Kyle Janek

Infobox State Senator


honorific-prefix =
name = Kyle Janek
honorific-suffix =
state_senate = Texas
state = Texas
district = 17th
term_start = 2003
term_end=2008
preceded = J. E. "Buster" Brown
succeeded = Pending November 4 special election
party = Republican
birth_date = birth date and age|1958|1|10
birth_place = Galveston, Texas, USA
death_date =
death_place =
spouse = Shannon
residence = Houston, Harris County, Texas
alma_mater = Texas A&M University; University of Texas
occupation =
profession = Anesthesiologist
religion = Episcopalian
website =

Kyle Janek, M.D. (born January 10, 1958), [cite web
url = http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/general/senate/senateaddr.shtml
title = State Senate Candidates for 2002 General Election
accessdate = 2006-12-26
date = 2002-09-13
author = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas)] is a former Republican member of the Texas Senate having represented District 17 from 2003 until June 2, 2008. The district includes portions of Harris, Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, and Jefferson counties. Janek was not a candidate for renomination to the state Senate in the Republican primary held on March 4. [http://www.texasconservativereview.com/ Gary Polland's TEXAS CONSERVATIVE REVIEW ] ]

Dr. Janek resigned the seat, and Governor Rick Perry has called a special election to coincide with the regular November 4 general election to fill the two years remaining in the term. Republicans Austen Furse, Grant Harpold and Joan Huffman are running, as is former Democratic Congressman Chris Bell.

Biography

An anesthesiologist by training, Dr. Janek has served in the Texas Legislature as a Republican since 1994. He received an M.D. from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston in 1983 and has since practiced medicine. Janek is the son of former Galveston County Commissioner Eddie Janek, Sr. He is the brother of Galveston politician Eddie Janek, Jr., who has previously sought county office.

In 1992 Janek entered the Republican primary for Texas State Representative District 134 against two opponents, Mike Shelby and Tim Turner. Janek prevailed against Shelby, later a U.S. Attorney, in the runoff, but he lost the general election to Democrat Sue Schechter, even though the District was almost 60 percent Republican. In 1994, when Schechter chose not to seek re-election, Janek was elected. He served in the Texas House of Representatives until 2002, when he ran for the Texas Senate. Janek sought the seat being vacated by long time District 17 Senator Buster Brown. Janek defeated attorney Gary M. Polland in the Republican primary, and then prevailed against Democratic candidate Ronnie Ellen Harrison in the general election. He was reelected again in 2006 over a Libertarian Party opponent.

Since being elected to the Senate, Janek has focused his legislative efforts on property tax reform, and the sponsorship of a state program to prevent steroid abuse among high school athletes.

Resignation rumors

In the spring of 2007, rumors began appearing in the Austin press corps that Senator Janek would be resigning his seat early to spend more time with his family. Janek told the "Austin American-Statesman" at the time that resignation was "a possibility" in the future but also said "I love my job. It's not my intent." [http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/legislature/entries/2007/05/02/sen_janek_might_step_down.html]

On May 26, 2007, Janek then placed an advertisement in the Greensheet newspaper for a garage sale at his home in West University Place, Texas. The ad said "Moving Saturday, May 26th" [http://www.thegreensheet.com/adarchive/?adid=1688589] . A few weeks later a reporter for the "West University Examiner" discovered that the advertisement was for Senator Janek's house. Janek confirmed that he had indeed sold his house, and claimed to be living in a "bayside home" in Galveston, which is still in District 17.Aguilar, Charlotte. "Janek remains senator, but no longer neighbor" West University Examiner, July 3, 2007]

Janek told the reporter he was looking for a house with a bigger yard in either the Galveston or Fort Bend County portions of District 17. He told the paper he would be moving to one of those two counties " [b] efore school resumes."

