Matt Schaefer
{{short description|American lawyer, Naval officer, and politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Matt Schaefer
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| state_house = Texas
| district = 6th
| party = Republican
| term_start = January 8, 2013
| term_end = January 14, 2025
| preceded = Leo Berman
| succeeded = Daniel Alders
| birth_name = Matthew Ray Schaefer
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1976|2|11}}
| residence = Arp, Texas, U.S.
| spouse = Jasilyn
| children =
| education = Cisco College
Texas Tech University (BS, JD)
| footnotes =
| branch = {{flag|United States Navy}}
| unit = United States Navy Reserve
}}
Matthew Ray Schaefer (born February 11, 1976){{cite web|url=http://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Find_A_Lawyer&template=/Customsource/MemberDirectory/MemberDirectoryDetail.cfm&ContactID=287032|title=Find a Lawyer|publisher=state Bar of Texas|access-date=June 23, 2013}} is an American attorney and politician, who is a former member of the Texas House of Representatives for the 6th district. A Republican, During his tenure, Schaefer was assigned to the Licensing and Administrative Procedures committee and the Public Education committee.{{cite web|url=https://www.house.texas.gov/committees/committee/?committee=C350 |title=Texas House of Representatives : House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures |access-date=April 28, 2023}}
He ran without Democratic opposition in his successful bid for a fourth legislative term in the general election held on November 6, 2018. Schaefer defeated Neal Katz, an independent, 37,056 (75.6 percent) to 11,929 (24.4 percent).{{cite web|url=https://tylerpaper.com/news/local/matt-schaefer-defeats-neal-katz-in-texas-house-district-race/article_ac8823e8-e12f-11e8-af40-f3351ba10b9a.html|title=Matt Schaefer defeats Neal Katz in Texas House District 6 race|date=November 6, 2018|publisher=Tyler Morning Telegraph|access-date=January 27, 2019}}
Early life and education
Schaefer attended Cisco College in Cisco, Texas, where he played football. Then he attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock,{{cite web|url=http://www.mattfortexas.org/about/|title=About Matt|publisher=Matt for Texas|access-date=June 22, 2013}} where he obtained a bachelor's degree in finance and a Juris Doctor from Texas Tech University School of Law.
Career
In 1999, he worked in a district office of U.S. Senator Phil Gramm.{{cite web|url=http://www.tylerpaper.com/article/20121231/NEWS01/312319985/0/Search|title=Future freshman legislator Schaefer finds his new seat|publisher=Tyler Morning Telegraph|access-date=June 22, 2013}} Upon Gramm's retirement, Schaefer joined the United States Navy Reserve and attended law school at Texas Tech University. He retired from the Navy Reserve as a lieutenant commander (O-4), the equivalent of a major in other branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Schaefer subsequently served as counsel to the chairman of the Sunset Advisory Commission, state representative Carl Isett, on bills regarding insurance and transportation.
Texas House of Representatives
Schafer was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives in November 2012. In the 2012 primary election, he successfully challenged incumbent representative Leo Berman. Schaeffer unseated Berman in the Republican primary election held on May 29, 2012. He received 11,138 votes, or 57.7 percent, to Berman's 8,172 votes (42.3 percent).{{cite web|url=http://enr.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/may29_160_state.htm |title=Republican primary election returns, May 29, 2012 |publisher=enr.sos.state.tx.us |access-date=May 30, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20120610141810/http://enr.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/may29_160_state.htm |archive-date=June 10, 2012 }} Schaefer won renomination for a second term in the March 2014 Republican primary. He defeated Tyler businessman Skip M. Ogle, 9,888, or 61.1%, to 6,304, or 38.3%.{{cite web |title=Republican primary election returns, March 4, 2014 |url=https://team1.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/mar04_169_state.htm?x=0&y=9375&id=204 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306040714/https://team1.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/mar04_169_state.htm?x=0&y=9375&id=204 |archive-date=March 6, 2014 |access-date=March 5, 2014 |publisher=team1.sos.state.tx.us}}
In 2019, following two mass shootings in Texas, Schaefer tweeted his opposition to increasing gun restrictions such as universal background checks, bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazine purchases, and mandatory gun buybacks. Instead, he advocates for prayer and discipline in the home, as well as the right to carry for law-abiding single mothers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2019/09/01/texas-rep-matt-schaefer-says-no-gun-restrictions-twitter-thread/|title=After West Texas shooting, Texas House Rep. says "NO" to gun restrictions|last1=Tribune|first1=The Texas|last2=Coronado|first2=Acacia|date=2019-09-01|website=The Texas Tribune|language=en|access-date=2019-09-01}}
Schaefer supports a ban on Democrats being given committee chairmanships as long as the Republicans hold the majority of seats in the Texas House.Johnson, Brad. [https://thetexan.news/the-back-mic-legislators-opposed-to-democratic-chairs-listed-rep-moody-quells-da-appointment-rumors-house-rules-discussed/ The Back Mic: Legislators Opposed to Democratic Chairs Listed, Rep. Moody Quells DA Appointment Rumors, House Rules Discussed], The Texan, December 9, 2022.
On May 27, 2023, Schaefer voted against impeaching Attorney General Ken Paxton.Astudillo, Carla and Chris Essig. [https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/27/ken-paxton-texas-house-impeachment-vote/ Ken Paxton was impeached by the Texas House. See how each representative voted.], Texas Tribune, May 27, 2023.
In August 2023, Schaefer announced that he would not run for re-election in 2024.{{Cite news |last=Svitek |first=Patrick |date=August 14, 2023 |title=State Rep. Matt Schaefer will not seek reelection |work=The Texas Tribune |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/14/matt-schaefer-reelection-texas-house/ }} He was succeeded by Republican Daniel Alders.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-15 |title=Local businessman announces campaign for Schaefer's seat in Texas House |url=https://tylerpaper.com/elections/local-businessman-announces-campaign-for-schaefers-seat-in-texas-house/article_a5f4ab6e-3ba2-11ee-b375-f77751f0918f.html |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=TylerPaper.com |language=en}}
Personal life
Schaefer attends Green Acres Baptist Church, at which he met his wife in 2001.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.mattfortexas.org Campaign website]
- [https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/?district=6 Official Texas House of Representatives website]
- [https://www.texastribune.org/directory/matt-schaefer/ Matt Schaefer at the Texas Tribune]{{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=138312 | fec= | congress= }}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-tx-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=Leo Berman}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the
Texas House of Representatives
from the 6th district|years=2013–2025}}
{{s-aft|after=Daniel Alders}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Schaefer, Matt}}
Category:Republican Party members of the Texas House of Representatives
Category:People from Tyler, Texas
Category:Cisco Wranglers football players
Category:Texas Tech University alumni
Category:Texas Tech University School of Law alumni
Category:United States Navy officers
Category:Military personnel from Texas