Member Press Releases 2014

• November

• 11/20/2014

  ANCHIA APPLAUDS PRESIDENT OBAMA’S DECISION TO HALT DEPORTATIONS OF 3.5 MILLION IMMIGRANTS

  by: Rep. Anchia, Rafael

• 11/10/2014

  ANCHIA FILES LEGISLATION THAT WILL REPEAL THE BAN ON SAME-GENDER MARRIAGE

  by: Rep. Anchia, Rafael
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Biography

State Representative Rafael Anchia has served five terms representing House District 103, covering Northwest Dallas County in the Texas Legislature. Before coming to the Texas House, he served two terms on the Dallas School Board. In 2013 during the 83rd Legislative Session, he was appointed Chair of the International Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee of the Texas House of Representatives by Speaker Joe Straus.

Rep. Anchia attended Southern Methodist University on a scholarship and then attended law school at Tulane University, also on scholarship. During his service in the Legislature, Representative Anchia has worked on legislation to fight crime, protect our environment, ensure fair and honest elections and improve healthcare for women and children.

In his first session in the Texas Legislature, he was named Texas Monthly's "Rookie of the Year," and in the 80th session, was named one of Texas Monthly's Ten Best Legislators. Following the 81st session, Rep. Anchia was honored by the American Jewish Committee with its Institute of Human Relations Award, as well as the Mexican American Legal and Education Defense Fund with the Matt Garcia Public Service Award for his dedication and contributions to the Latino community. In the September issue of Texas Lawyer, Rep. Anchia was named one of the "Extraordinary Minorities in Texas Law." And in 2005, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) honored him as its national "Man of the Year." In 2011 he received the Ohtli Recognition Award by the government of Mexico, the highest award given by the Mexican government to members of the Mexican, Mexican American and Latin Community abroad. Rep. Anchia was also appointed to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations by President Barack Obama in the summer of 2011.

In November 2006, Rep. Anchia was chosen Chairman of the Board of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund for a three-year term. In November 2009 he was appointed to a four-year term on the influential Sunset Commission by Speaker of the House Joe Straus. He received the Gregg Cooke Award for Excellence in Environmental Leadership at the annual Clean Air Through Energy Efficiency (CATEE) Conference in November 2011. And in February 2012, Rep. Anchia was appointed by Speaker Straus to the Joint Interim Committee to Study the Public School Finance System. In July 2012 Rep. Anchia was appointed to the Democratic National Committee by the Senate District Executive Committee of the Texas Democratic Party. Speaker Straus also appointed Rep. Anchia to the Interim Committee on General Revenue Dedicated Accounts in October 2012. He was also recognized by Hispanic Business Magazine in 2012 as one of the 50 most influential Hispanics in the United States. In Spring 2013 Speaker Straus appointed Rep. Anchia to the Border Legislative Conference and in August 2013 Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz appointed him to the DNC as an at-large member. In January of 2014 he was appointed Chair of the City of Dallas Charter Review Commission by Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and he also received the Martin Luther King, Jr. Justice Award from the Dallas Bar Association. The Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) honored Rep. Anchia with its "Outstanding Legislator" award in May of 2014.

Rep. Anchia is a managing partner in the private equity firm of Civitas Capital, and is Of Counsel for the law firm of Haynes & Boone, where he specializes in corporate finance. Most importantly, he lives in North Oak Cliff with his wife Marissa, and his daughters, Sofia and Maia, and worships with the Catholic Campus Community at SMU.