State Representative Bailes Honored as Legislator of the Year at Deep East Texas Reception


District 18 Representative Ernest Bailes (left) accepts “Legislator of the Year Award” from Deep East Texas Council of Governments (DETCOG) President, Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison (center) and DETCOG President-Elect San Augustine County Judge Jeff Boyd (right) at the Deep East Texas Reception in Austin.

January 10, 2023 – Over a hundred people packed the Trademark Room of the Omni Austin Hotel Downtown in Austin Monday night for the Deep East Texas Reception.  The event, honoring State Officials and Legislators representing the Deep East Texas region, was held the night before the convening of the 88th Session of the Texas Legislature. It provides an opportunity for Deep East Texans and their elected officials to come together in a show of regional unity.

Members of the Deep East Texas legislative delegation; Senator Robert Nichols and Representative Trent Ashby, Ernest Bailes and Travis Clardy attended as guests of honor. “We are so proud of our Senator and all our Representatives and are so blessed to have them working on our behalf in Austin,” said Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison, who is currently serving as President of both DETCOG and the Commissioners and Judges Association, “and it is so important for us to support the Legislators who represent us at the Capitol. As a region, collectively we have a much bigger and more effective voice.”

Texas State Representative Ernest Bailes was recognized as the “Deep East Texas Legislator of the Year for 2023”.  Bailes is beginning his fourth term representing Texas House District 18. “Ernest Bailes has been an effective voice for Deep East Texas and he is very deserving of this recognition,” said Hardin County Commissioner Chris Kirkendall, Past President of the Deep East Texas County Commissioners and Judges Association. “He is knowledgeable about our needs and responsive to his constituents. We are fortunate to have him working for us in Austin.”

In addition to and the Deep East Texas Commissioners and Judges, sponsors of the 2023 reception include all 11 counties of the region (Angelina, Houston, Nacogdoches, Newton, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity and Tyler) as well as the cities of Crockett, Lufkin, Nacogdoches and Woodville.

Other sponsors were: East Texas Electric Cooperative; Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson LLP; Oncor, Traylor & Associates; Magellan Broadband; The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas and Naskila Gaming; Stephen F. Austin State University; Burke; Georgia-Pacific; Texas Forestry Association; Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott LLP; Raymond K. Vann & Associates; Southside Bank; Angelina & Neches River Authority; Lower Neches Valley Authority; Sabine River Authority; and Roy O Martin Corrigan OSB.