AUSTIN, Texas - Two long-serving state lawmakers from South Texas have announced they will not seek re-election to the House of Representatives.
They are state Rep. Tracy King, D-Batesville, and Abel Herrero, D-Robstown. King has spent 28 years in the Legislature, Herrero 18.
King has represented District 80 for 14 regular legislative sessions. He was first elected in 1994. His district includes all of Atascosa, Dimmit, Frio, and Uvalde counties and 31 percent of Webb County.
Herrero has represented District 34 for nine regular legislative sessions. He was first elected in 2004. His district includes 54 percent of Nueces County.
Here is what King had to say on his retirement:
“After much reflection I have decided not to seek re-election to another term for the office of State Representative. It has been an honor and privilege to represent the citizens of House District 80 and I will forever be grateful to the men and women that supported us through the years.
State Rep. Tracy O. King“Special thanks go to my wife, Cheryl, and our children who were not born when we won the first election in 1994. We have been blessed with the very best staff in the Capitol and the District. Celina Overbo, Chief of Staff, has worked with our office the entire time. Sam Bacarisse and Lupita Zepeda have been a crucial part of the team over the last decade. Countless other staff members and interns have passed through the office in the last 27 years and we are grateful to them all.
“We were able to accomplish many beneficial things for the District and the thousands of constituents that sought our assistance over the years. We served 14 regular sessions and 14 special sessions (so far) and no doubt could cruise to another win in 2024 but I'm tired and want to slow down.
“Thank you so much and may God continue to bless Texas.”
Respectfully,
Tracy O. King.”
Here is Rep. King’s official biography, which comes from his state website:
Tracy O. King graduated from Carrizo Springs High School, attended Southwest Texas Junior College and Texas A&M University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering. In 1983 Representative King took a job with the Beltone Hearing Aid Center in San Antonio and soon after moved to Uvalde to open a branch office there. He later purchased the Beltone Hearing Aid Center and owned and operated it until 2008 when he sold the business to spend more time with his family.
Representative King has always been active in public service, a former member of the Board of Trustees for the First United Methodist Church and a past president of both the Kiwanis Club and the Texas Hearing Aid Association. He is currently the Chairman of the powerful House Natural Resources Committee and serves as a member of the Energy Resources Committee. He previously served as chairman of Border and International Affairs; Agriculture and Livestock; and Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee.
During his tenure in the Texas House of Representatives he has served on committees such as Natural Resources, Appropriations, Ways & Means, Calendars, Environmental Regulation, Agriculture and Livestock, Border and International Affairs, Culture, Recreation and Tourism and Licensing and Administrative Procedures. He also serves on the Edwards Aquifer Oversight Committee and the Energy Council.
Representative King is married to the former Cheryl Baker of Hondo and they are the proud parents of two children, Katelyn Marie King and Clayton Baker King.
Here is what Herrero had to say on his retirement:
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as State Representative for Texas House District 34. From an early age, my family and faith instilled in me the belief that we should try to help others. This has been the driving force behind my 20 plus years of public service. I have worked hard to bring people together for common goals and purposes to create better opportunities for all Texans. I hope that I have been able to help make our communities and state a better place.
“During the interim and any special sessions, I remain ready, willing, and able to keep fighting for issues important to the Coastal Bend. As Chair of the House Committee on Corrections, I will continue to work on smart approaches to keep Texans safe, ensure the rehabilitation, health, and safety of incarcerated individuals, and establish a safe and secure work environment for correctional staff.
“I want to thank my family and friends for their unwavering support and counsel, and the many sacrifices they have endured as we traveled this path together. I am grateful to the constituents for entrusting me with the honor of serving as State Representative. Many thanks also to all dedicated staff over the years for their commitment to the constituents of House District 34 and the people of Texas.
“Thank you and God Bless.”
Rep. Herrero’s state website does not include an official biography. However, he hails from Robstown and is an attorney with Royston, Rayzor, Vickery and Williams, LLP.
He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Texas A&M University in 1993 and graduated from the University of Texas Law School in 1997. He and his wife Matilda still reside in Nueces County with their five children.
Herrero has been a member of the Corpus Christi Barrios Association, vice president of the Robstown Improvement Development Corporation, and member of the Corpus Christi Bar Association. He served on the Robstown City Council from 1999 to 2003.[1]
Herrero serves as Chair of the House Committee on Corrections and is also a member of the House Committee on Licensing and Administrative Procedures.
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