State Representative
Jim Dunnam

Jim Dunnam was born and raised in Waco, Texas, and is a life-long resident of Central Texas.  At 44 years of age he has been married to his wife, Michelle, for 20 years, and they have three children--Rachel (11), Mason (13), and Lauren (16).  Jim and his family are members of the First United Methodist Church of Waco.

Jim is a product of Waco public schools, and he earned business and law degrees from Baylor University.  Since 1987, Jim has practiced law in Waco at Dunnam & Dunnam and was named the 2001 Baylor University Young Lawyer of the Year.

Jim is a member of Baylor Lodge #1235, Waco Scottish Rite Bodies, Waco York Rite Bodies, Karem Shrine and the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, and serves as an ex-officio member of numerous local boards and organizations.

Jim has written and passed laws including improving 911 services to rural areas, protecting local drinking water, ensuring smaller class sizes for elementary students, strengthening laws against drunk driving and cleaning up our troubled charter schools.

Jim serves on the House Corrections and Economic Development committees.  He recently completed four years of service on the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, the board charged with reviewing all state agencies.  He has also served on the Public Education, Higher Education, Juvenile Justice and Family Issues, and House Culture, Recreation and Tourism committees, and chaired the Subcommittee on Charter School Reform.  He is a board member of the Legislative Study Group, a member of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, and a member of the Texas Rural Caucus.

Since 2003, Jim has been elected as the Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, making Jim the House Democratic Leader.  As a well respected leader in the House, Jim has prioritized our children and is working with his colleagues to ensure public schools are not shortchanged and property taxpayers see relief.

Jim was elected to District 57 of the Texas House of Representatives in November of 1996.  At that time, District 57 included part of McLennan County.  Since 2001, District 57 has been composed of part of McLennan County, and all of Falls, Leon, Madison, and Robertson counties.