Instead of moving to Galveston or Fort Bend, however, Janek purchased a house in Austin, where he currently resides. Austin is not in District 17. This has prompted some to question whether Janek still meets the required residency to hold an office in the Texas Senate. [http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/robison/5139515.html]

On September 17, 2007, the "Houston Chronicle" reported that Janek has enrolled his children in Austin public schools at the new residence. Janek told "The Chronicle" that he's living by himself in a rental house in Galveston to fulfill his residency requirements, although he also claimed the move to Austin was to be closer to his family when the legislature is in session. The Chronicle's Clay Robison saw the irony of this claim, noting "The next regular session, however, is still sixteen months away, which means he will be spending a lot of time commuting — unless he has something up his sleeve he doesn't want to tell anyone about." [http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/robison/5139515.html]

Revelations about Janek's residency came amidst another scandal involving two Houston city council candidates who were not residents of the Houston addresses they claimed when filing their paperwork for office. [http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5138472.html] Janek blamed the rumors about his own residency issues on "political consultants seeking a client," but Robison also observed that Janek "is fueling the fire" of those rumors through his actions.

[http://blogs.chron.com/texaspolitics/archives/politics_in_general/the_lege/]

Election history

Most recent election

2006

Election box begin
title=Texas general election, 2006: Senate District 17 [cite web | url = http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | title = 2006 General Election | accessdate = 2006-12-24 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas)] Election box candidate with party link
party= Republican Party (US)
candidate = Kyle Janek
votes = 88,483
percentage = 77.82
change = +16.40Election box candidate with party link
party= Libertarian Party (US)
candidate = Phil Kurtz
votes = 25,212
percentage = 22.81
change = +22.81Election box majority
votes = 63,271
percentage = 55.65%
change = +32.79Election box turnout
votes = 113,695
percentage =
change = -20.99Election box hold with party link no swing
winner = Republican Party (US)

Previous elections

2002

Election box begin
title=Texas general election, 2002: Senate District 17 [cite web | url = http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | title = 2002 General Election | accessdate = 2006-12-24 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas)] Election box candidate with party link
party= Republican Party (US)
candidate = Kyle Janek
votes = 88,393
percentage = 61.43
change = -5.99Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (US)
candidate = Ronnie Ellen Harrison
votes = 55,502
percentage = 38.57
change = +5.99Election box majority
votes = 32,891
percentage = 22.86
change = -11.98Election box turnout
votes = 153,132
percentage =
change = -30.34Election box hold with party link no swing
winner = Republican Party (US)Election box begin
title=Special election, 5 November 2002: Senate District 17 (Unexpired term) [cite web | url = http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | title = Special Election, State Senate District 17 | accessdate = 2006-12-24 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas)] Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (US)
candidate = Ronnie Ellen Harrison
votes = 47,164
percentage = 32.58
change = +3.18Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (US)
candidate = Kyle Janek
votes = 97,588
percentage = 67.42
change = -3.18Election box majority
votes = 50,424
percentage = 34.83
change = -6.36Election box turnout
votes = 144,752
percentage =
change = +5.52Election box hold with party link no swing
winner = Republican Party (US)Election box begin no party
title=Republican primary, 2002: Senate District 7 [cite web | url = http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | title = 2002 Republican Party Primary Election | accessdate = 2006-12-24 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas)] Election box candidate no party with winner
winner =
candidate = Gary M. Polland
votes = 8,444
percentage = 34.19
change = Election box candidate no party with winner
winner = ✓
candidate = Kyle Janek
votes = 16,250
percentage = 65.81
change = Election box turnout no party
votes = 24,694
percentage =
change =

2000

Election box begin
title=Texas general election, 2000: House District 134 [cite web | url = http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | title = 2000 General Election | accessdate = 2006-12-24 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas)] Election box candidate with party link
party= Republican Party (US)
candidate = Kyle Janek
votes = 20,764
percentage = 58.89
change = -1.41Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (US)
candidate = Michael Skadden
votes = 14,494
percentage = 41.11
change = +1.41Election box majority
votes = 6,270
percentage = 17.78
change = -2.82Election box turnout
votes = 35,258
percentage =
change = +57.17Election box hold with party link no swing
winner = Republican Party (US)

1998

Election box begin
title=Texas general election, 1998: House District 134 [cite web | url = http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | title = 1998 General Election | accessdate = 2006-12-24 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas)] Election box candidate with party link
party= Republican Party (US)
candidate = Kyle Janek
votes = 13,527
percentage = 60.30
change = -39.70Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (US)
candidate = Mike Laster
votes = 8,906
percentage = 39.70
change = +39.70Election box majority
votes = 4,621
percentage = 20.60
change = -79.40Election box turnout
votes = 22,433
percentage =
change = +1.75Election box hold with party link no swing
winner = Republican Party (US)

