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Article: People & politics.(Trends And Transitions)
- Article from:
- State Legislatures
- Article date:
- January 1, 2004
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 National Conference of State Legislatures. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Texas Senator Bill Ratliff, regarded as the conscience of the Senate and known to his colleagues as Obi-Wan Kenobi, resigned from the Legislature Jan. 10 after a distinguished 15-year career. Ratliff made history when he became the first senator elected lieutenant governor by his colleagues. The position became vacant after George Bush was elected president and Rick Perry, then lieutenant governor, became governor. By merit of his position, Ratliff, a Republican, became the most powerful man in the Texas Legislature. But he was commended for his bipartisan leadership, naming as many Democrats to committee chairmanships as Republicans. Called the "embodiment of the ultimate ...