DALLAS — Gov. Greg Abbott on March 18 named Tyron Lewis of Odessa chairman of the powerful Texas Transportation Commission, replacing former Gov. Rick Perry's appointee Ted Houghton.
The TTC is Texas' largest issuer of debt, second nationally only to the state of California in 2014.
Abbott had named Lewis, a partner in the law firm of Hollman Jones, Peacock, Lewis & Lyon, to the TTC in February along with J. Bruce Bugg, a San Antonio philanthropist.
Lewis was confirmed by the Texas Senate March 17, and the next day Abbott named him chair of the commission.
The appointment is considered a boost for transportation in the oil and gas producing region of West Texas. The term expires at the pleasure of Abbott.
"It's going to be a great deal of work, but I very much appreciate the governor's trust in me and in my ability to do this," Lewis said in a prepared statement.
Lewis wrote an opinion piece in the Sept. 14 Odessa American opposing Proposition 1, a 2014 constitutional amendment that redirects oil and gas revenue from the state's rainy day fund to Texas transportation projects. The measure, which was designed to tap revenues from oil and gas production for transportation projects in those regions, passed easily Nov. 4.
"The proposition violates the 'users pay' principle of financing our highways," Lewis wrote, citing the state and federal gasoline taxes as the proper source of transportation funding. "That finance system is fair, dependable and adequate to build and maintain highways."
Lewis is a former state representative from Texas' 81st District, serving from 2008-2015. Lewis practiced law in Odessa from 1973-1984 with a primary emphasis on civil litigation.
In 1985, Lewis took office as a State District Judge of the 161st District and served in that capacity until February of 2006, after which he returned to practicing law.
Bugg is chairman and chief executive of Argyle Investment Co., LLC, a private investment firm. He also serves as chairman and chief executive of Southwest Bancshares, Inc., as well as president of Texas Hill Country Bancshares, Inc. and as chairman of The Bank of San Antonio.
The TTC, which carries triple-A ratings on its general obligation debt and revenue bonds, issued a record $5.52 billion of bonds in 2014.
