Betty Brown

Betty J. Brown (born August 20, 1939) is a Republican former member of the Texas House of Representatives from Terrell, Texas. From 1999 to 2011, Brown represented House District 4 for Henderson and Kaufman counties. When she was initially elected to the position in 1998, the district included Kaufman and Hunt counties. After two terms, the district was switched to Kaufman and Henderson counties as far east as Athens, Texas.

For other people named Betty Brown, see Betty Brown (disambiguation).
Betty J. Brown
Texas State Representative for District 4 (Henderson and Kaufman counties)
In office
January 6, 1999 – January 2011
Preceded byKeith Oakley
Succeeded byLance Gooden
Personal details
Born (1939-08-20) August 20, 1939
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Ronald George Brown
ResidenceTerrell, Kaufman County
Texas
Alma materSouthern Methodist University
OccupationRancher

Controversy

In 2009, Brown ignited a firestorm when, while the Texas House Elections Committee was hearing testimony on the voting difficulties encountered by Asian Americans who use two different names, she suggested that Asian-Americans adopt names that are "easier for Americans to deal with."[1] Though at first defending her statement,[2] accusing Democrats of making the issue "about race," she eventually apologized for the incident,[3] acknowledging the "diversity of Texas" and the "enrichment" that Asian-Americans bring to the state.

2010 defeat

She sought reelection to a seventh term, but in the March primary of 2010, but she lost her seat to Lance Gooden, her former legislative aide. On March 4, 2014, Gooden, supported by Speaker Joe Straus, was himself unseated by intra-party rival Stuart Spitzer in the primary election. But Gooden came back to unseat Spitzer in 2016 and was then elected on November 6, 2018 to the United States House of Representatives for Texas' 5th congressional district.

References
  1. "Texas lawmaker suggests Asians adopt easier names". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  2. "Texas lawmaker: Asians should change their names to make them 'easier for Americans to deal with.' - ThinkProgress". ThinkProgress. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  3. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/041209dntexbrownapology.1abd22b.html
Texas House of Representatives
Preceded by
Keith Oakley		 Texas State Representative for District 4
(Henderson and Kaufman counties)
1999-2011		 Succeeded by
Lance Gooden
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