Experience

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  State of Texas

  • Austin, Texas, United States

  • Retired writer/editor/researcher/analyst

    • Sep 2021 - Present
    • Austin, Texas, United States
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  Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

  • United States
  • Government Administration
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Writer/Editor

    • Nov 2012 - Present

  • Report Writer/Editor

    • Nov 2012 - Aug 2021

    Researching and writing reports and articles about state public policy issues and the Texas economy

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  World-class Wordsmithing

  • Austin

  • Freelance Writer, Editorial Consultant & Researcher/Analyst

    • Jun 2011 - Nov 2012
    • Austin

    Writing/editing/proofreading and conducting public policy research and analysis for news media, business and academia

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  The Quorum Report

  • Reporter

    • Feb 2011 - May 2011

    Covered regular session and opening of the special session of the 82nd Texas Legislature; wrote articles and briefs on a variety of legislative issue and political topics

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  Texas Legislative Budget Board

  • State Capitol, Austin, Texas

  • Public Policy and Performance Analyst

    • May 2008 - Dec 2010
    • State Capitol, Austin, Texas

    Member of Higher Education Performance Review and Agency Performance Review teams

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  Legislative Budget Board (LBB)

  • Research Analyst

    • 2008 - 2010

    Researched issues and formulated policy recommendations for higher education (tuition/fee exemptions/waivers, early high school graduation scholarship), economic development (sales/franchise tax rebates), bottled water sales tax, etc.

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  UT System Office of Governmental Relations

  • Research Analyst

    • 2005 - 2008

    Developed & wrote well-received internal legislative newsletter focusing on higher ed issues; tracked bills and edited analyses during two legislative sessions; researched legislative intent; drafted memos and talking points; created PowerPoint presentations; summarized meetings; helped produ...

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  House Research Organization

  • Texas State Capitol, Austin

  • Research Analyst

    • Nov 1999 - Dec 2004
    • Texas State Capitol, Austin

    Analyzed scores of bills during regular and special legislative sessionsDeveloped, researched and wrote in-depth explanatory and analytical reports on issues of interest to the legislative communityWrote articles on relevant public policy issues and developments for quarterly newsletterInteracted...

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  LBJ School of Public Affairs, University of Texas

  • Austin, Texas

  • Graduate Student

    • 1995 - 1997
    • Austin, Texas

    Focused on Texas state government including appropriations and budgeting processes; researched and wrote about intersection of public policy formation and campaign financing; planned and organized well-received Brown Bag Lunch programs; teaching assistant for multi-disciplinary seminar course (bu...

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  Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

  • Lubbock, Texas

  • Reporter

    • 1980 - 1989
    • Lubbock, Texas

    Wrote feature stories and covered most major beats including higher education, public schools, courts and religion; transformed "church page" into full-time news beat that was precursor for full-time religion editor/columnist position; wrote about high-profile trials, elections, taxes a...