Commissioner, Harris County, Texas, District 1, 2017-present

Senator, Texas State Senate, District 13, 1990-2017

President Pro Tempore, Texas State Senate, District 13, 1999-2001

Member, Houston City Council, 1983-1989

No committee memberships found.

Co-Chair, Commission to Engage African Americans on Climate Change, present

Member, Council on Foreign Relations, present

Member, Energy Council, present

Director, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, present

Member, National Commission on Energy Policy, present

Former Member, Business and Commerce Committee, Texas State Senate

Former Member, Committee of the Whole Senate, Texas State Senate

Former Member, Criminal Justice Committee, Texas State Senate

Former Member, Joint Committee of Oversight of Higher Ed Governance, Excellence and Transparency, Texas State Senate

Former Chair, Open Government Committee, Texas State Senate

Former Vice Chair, State Affairs Committee, Texas State Senate

Former Member, Transportation Committee, Texas State Senate

Former Member, Transportation and Homeland Security Committee, Texas State Senate

Co-Founder/Banker, Apex Securities, Incorporated, 1998-present

Counsel, Reaud, Morgan, and Quinn, present

Former Investment Banker

Former Partner, Rice Financial Products Company

Former Chief of Staff, United States Congressman Mickey Leland

Attorney of Counsel, McGlinchey, Stafford, Lang, 1996-2003

Attorney, Solen and Ellis, 1991-1996

Attorney, Phillips, King, Smith, and Wright, 1985-1988

Member, American Bar Association, 1979-present

Member, National Bar Association, 1979-present

Member, Texas Bar Association, 1979-present

Member, American Red Cross, present

Member, Board of Directors, Alliance for Digital Equality, present

Member, Board of Directors, Center for Policy Alternatives, present

Member, Board of Directors, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, present

Member, Board of Directors, Utley Foundation, present

Member, Houston Bar Association, present

Member, Houston Lawyers Association, present

Chair, Innocence Project, Incorporated of New York, present

Member, National Association of Securities Dealers, present

Founder, Texas Legislative Internship Program (TLIP), present

Member, University of Texas Law School Foundation Board, present

Awards:

Champion of Justice, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2010
Legislative Achievement Award, American Association of Retired Persons, 2009
James Madison Award, Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, 2009
Distinguished Alumnus Award, University of Texas, 2005
Frederick Douglass Equal Justice Award, 2004
Houston Metropolitan Award, 2002
Christopher Scott Award for Legislative Leadership, Small Business United of Texas, 1999
Legislator of the Year Award, Texas Child Care Organization, 1997