School Association
  • Received the 1999 "Excellence in Leadership Award" from the Texas Association of Rural Schools
  • Named the 1999 "Texas PTA Legislative Guardian - District 12" by Texas PTA
  • Honored as the 1999 "Honorary Life Member" by the Texas Association of Community Schools
  • Received the 1999 "Distinguished Service Award" from the Vocational Agriculture Teacher Association
  • Awarded "Special Recognition" in 1999 by the Texas Rural Education Association
Jim was born and raised in Central Texas, where he attended Waco public schools and earned business and law degrees from Baylor University. Since 1987, he has practiced law at Dunnam & Dunnam in Waco and was named Baylor University Young Lawyer of the Year in 2001. Jim is a member of Baylor Lodge #1235, Waco Scottish Rite Bodies, Waco York Rite Bodies and the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce and serves as an ex-officio member of numerous local boards and organizations. Jim and his wife, Michelle, have three children: Lauren (18), Mason (16) and Rachel (13), and are members of the First United Methodist Church of Waco.
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