1996

Election box begin
title=Texas general election, 1996: House District 134 [cite web | url = http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | title = 1996 General Election | accessdate = 2006-12-24 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas)] Election box candidate with party link
party= Republican Party (US)
candidate = Kyle Janek
votes = 22,048
percentage = 100.00
change = +32.79Election box majority
votes = 22,048
percentage = 100.00
change = +63.37Election box turnout
votes = 22,048
percentage =
change = -4.62Election box hold with party link no swing
winner = Republican Party (US)

1994

Election box begin
title=Texas general election, 1994: House District 134 [cite web | url = http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | title = 1994 General Election | accessdate = 2006-12-24 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas)] Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (US)
candidate = Bruce Reeves
votes = 7,070
percentage = 30.58
change = -19.56Election box candidate with party link
party= Republican Party (US)
candidate = Kyle Janek
votes = 15,536
percentage = 67.21
change = +9.60Election box candidate with party link
party = Libertarian Party (US)
candidate = Paul Elliott
votes = 509
percentage = 2.20
change = -0.04Election box majority
votes = 8,466
percentage = 36.63
change = +34.08Election box turnout
votes = 23,115
percentage =
change = -33.06Election box gain with party link no swing
winner = Republican Party (US)
loser = Democratic Party (US)Election box begin no party
title=Republican primary, 1994: House District 134 [cite web | url = http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | title = 1994 Republican Party Primary Election | accessdate = 2006-12-24 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas)] Election box candidate no party with winner
winner =
candidate = Kathleen Ballafant
votes = 1,352
percentage = 24.44
change = Election box candidate no party with winner
winner = ✓
candidate = Kyle Janek
votes = 4,180
percentage = 75.56
change = Election box turnout no party
votes = 5,532
percentage =
change = -14.18

1992

Election box begin
title=Texas general election, 1992: House District 134 [cite web | url = http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | title = 1992 General Election | accessdate = 2006-12-24 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas)] Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (US)
candidate = Sue Schechter
votes = 17,317
percentage = 50.15
change = Election box candidate with party link
party= Republican Party (US)
candidate = Kyle Janek
votes = 16,439
percentage = 47.61
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Libertarian Party (US)
candidate = Clint Ponton
votes = 774
percentage = 2.24
change = Election box majority
votes = 878
percentage = 2.54
change = Election box turnout
votes = 34,530
percentage =
change = Election box hold with party link no swing
winner = Democratic Party (US)Election box begin no party
title=Republican primary runoff, 1992: House District 134 [cite web | url = http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | title = 1992 Republican Party Primary Runoff Election | accessdate = 2006-12-24 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas)] Election box candidate no party with winner
winner = ✓
candidate = Kyle Janek
votes = 1,756
percentage = 51.18
change = Election box candidate no party with winner
winner =
candidate = Mike Shelby
votes = 1,675
percentage = 48.82
change = Election box turnout no party
votes = 3,431
percentage =
change = Election box begin no party
title=Republican primary, 1992: House District 134 [cite web | url = http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe | title = 1992 Republican Party Primary Election | accessdate = 2006-12-24 | publisher = Office of the Secretary of State (Texas)] Election box candidate no party with winner
winner = ✓
candidate = Kyle Janek
votes = 2,242
percentage = 34.78
change = Election box candidate no party with winner
winner = ✓
candidate = Mike Shelby
votes = 2,172
percentage = 33.70
change = Election box candidate no party with winner
winner =
candidate = Tim Turner
votes = 2,032
percentage = 31.52
change = Election box turnout no party
votes = 6,446
percentage =
change =

References

External links

* [http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist17/dist17.htm Senate of Texas - Senator Kyle Janek] official TX Senate website
* [http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=5534 Project Vote Smart - Senator Kyle Janek (TX)] profile
*"Follow the Money" - Kyle Janek
** [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=80990 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=71824 2004] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=6346 2002] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=52523 2000] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=52207 1998] campaign contributions