James Boisfeuillet Frank | |
|---|---|
 Frank in 2023 | |
| Member of theTexas House of Representatives from the 69th district | |
| Assumed office January 8, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Lanham Lyne |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1966-11-23)November 23, 1966 (age 58)[1] Atlanta,Georgia, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Alisha |
| Children | 6 |
| Residence(s) | Wichita Falls, Texas, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Texas A&M University |
| Occupation | Banker, businessman |
James Boisfeuillet Frank (born November 23, 1966)[2] is abusinessman fromWichita Falls,Texas, who is aRepublican member of theTexas House of Representatives from District 69, which encompassesArcher,Baylor,Clay,Foard,Knox, andWichita counties inNorth Texas.[3]
Frank was reared in Wichita Falls and graduated fromS. H. Rider High School, a public institution. He obtained a degree in finance fromTexas A&M University inCollege Station. After college he was employed inFort Worth.[4]
Since 2000, Frank has owned the Sharp Iron Group, a 130-employee company in Wichita Falls involved in sheet metal and the manufacturing of electrical controls. In 2007, he purchased the Transland Company ofCalifornia and moved its operations to Texas. Transland manufacturers equipment forcrop dusting and aerial firefighting.
He is the vice-chairman of the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Frank is a board member of the Lalani Center for Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise located atMidwestern State University in Wichita Falls.[4]
Frank is a deacon at First Baptist Church in Wichita Falls. He and his wife, Alisha, have six sons.[citation needed]
WhenLanham Lyne, the one-term Republican state representative in District 69, who had been mayor of Wichita Falls from 2005 to 2010, declined to seek reelection to the House, Frank ran unopposed for the Republican nomination in 2012. In the general election on November 6, 2012, Frank defeated aLibertarian opponent, Richard Brown, 87–13 percent.[5]
In February 2013, newly inaugurated Representative Frank was elected by his colleagues to the House Republican Caucus Policy Committee as theWest Texas representative on the panel.[6]
Frank voted forTexas House Bill 2, which prohibitedabortion after 20 weeks ofgestation and required abortion providers to haveadmitting privileges at a nearby hospital. Parts of the law were deemed unconstitutional inWhole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt. He voted to requirenarcotics testing of those receivingunemployment compensation. He voted against a free breakfast program for public school students.[2]
Frank voted against House Bill 950, which would have required Texas to establish state standards of equal pay for equal work regardless of sex. Such requirements were passed nationally through theEqual Pay Act of 1963. The House vote for passage was 78 to 61, but the bill, after approval in theTexas Senate, wasvetoed byGovernorRick Perry.[7]
Frank voted to enact term limits for the statewide constitutional officers, including the governor, thelieutenant governor, and theattorney general, but the measure died, 61–80, in the House.[8] Term limits are allowed in Texas at the municipal level underhome-rule charters.[9]
Frank voted to forbid the use of state funds to enforce national gun control laws. He voted to reduce the required hours forconcealed handgun training courses. He supported the authorization of concealed handguns on college campuses.[2] TheNRA Political Victory Fund rated Frank "A".[10][11]
In other legislative votes, Frank opposed a bill, not yet enacted, to forbidtexting while driving. He supported the extension of the exemption of certain businesses from thefranchise tax.[2]
In May 2017, Representative Frank obtained House passage, 94–51, of his bill to allow faith-based child welfare service providers to reject in some casesfoster and adoptive parents based on conflicts over religion between the parents and the commitment of the organization itself. Frank said that he envisions the bill, if approved by thestate Senate, would be used only in "very specific, limited circumstances." The legislation drew opposition from Democrats andprogressives on the premise that the law could be employed to discriminate againsthomosexuals,Jews, andMuslims.[12]
| Texas House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Texas State Representative for District 69 (Archer, Baylor, Clay, Foard, Knox, and Wichita counties) 2013– | Succeeded by Incumbent |
