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Small-business owners throughout North Texas, particularly those in the oil and gas or agriculture industries, look to Sen. Tom Haywood of Wichita Falls to speak for them in Austin. Haywood, who graduated from Arlington State College (now UTA) in 1962, serves Senate District 30, which stretches across 36, mostly rural counties. He first realized that his voice could make a difference for the region when he served as executive vice president of the North Texas Oil and Gas Association. He frequently met with lawmakers in Austin and Washington, D.C., to lobby on behalf of the association. Soon he realized that "I was as smart as any of those people and could certainly do the job." In 1990, he ran for the state House of Representatives against John Hirschi, a man whose family name is well known in Wichita Falls. Haywood lost but at least placed himself in voters' minds. Two years later, in a race for the state Senate, he lost by a close 51.8 to 48.2 percent margin. In 1994, he finally triumphed at the polls, and his election marked a major power shift in Austin. "I was the one additional Republican needed to move control of the Senate over to the Republican Party," he said. Haywood sees redistricting as the most important task facing legislators during this year's session. But, as always, he's also involved in those issues that affect his constituents. "What is the future of small farms? The drought has affected this area terribly," he said. "I'm looking for financial relief for farmers. For the oil and gas producers, we're looking to do without the severance taxes." The
senator would also like to see Texas end the state lottery. "We're
relying on gambling to fund our government," he said. "That's not a good
thing, in my view." Haywood views his position as an honor. "Working in
the Texas Senate is really something. You're one of the 31 key people
in Texas making laws. I'm still in awe of members of the Texas Senate."
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